Twas when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined.
What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes
Envy's a sharper spur than pay.
The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And the hoarse owl his woeful dirges sings.
Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.
When if or chance or hunger's powerful sway Directs the roving trout this fatal way, He greedily sucks in the twining bait, And tugs and nibbles the fallacious meat. Now, happy fisherman; now twitch the line! How thy rod bends! behold, the prize is thine!