Samuel Butler

To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd.
And count their chickens ere they're hatch'd.

To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd.
And count their chickens ere they're hatch'd.

Cry out upon the stars for doing
Ill offices, to cross their wooing.

Cry out upon the stars for doing
Ill offices, to cross their wooing.

The Roman senate, when within
The city walls an owl was seen,
Did cause their clergy, with read more

The Roman senate, when within
The city walls an owl was seen,
Did cause their clergy, with lustrations
. . . .
The round-fac'd prodigy t' avert,
From doing town or country hurt.

So justice while she winks at crimes,
Stumbles on innocence sometimes.

So justice while she winks at crimes,
Stumbles on innocence sometimes.

And force them, though it was in spite
Of Nature and their stars, to write.

And force them, though it was in spite
Of Nature and their stars, to write.