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1The ostrich, with her
gallant gaudy plumes1
,2In her great
wit2
and courage so presumes3That,
as with3
wind and wing upright she’s borne,4The horse
and’s4
valiant rider she doth scorn.5But folly is
concomitant5
with pride,6For she her precious eggs in sand doth hide,
7Forgetting that the traveler’s foot may crush
8
Their tender shell6
; nor doth she care a rush7
9Though she her young do never see again.
10And thus she lays and labors all in vain,
11’Cause God hath understanding her denied.
12For love and wisdom never will reside
13With arrogance, for they are from above,
14From God, who is the fountain of all love.
15The ostrich than the cuckoo is far worse,
16For
she doth only put her eggs to nurse8
;17
Hard is her meat9
, but harder is her heart,18That with her new laid
ovums10
thus can part.19Oh, my sad soul: this makes my heart e’en bleed!
20None but base English and
Ham’s curséd seed11
21Do
sell their children, ne’er to see them more12
!22Such barbarism all Christians must
deplore13
.23Cruel’s the ostrich: crueller their heart
24That with their
dear-bought14
children thus can part,25
Whenas15
the stork her young do bear and feed,26
Which they retaliate in age and need16
—27By which the noble reader plain may see
28That foolish creatures least indulgent be.
29Let parents then to
theirs17
extend their love,30Seeing natural affection’s from above.
31Then, gracious God, into my soul infuse
32Thy love and wisdom, that it may diffuse
33To all my children, great as well as less;
34Then, O my God, that love and wisdom bless.