THE HAWK, THE MAGPIES, AND THE PIGEONS. A Fable, very respectfully addressed to the Hon. Mrs. E—tw—k. Isabella Kelly (née Fordyce) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T122123 Kelly, Isabella, 1759-1857. Collection of Poems and Fables on Several Occasions. London W. Richardson 1794 pp. 54-59. 72p.

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THE HAWK , THE MAGPIES , AND THE PIGEONS . A Fable , very respectfully addressed to the Hon. Mrs. E—tw—k . Truth oft in fables is convey'd , And morals too in tales display'd ; And what discretion won't express , Fiction may veil in pleasing dress ; Thus I , when prudence dare not plead , I make a bird my sermon read . Ye who the modest highly prize Attend a Pigeon in disguise , And learn each chatterer to despise ; For ah ! too oft the chattering tongue , The heart of innocence hath stung ; And had the hero of my tale , Permitted slander to prevail , A helpless , disappointed pair , Had now been victims of despair . Some years ago a hawk expired , Dreaded by foes , by friends admired ; To gain Britannia's deathless fame , And immortalize his own great name , Glory he made his early aim ; He lived unequalled , died revered , To every bird was Hawk endeared ; He left a son , his dearest care , His hope , his blessing , honour's heir : In him each milder virtue shone , For goodness marked him for her own ; His kindness friendless birds redrest , His sheltering wings the orphan blest ; To say the whole , his worth maintain'd , The glorious name his sire had gained . This noble Hawk to most endear'd , Beneath his wing a pigeon rear'd : From India's clime to Britain's shade , The infant stranger was convey'd , To early learn that genuine worth , Which should distinguish birds of birth ; Hawk " took it up a little flower , " And placed it in a kindly bower , Saved him from each inclement storm , His tender years secured from harm , His infant mind with virtue drest , A bright example taught the rest ; Thus happy , honoured , much improved , Our Pigeon lived by Hawk beloved ; But when the years of reason came , ( Alas ! what age secure from blame ? ) Love triumphed , and he took a wife , More dear than liberty or life ; The worthy Hawk in wonder lost , Perceived his Views , his wishes crost ; Yet still bestowed his guardian care , And smiled delighted on the pair ; The Pigeons thoughtless , gay and young , Believed each smoothe , betraying tongue ; They trusted hope , they banished fear , Nor ever dream't a danger near , 'Till indiscretion's train advance , The effects of vain extravagance : Behold them then , to want exposed , Each error — then disclosed ; Regretted follies , bitter thought , The lesson of experience taught . Their soft complaints , their bursting sighs , The tears that trembled in their eyes , The Hawk with pitying glance survey'd , And sent the mourners liberal aid . Far from his heart , though near his nest , There lived a race to birds a pest ; The magpies named , a chattering crew , On mischief bent , about they flew ; The worthy held them in disdain , Hawk spurn'd them from his honest train ; But though they ne'er approach'd his ear , They still contrived that he should hear , Each folly of the humble pair , These favor'd pigeons of his care ; They tried in vain with varied art , To rouse some passion — turn his heart ; Cries one — " it moves me even to rage , " That Pigeons should a Hawk engage ! " How better deck'd his board had been , " Had he these pigeons never seen ; " His plumage still had been more gay , " But for the gold he gives away ; " This , Hawks may think benevolence , " But Magpies deem it want of sense . " " Not too severe , " a sage one cries , " The virtues of a Hawk I prize ; " Wou'd he the voice of prudence hear , " So good a bird we must revere ; " Or wou'd he listen to our tale , " Permit his reason to prevail , " And let his gold distinguish worth , " His favour grace a Magpie's birth ; " With gratitude our breasts should glow , " What praises should our tongues bestow ! " But ah ! my friends we speak in vain , " He ever treats us with disdain ; " The Pigeons faults will ne'er appear , " He blots each folly with a tear . " " But , " adds another , " sting his pride , " Say Hawks and Pigeons are allied ; " To prove they have not any claim , " ( For they must suffer all the blame ) , " He'll ne'er again their faces see , " Which may make room for thee or me . " But oh ! they little knew his mind Was generous , noble good and kind ; It sorrowed for the poor accused , To hear their pleading ne'er refused ; And with great sentiments inspired , He reasoned thus at eve retired : " 'Tis true the Pigeons may be wrong , " But I'll not trust a magpie's tongue ; " All that e'er breathed to error's prone , " In pitying theirs I veil my own ; " An unforgiving heart should be , " Itself from imperfection free ; " Then mercy for the pair shall plead , " T'will shield myself in hours of need ; " The days of youth are full of harm , " Each pleasure wears a tempting charm ; " And when it can old birds allure , " How can young Pigeons be secure ? " And if to give deserves such praise , " Such feelings to the heart conveys , " How blessed every mite that's given , " So honoured here , approved by Heaven ! " What pleasure in an added dish , " Or robe I neither want or wish ; " Or where the merit to bestow , " That which brings joy they ne'er can know ; " Then I resolve the pigeon pair , " Shall still my kind protection share . " He then retired to peaceful rest , With an approving conscience blest ; Oh may his reasoning still impart , A lesson to the human heart ! And thou bright fair ! whose worth , and truth , So lately blest a favoured youth , And thou oh ! E—tw—k so elate , How kind thy stars , how blest thy fate ! That gave thee in the spring of life , The accomplished friend , the charming wife ; Accept the offering of a breast , With warmest gratitude imprest ; And oh ! vouchsafe , blest pair to hear , The wishes of a soul sincere ; Long may ye bloom , and see each grace , Reflected in a lovely race ! And as too often cares intrude , On the kind bosoms of the good , May sweet domestic peace beguile , And make the face of sorrow smile ! And when that love no more can warm , Esteem shall lend a milder charm ; Enliven'd friendship still engage , And cheer the wintry hours of age ; Long may ye live in joy to see , An offspring from each error free ; And in the lengthen'd honoured line , A H——ke's distinguished virtues shine !