Poems (Osgood)/Earl Albert's Bird

by Frances Sargent Osgood

EARL ALBERT'S BIRD.

a scotch song.

A gowden cage Earl Albert had,
 A peerless bird he kept within it;
A bird o' beauty rare and glad,
 But 'twas na robin, finch, or linnet.

Earl Albert hung his cage wi' flowers,
 Wi' gems and silken gauds he deck'd it,
And siller locks upon the doors—
 "'Twould fly," said he, "I maun protect it!"

Earl Albert thought his bird was tame,
 Because its sang was saft an' tender,—
And Luti was its winsome name,
 And it was robed wi' jewell'd splendor.

The bonnie bird! its radiant eyes,
 Its tones o' luve sae wildly pleading,
The passer-by were more than wise
 Gin he could pass unharm'd—unheeding.

And unco weel he luved his pet,
 And mickle care he had to guard it,
For oh! its glancing eyes o' jet
 Still watch'd the door altho' he'd barr'd it.

"Ah! gin you lure me, let me go
 And I'll come back!" sae warbled Luti.
"Nay! cauld without the wind doth blow,
 Ye're safer in your cage, my beauty."

Just then a bairn cam tripping nigh,
 Wi' Iris wing and gowden quiver,
He waited till the earl went by,
 Then cried, "I'll settle that forever

Like lightning sped the sun-tipp'd shaft,
 The white breast heaved—the salt wings flutter'd,
While. saucy Luve delighted laugh'd—
 "She'll soon break prison now," he mutter'd.

Earl Albert cam when morning shone,
 New dainties for his darling bringing;
The door was wide! the bird was flown!
 And thus afar he heard her singing—

"Oh! gin ye'd ruled by lure alane,
 And gin ye'd left me free to fly, sir,
Save by yet leave I had na gane,
 But tyrants' bars I break or die, sir!"