Library:The Shepherd and the Sea V. II

The Shepherd and the Sea V. II
Upon the borders of the raging main,

On sober profits lived a happy swain;

For though his fortune was but small,

In safety still he held all.

Riches at last were cast upon the shore,

He saw and coveted the tempting store;

Sold off his flocks, and sent his cast to sea.

The ship was wrecked, and gave it the deep;

The master was reduces to watch the sheep,

Nor longer swain of his own flocks was he.

He who was Corydon before,

Was Roger now, and nothing more.

Soon after, from the profits of the heath,

Having some sheep again at his command,

One day when Boreas holding in his breath

Let the brave ships come smoothly to land:

"O Madame Sea! You're come for cash again,"

He cried; "but try some other stupid swain,

For we'll keep ours upon the faithful plain."

The moral of this tale has gravest scope,-

To hold you to your places here below;

For truth and sound experience will show,

A pound in hand's worth five in hope.

Deaf to all counsels let us ever be,

Of mad ambition, or the faithless sea.

One they give joy, and twenty thousand care;

The promise wonders, but beware,

For thieves and storms are frequent there.