William Shenstone

Perch'd on the cedar's topmost bough,
And gay with gilded wings,
Perchance the patron of his vow,
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Perch'd on the cedar's topmost bough,
And gay with gilded wings,
Perchance the patron of his vow,
Some artless linnet sings.

Oft has good nature been the fool's defence,
And honest meaning gilded want of sense.

Oft has good nature been the fool's defence,
And honest meaning gilded want of sense.

For seldom shall she hear a tale
So said, so tender, yet so true.

For seldom shall she hear a tale
So said, so tender, yet so true.

Whoe'er has travel'd life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,
May sigh to think he read more

Whoe'er has travel'd life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,
May sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome, at an inn.

The lines of poetry, the period of prose, and even the texts of Scripture most frequently recollected and quoted, are read more

The lines of poetry, the period of prose, and even the texts of Scripture most frequently recollected and quoted, are those which are felt to be preeminently musical