Fable XXV The Blackbird and Bullfinch
Perch’d on a poplar’s verdant spray,
A Blackbird sung the hours away;
Charm’d all around, and seem’d to call
On echo from his Lordship’s hall.
Confin’d in state a Bullfinch there,
The melting music chanc’d to hear—
Bursting with envy, silence broke,
And thus from gilded cage he spoke:—
“Cease, bungler, thy discordant noise,
Untun’d thy throat, and harsh thy voice;
How dar’st thou, vagrant, as thou art,
To me thy dissonance impart?
Know’st thou I sing by studied rules,
And brag the learning of the schools?
Soft rapture to the heart convey,
And charm the list’ning soul away?
To please my Lord, and soothe his cares,
I warble soft Italian airs;
Which he in gratitude repays
With costly food, and gen’rous praise:
Whilst thou, condemn’d through air to rove,
Or hide thee in the gloomy grove,
To feebly suck thy beverage scant,
And pine in endless care and want;
To rocks and woods thy tale belongs,
Fit audience for thy stupid songs!
Away! no more my palace dun,
Or Dick, or Tom, shall fetch the gun.”
He ceas’d—The fable bird returns
(With rising scorn his bosom burns),
“Thou little lordling, void of sense,
Dar’st thou, imperious, warn me hence?
Know, parasite, thy threats are nought,
Nor boast thy cage too dearly bought:
Above the frigid rules of art,
’Tis nature’s dictates I impart;
Nor ever prostitute my lays,
But grateful sing my Maker’s praise;
Whilst echoing o’er the hills and plains,
I cheer the nymphs and lab’ring swains;
Whether the rising notes I swell,
Or lightly load the passing gale;
With bolder music fill the grove,
Or gently call my mate to love:
Whether the joys of summer sing,
Or chant the beauties of the spring;
The varied notes still new appear,
And sweet transition charms the ear:
Whilst thou, puff’d up with self-conceit,
And idle thoughts of being great,
Nor freedom canst thyself allow,
Nor give to others what is due;
But pedant-like, in pride, elate
(With notions, as thy prison, strait),
Think’st thou alone can urge the strain,
Thy boasted learning then, how vain!
Attend this truth, and know for once,
That learning ne’er unmade the dunce.”