[Page 306]

The BULFINCH in Town.

By a Lady of Quality.
1 HARK to the blackbird's pleasing note:
2 Sweet usher of the vocal throng!
3 Nature directs his warbling throat,
4 And all that hear, admire the song.
5 Yon' bulfinch, with unvary'd tone,
6 Of cadence harsh, and accent shrill,
7 Has brighter plumage to attone
8 For want of harmony and skill.
9 Yet, discontent with nature's boon,
10 Like man, to mimick art he flies;
11 On opera-pinions hoping soon
12 Unrival'd he shall mount the skies.
[Page 307]
13 And while, to please some courtly fair,
14 He one dull tune with labour learns,
15 A well-gilt cage remote from air,
16 And faded plumes, is all he earns!
17 Go, hapless captive! still repeat
18 The sounds which nature never taught;
19 Go, listening fair!, and call them sweet,
20 Because you know them dearly bought.
21 Unenvy'd both! go hear and sing
22 Your study'd musick o'er and o'er;
23 Whilst I attend th' inviting spring,
24 In fields where birds unfetter'd soar.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): The BULFINCH in Town.
Author: Henrietta St. John Knight, Lady Luxborough
Themes: animals; music; imprisonment; beauty
Genres:
References: DMI 26689

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Source edition

Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. IV. London: printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley, 1763 [1st ed. 1758], pp. 306-307. 6v.: music; 8⁰. (ESTC T131163; OTA K104099.004) (Page images digitized by the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive from a copy in the archive's library.)

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