Classic Poem

The Petition of the Birds

Ah Shepherd, gentle Shepherd! spare
Us plum'd Inhabitants of Air,
That hop, and inoffensive rove
From Tree to Tree, from Grove to Grove;
What Phrenzy has possest your Minds
To be destructive of your Kind?
Admire not if we Kindred claim,
Our sep'rate Natures are the same;
To each of us thou ow'st a Part,
To grace thy Person, Head, or Heart;
The chaste, the fond, the tender Dove
Inspires thy Breast with purest Love;
The tow'ring Eagle claims a Part
In thy courageous, gen'rous Heart;
On thee the Finch bestow'd a Voice,
To bid the raptured Soul rejoice;
The Hawk has giv'n thee Eyes so bright,
They kindle Love and soft Delight;
Thy snowy Hue and graceful Mien,
May in the stately Swan be seen;
The Robin's Plumes afford the red,
Which thy soft Lips and Cheeks bespread;
Thy filial Piety and Truth,
The Stork bestow'd to crown thy Youth.
Did we these sev'ral Gifts bestow
To give Perfection to a Foe?
Did we so many Virtues give,
To thee, too fierce to let us live?
Suspend your Rage, and every Grove
Shall eccho Songs of grateful Love.
Let Pity sooth and sway your Mind,
And be the Phoenix of Mankind.English