The LINNET'S PETITION. Mary Robinson (née Darby) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
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. T100118 Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800. Poems by Mrs. Robinson [poems only]. London Printed for C. Parker, the Upper Part of New Bond-Street 1775 pp. 28-34. [8],134p.,plate; 8⁰.

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The LINNET'S PETITION . I As Stella sat the other day , Beneath a myrtle shade , A tender bird in plaintive notes , Address'd the pensive maid . II Upon a bough in gaudy cage , The feather'd warbler hung , And in melodious accents thus , His fond petition sung . III " Ah ! pity my unhappy fate , " And set a captive free , " So may you never feel the loss , " Of peace , or liberty . " IV " With ardent pray'r and humble voice , " Your mercy now I crave , " Your kind compassion and regard , " My tender life to save . " V " Ah ! wherefore am I here confin'd , " Ah ! why does fate ordain , " A life so innocent as mine , " Should end in grief and pain . " VI " I envy every little bird , " That warbles gay and free , " The meanest of the feather'd race , " Is happier far than me . " VII " Sweet liberty by heaven sent , " From me , alas ! is torn , " And here without a cause confin'd , " A captive doom'd I mourn . " VIII " When bright Aurora's silver rays , " Proclaim the rising morn , " And glitt'ring dew drops shine around , " Or gild the flow'ring thorn . " IX " When every bird except myself , " Went forth his mate to see , " I always tun'd my downy throat , " To please , and gladden thee . " X " Beneath thy window each new day , " And in the myrtle bow'r , " I strove to charm thy list'ning ear , " With all my little pow'r . " XI " Ah ! what avails this gaudy cage , " Or what is life to me , " If thus confin'd , if thus distress'd , " And robb'd of liberty . " XII " I who the greatest fav'rite was " Of all the feather'd race , " Think , Stella think , the pain I feel , " And pity my sad case . " XIII While here condemn'd to sure despair , " What comfort have I left , " Or how can I this fate survive , " Of every joy bereft . " XIV " My harmless life was ever free , " From mischief and from ill , " My only wish on earth to prove , " Obedient , to your will . " XV " Then pity my unhappy fate , " And set a captive free , " So may you never feel the loss , " Of peace , or liberty . " XVI On Stella's breast compassion soon , Each tender feeling wrought , Resolv'd to give him back with speed , That freedom which he sought . XVII With friendly hand she ope'd the cage , By kindred pity mov'd , And sympathetic joys divine , Her gentle bosom prov'd . XVIII When first she caught the flutt'ring thing , She felt strange extasy , But never knew so great a bliss , As when she set him free .