Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8.djvu/85

 Did ever mortal see a peacock Attempt a flight above a haycock? And for his singing, doctor, you know, Himself complain'd of it to Juno. He squalls in such a hellish noise, He frightens all the village boys. This peacock kept a standing force, In regiments of foot and horse; Had statesmen too of every kind, Who waited on his eyes behind; And this was thought the highest post; For, rule the rump, you rule the roast. The doctor names but one at present, And he of all birds was a pheasant. This pheasant was a man of wit, Could read all books were ever writ; And, when among companions privy, Could quote you Cicero and Livy. Birds, as he says, and I allow, Were scholars then, as we are now; Could read all volumes up to folios, And feed on fricassees and olios: This Pheasant by the Peacock's will, Was viceroy of a neighbouring hill; And, as he wander'd in his park, He chanc'd to spy a clergy Lark; Was taken with his person outward, So prettily he pick'd a cow-t—d: Then in a net the Pheasant caught him, And in his palace fed and taught him. The moral of the tale is pleasant, Himself the lark, my lord the pheasant: A lark he is, and such a lark As never came from Noah's ark: And