A book for boys and girls, or, Country rhimes for children by J.B.

XXIII. Upon the Lark and the Fowler

Thou simple Bird what mak'st thou here to play? Look, there's the Fowler. prethee come away. Dost not behold the Net? Look there 'tis spread, Venture a little further thou art dead.

Is there not room enough in all the Field For thee to play in, but thou needs must yield To the deceitful glitt'ring of a Glass, Plac'd betwixt Nets to bring thy death to pass?

Bird, if thou art so much for dazling light, Look, there's the Sun above thee, dart upright? Thy nature is to soar up to the Sky, Why wilt thou come down to the nets, and dye?

Take no heed to the Fowler's tempting Call; This whistle he enchanteth Birds withal. Or if thou seest a live Bird in his net, Believe she's there 'cause thence she cannot get.

Look how he tempteth thee with his Decoy, That he may rob thee of thy Life, thy Joy: Come, prethee Bird, I prethee come away, Why should this net thee take, when 'scape thou may?

Hadst thou not Wings, or were thy feathers pull'd, Or wast thou blind or fast asleep wer't lull'd: The case would somewhat alter, but for thee, Thy eyes are ope, and thou hast Wings to flee.

Remember that thy Song is in thy Rise, Not in thy Fall, Earth's not thy Paradise. Keep up aloft then, let thy circuits be Above, where Birds from Fowlers nets are free.

Comparison

This Fowler is an Emblem of the Devil, His Nets and Whistle, Figures of all evil. His Glass an Emblem is of sinful Pleasure, And his Decoy, of who counts sin a Treasure.

This simple Lark's a shadow of a Saint, Under allurings, ready now to faint.

This admonisher a true Teacher is, Whose work's to shew the Soul the snare and bliss. And how it may this Fowler's net escape, And not commit upon it self this Rape.