1The ostrich, with her

gallant gaudy plumes1

,

2In her great

wit2

and courage so presumes

3That,

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.