He spied the finny tribes below,
Amid the limpid brine;
And felt it now was time to know
Whereon he was to dine.
He saw a noble, shining fish
So near the surface swim,
He felt at once a hungry wish
To make a feast of him.
Then straight he took his downward course;
A sudden plunge he gave;
And, pouncing, seized, with murderous force,
His tempter in the wave.
He struck his talons firm and deep,
Within the slippery prize,
In hope his ruffian grasp to keep,
And high and dry to rise.
But ah! it was a fatal stoop,
As ever monarch made;
And, for that rash--that cruel swoop,
He soon most dearly paid!
The fish had too much gravity
To yield to this attack.
His feet the eagle could not free
From off the scaly back.
He'd seized on one too strong and great;
His mastery now was gone!
And on, by that preponderant weight,
And downward, he was drawn.
Nor found he here the element
Where he could move with grace;
And flap, and dash, his pinions went,
In ocean's wrinkled face.
They could not bring his talons out,
His forfeit life to save;
And planted thus, he writhed about
Upon his gaping grave.
He raised his head, and gave a shriek,
To bid adieu to light:
The water bubbled in his beak--
He sank from human sight!
The children of the sea came round,
The foreigner to view.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53