Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/46

 30 JOHN M. HARNEY [1820-30. Lover. Echo, you lie, but can't deceive me ; Her ey*"s eclipse the stars, believe me — Echo. " Leave me ! " Lover. But come, you saucy, pert romancer, Who is as fair as Phoebe? answer. Echo. "Ann, sir!" THE WHIPPOWIL. There is a strange, mysterious bird, Which few have seen, but all have heard ; He sits upon a fallen tree, Through all the night, and thus sings he : Whippowil ! Whippowil ! Whippowil ! Despising show, and empty noise. The gaudy fluttering thing he flies : And in the echoing vale by night Thus sings the pensive anchorite : Whippowil ! Oh, had I but his voice and wings, I'd envy not a bird that sings ; But gladly would I flit away. And join the wild nocturnal lay : Whippowil ! The school-boy, tripping home in haste. Impatient of the night's repast, Would stop to hear my whistle shrill, Aiid answer me with mimic skill : Whippowil ! The rich man's scorn, the poor man's care, Folly in silk, and Wisdom bare. Virtue on foot, and Vice astride. No more should vex me while I cried : Whippowil ! How blest! — Nor loneliness nor state, Nor fame, nor wealth, nor love, nor hate. Nor av'rice, nor ambition vain. Should e'er disturb my tranquil strain : WhippoAvil ! Whippowil ! Whippowil ! ON A VALUED FRIEND. Devout, yet cheerful ; pious, not austere ; To others lenient, to himself severe ; Tho' honored, modest ; diffident, tho' prais'd ; The proud he humbled, and the humble rais'd ; Studious, yet social ; though polite, yet plain ; No man more learned, yet no man less vain. His fame would universal envy move, But envy's lost in universal love. That he has faults, it may be bold to doubt, Yet certain 'tis we ne'er have found them out. If faults he has (as man, 'tis said, must have). They are the only faults he ne'er forgave. I flatter not : absurd to flatter where Just praise is fulsome, and offends the ear.