MIRANDA
and
the
RED-BREAST
.
A
FABLE
FOR
THE
LADIES
.
THE
vain
Miranda
long
had
shone
,
In
fashion's
brilliant
scene
;
Each
heart
confest
her
passing
fair
,
And
hail'd
her
beauty's
queen
.
Unrival'd
long
Miranda
liv'd
,
Of
British
maids
the
toast
,
And
with
tyrannic
sway
she
reign'd
,
A
celebrated
toast
;
Till
brighter
Emeline
appear'd
,
Fair
as
the
opening
morn
,
Then
Myra
only
swell'd
the
groupe
Sweet
Emma
did
adorn
.
The
haughty
maid
,
that
ne'er
could
brook
Ev'n
one
neglecting
eye
,
With
bursting
pride
beheld
her
charms
Unnotic'd
now
past
by
.
Conflicting
passions
tear
her
breast
;
To
distant
scenes
she
flies
,
To
seek
in
solitude
that
calm
Reflection
ne'er
denies
;
But
ah
!
in
vain
,
the
venom'd
dart
Within
her
bosom
lay
,
And
pride
represt
can
ne'er
bestow
,
Of
peace
the
faintest
ray
.
One
silent
eve
she
reach'd
a
grove
,
There
to
lament
her
fate
,
Where
modest
Robin
pensive
sung
,
And
chear'd
his
little
mate
:
With
scorn
she
heard
the
plaintive
lay
,
And
,
with
disdainful
look
,
"
Presuming
feeble
wretch
,
"
she
cried
;
The
little
redbreast
shook
:
"
Chirp
not
,
thou
vain
,
thou
sorry
thing
,
"
Hark
Philomela's
strain
;
Unworthy
thou
to
share
her
haunts
,
"
The
meanest
of
her
train
:
"
Be
ever
dumb
,
assuming
bird
,
"
Dar'st
thou
e'er
hope
to
please
,
"
When
larks
salute
the
early
morn
,
"
And
thrushes
sing
from
trees
?
"
Ambitious
thing
,
I
say
give
o'er
;
"
The
blackbird's
warbling
song
"
In
just
contempt
will
sink
thy
notes
;
"
For
ever
stop
thy
tongue
.
"
Meek
Robin
,
in
the
sweetest
strain
,
With
softest
accents
spoke
,
Shelt'ring
his
partner
with
his
wings
,
Thus
,
trembling
,
silence
broke
:
"
Pardon
,
bright
fair
!
I
know
not
pride
,
"
Foe
to
ambition
I
;
"
Humbly
poor
Robin
owns
he
ne'er
"
With
thrush
or
lark
can
vie
:
"
Indeed
I
try
to
imitate
"
Sweet
Philomela's
lay
,
"
And
to
the
warbling
blackbird's
song
"
Sincerest
homage
pay
;
"
And
when
that
wintry
storms
descend
,
"
Each
vernal
beauty
seize
,
"
When
they
retire
till
milder
hours
,
"
Poor
Robin
tries
to
please
;
"
'Tis
then
with
timid
hope
I
strive
"
To
soothe
the
listening
ear
,
"
My
bright
reward
,
a
little
food
,
"
These
hours
of
want
to
chear
:
"
Then
hear
,
ye
sweetest
birds
of
air
,
"
The
humblest
:
of
your
throng
;
"
'Tis
when
ye
will
not
deign
to
chear
,
"
Poor
Robin
gives
his
song
:
"
Hence
learn
,
Miranda
,
bright
and
fair
,
"
Let
meekness
pride
disarm
;
"
Vouchsafe
to
learn
from
little
me
,
"
Heaven
gives
to
each
a
charm
.
"
To
hear
a
moral
from
a
bird
,
Abash'd
Miranda
stood
,
Return'd
to
town
,
sought
Emeline
,
Was
happy
,
kind
,
and
good
.