A DRAGON-FLY with beauteous wing Is hov'ring o'er a silv'ry spring；I watch its motions with delight，--
Now dark its colours seem， now bright；
Chameleon-like appear， now blue， Now red， and now of greenish hue.
Would it would come still nearer me， That I its tints might better seeIt hovers， flutters， resting ne'er！
But hush！ it settles on the mead.
I have it safe now， I declare！
And when its form I closely view，'Tis of a sad and dingy blue--Such， Joy-Dissector， is thy case indeed1767-9.
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第一章EXPLANATION OF AN ANTIQUE GEM，A YOUNG fig-tree its form lifts highWithin a beauteous garden；And see， a goat is sitting by.
As if he were its warden.
But oh， Quirites， how one errs！
The tree is guarded badly；
For round the other side there whirrsAnd hums a beetle madly.
The hero with his well-mail'd coatNibbles the branches tall so；A mighty longing feels the goatGently to climb up also.
And so， my friends， ere long ye seeThe tree all leafless standing；It looks a type of misery，Help of the gods demanding.
Then listen， ye ingenuous youth，Who hold wise saws respected：
From he-goat and from beetles-toothA tree should be protected！
1815.
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