The red-hot Bolt which splits the stubborn Oak,
Scarce flies more fwift, or gives a furer Stroke.
Her Young are feasted with the reeking Food,
And early learn to gorge themselves with Blood:
Their noftrils fnuff the Battle from a-far,
And they still bend their Flight to where the
flaughter'd are.

"Tis he beftows, delightful to behold,

The PEACOCK's Plumes, out-fhining beaten Gold.
Lo! on the Ground with Scorn He seems to tread,
The various Glory waving o'er his Head.
Ambitious to be feen, with stately Pace,

He stalks, exulting, on the highest Place.
Proudly he spreads his Plumes against the Sun,
Difdaining by its Beams to be outdone :
Green, azure, gold, his dazling Train displays,

Each Star emits a glitt'ring Stream of Rays,
And all flame forth around with one refulgent Blaze.)

Obferve

Obferve the * CROCODILE's amazing Length, His Form affrighting, and his mighty Strength. With Scales of Brafs encompass'd all around, From him the rattling Javelins rebound, Broken their Points, but guiltless of a Wound. Like op'ning Gates his threat'ning Jaws divide, With Rows of Teeth like Spears on either Side.

* This Creature being little known, perhaps a Defcription of it, may not only give light to the poetical part, but also in itfelf afford fome Amusement to the Reader: and therefore I have fubjoined such a one, as I could collect from the best Writers.

It is a Creature living both by Land and Water, which from an Egg (not a great deal bigger than a Turkey's) arrives sometimes to eight or ten Yards in Length: for whereas other Creatures have a certain Period to their Growth; this (as 'tis faid) ftill grows bigger to the End of it's Life; which is reported to last 100 Years. Its Head is flat above and below, with Jaws wide enough to fwallow a Man whole, a fharp long Snout, full of Teeth, but no Tongue: the Eyes very large, and of a darkish Colour. The Body all of a Bignefs, covered on the Back with high 'Scales like the Heads of broad Nails, of a greenish Colour, and fo hard, an Halbert cannot pierce them. Its Tail is long, and cover'd with fuch Scales as the Back; its Belly white, and pretty tender, being the only Place where it can eafily be wounded. It has four fhort Legs, with five Claws on its fore, and four on its hinder Feet. Contrary to all Creatures (except the Hippopotamus) it moves only the upper Jaw in eating. Its Flesh is not poisonous, but infipid. It is a very ravenous and fubtile Creature, hiding itself in the Sands, and behind the projecting Banks of Rivers, to watch the Beafts coming to drink, and when any comes within its reach, rufhes with it into the Water, and holds it down 'till it is ftrangled. The only way to escape their Purfuit, is by flying in Circles, for their Body being of a vaft Length, requires fome time to turn about ; but directly forward they can run with great Swiftnefs. Their Weeping is a Fable. It lays its Eggs in the Sand to be hatched by the Sun's Heat.

In Ambush on the River's Bank he lies,

Thirfting for Blood: around he rolls his Eyes, With Hunger pain'd:-What can his Fury ftay? Dreadful he roufes up, and rushes on the Prey.

While yet an Egg, and cover'd o'er with Sand, His Parents left him, helpless on the Strand, What Pow'r, but God's alone, could give him Birth, And raise the Monster crawling from the Earth?

The WHALE to Him owes that enormous Size, Which makes the Seas in foaming Mountains rise. Urg'd on by him the Billows brave the Shore,

And from his Jaws ejected Rivers

pour.

With his wide Tail he drives the Ocean round, Whilft hollow Rocks reverberate the Sound. High o'er the Floods in State he proudly rides, And with his Bulk beats back the flowing Tides: Not him the roaring Hurricane affrights;

He in the Tempeft plays, and in the Storm delights.

Whate'er

Whate'er we find around, may justly raise Our Admiration, and command our Praise : Perfection and furprizing Beauty shine,

And light our Reason to an Hand divine : Their mighty Maker's over-ruling Care, Wisdom, and Power, his Creatures all declare, Or great, or small they be, in Water, Earth, or Air.

See, to the Sun the BUTTERFLY difplays It's glitt'ring Wings, and wantons in his Rays: In Life exulting, o'er the Meadows flies,

Sips from each Flow'r, and breathes the vernal Skies.
Its splendid Plumes, in graceful Order, show
The various Glories of the painted Bow.
Where Love directs, a Libertine, it roves,

And courts the Fair Ones thro' the verdant Groves.

HowGlorious now! how chang'd fince Yesterday! When on the Ground, a crawling Worm it lay, Where ev'ry Foot might tread its Soul away.

Who

Who rais'd it thence? and bid it range the Skies?

Gave its rich Plumage, and its brilliant Dyes?

'Twas GOD:It's God and thine, O MAN,

and He,

In this thy Fellow-Creature let's Thee see,

The

wond'rousChangewhich is ordain'd forThee.

Thou too fhalt leave thy reptile Form behind, And mount the Skies, a pure etherial Mind, There range among the Stars, all bright and un

confin'd.

From him alone the SPIDER learns to spread Her pendant Snare, and twift the flender Thread. Careful, fhe travels, 'till fome Place fhe finds Safe from the Rains, and shelter'd from the Winds: There, with juft Skill, her future Work defigns: Revolves the Plan: and draws the deftin'd Lines. Each Part she labours with repeated Pain, And often walks the Circle of her Reign:

Compact