قراءة كتاب Food for the Mind Or, A New Riddle-book
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
اللغة: English
الصفحة رقم: 2
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Four wings I have,
Which swiftly mount on high
On sturdy pinions,
Yet I never fly;
And tho' my body often moves around,
Upon the self-same spot
I'm always found;
And, like a nurse who chews the infants meat,
I chew for man before that he can eat.
With words unnumber'd I a-bound,
In me mankind take much delight,
In me great store of learning's found,
Yet I can neither read nor write.
The world I view in little space
I'm restless, ever changing place
Nothing I eat, but by my pow'r,
Procure what all mankind devour.
My body is both plump and round,
With comely neck and breast,
No brighter creature would be found
Were I but oftner dress'd:
But daily I am wearied so
And my employment such,
Black as any negro go,
Nor scarce am fit to touch:
Upon my mistress morn and eve,
I constantly attend;
Yet many a blow and nick-name have,
Tho' I did ne'er offend.
When mortals are involv'd in ills,
I sing with mournful voice;
If mirth their hearts in gladness fills,
I celebrate their joys.
And as the lark with warbling throat,
Ascends upon the wing;
So I lift up my chearful note,
And as I mount I sing.
A tall and slender shape I bear,
Nor lady's skin's more white or fair:
My life is short, and doth decay
So soon it seldom lasts a day.
If in the evening brought to light,
I make my exit in the night;
Yet to mankind I'm useful ever,
And many hidden things discover;
Which makes all those who round me tend,
Oft with a sigh lament my end.
I'm of the same materials made as you,
Have native ignorance and beauty too;
But when I fly for safety to your arms,
You to a foreigner resign my charms;
He, to defile me thinks it no offence;
And rudely robs me of my innocence;
With inward rage I burn—but hug the foe,
And breathe out vengeance wherefo'er I go.
Nay, while thus lovingly we seem to agree,
I serve him just as Jove did Semele,
For e'er from me the thoughtless sot retires,
By my embrace consum'd he soon expires.
The HIGHWAY.
