Poems (Sewell)/The Squirrel to his Mistress
THE SQUIRREL.TO HIS MISTRESS.
Tho' better form'd a pen to nibble,
Than bless'd with art to write and scribble,
I'll do my best, with some assistance,
To charm my mistress at a distance,
And praise (if ere these lines shou'd find her)
The guardian she has left behind her.—
Whene'er, by tender fears engross'd,
I think my mistress I have lost,
When round in vain, my eyes I cast,
And find the mournful change aghast!
There comes a gentle friend, officious,
Who gives me morsels most delicious!
Either to please my heart's desire,
She roasts me chesnuts by the fire,
Or if she thinks 'twill please my palate,
She brings me lettuce, nuts, and sallad!
When rous'd from sleep, I shew my rage,
And spurn the bound'ries of my cage,
Whene'er my motions seem to need 'em,
I taste the precious hours of freedom.
No whisker'd foe, with gooseberry eyes,
My hours of frolic shall surprize.—
With trembling heart, and fears of danger,
Indeed, I've seen a tabby stranger,
A youngling of the race (with sorrow)
Which ev'ry Squirrel views with horror!
But oh! with Friendship, my reliance,
I bid her crooked arts defiance!—
Tho' awkward visitors might choke me,
I let your gentle sister stroke me,
And hope she feels a condescension,
Which even now I blush to mention!—
Tho' guarded thus, from terrors free,
My mistress! still I sigh for thee!
For thee I feel unusual fears,
At ev'ry noise I prick my ears!
And oh! howe'er by others frighted,
Must ever hear thy voice delighted!
For thee, thy Squirrel now prepares
His softest, most engaging airs,
Tho' nicest wool my cage shou'd line,
And golden bars around shou'd shine,
Tho' even my friends and near relations,
Shou'd come from all the distant nations,
Tho' foreign nuts shou'd tempt me too,
(Sweet as the soil where once they grew)
My mistress wou'd I long to hug,
And be thy humble servant Scug.
Than bless'd with art to write and scribble,
I'll do my best, with some assistance,
To charm my mistress at a distance,
And praise (if ere these lines shou'd find her)
The guardian she has left behind her.—
Whene'er, by tender fears engross'd,
I think my mistress I have lost,
When round in vain, my eyes I cast,
And find the mournful change aghast!
There comes a gentle friend, officious,
Who gives me morsels most delicious!
Either to please my heart's desire,
She roasts me chesnuts by the fire,
Or if she thinks 'twill please my palate,
She brings me lettuce, nuts, and sallad!
When rous'd from sleep, I shew my rage,
And spurn the bound'ries of my cage,
Whene'er my motions seem to need 'em,
I taste the precious hours of freedom.
No whisker'd foe, with gooseberry eyes,
My hours of frolic shall surprize.—
With trembling heart, and fears of danger,
Indeed, I've seen a tabby stranger,
A youngling of the race (with sorrow)
Which ev'ry Squirrel views with horror!
But oh! with Friendship, my reliance,
I bid her crooked arts defiance!—
Tho' awkward visitors might choke me,
I let your gentle sister stroke me,
And hope she feels a condescension,
Which even now I blush to mention!—
Tho' guarded thus, from terrors free,
My mistress! still I sigh for thee!
For thee I feel unusual fears,
At ev'ry noise I prick my ears!
And oh! howe'er by others frighted,
Must ever hear thy voice delighted!
For thee, thy Squirrel now prepares
His softest, most engaging airs,
Tho' nicest wool my cage shou'd line,
And golden bars around shou'd shine,
Tho' even my friends and near relations,
Shou'd come from all the distant nations,
Tho' foreign nuts shou'd tempt me too,
(Sweet as the soil where once they grew)
My mistress wou'd I long to hug,
And be thy humble servant Scug.
[This was a North American Squirrel.]