THE PINEAPPLE ANDTHE BEE

The pineapples, in triplerow,

Were basking hot, and all in blow.

A bee of most discerning taste

Perceived the fragrance as he pass'd,

On eager wing the spoiler came,

And search'd for crannies in the frame,

Urged his attempt on every side,

To every pane his trunk applied,

But still in vain, the frame was tight.

And only pervious to the light:

Thus having wasted half the day,

He trimm'd his flight another way.

Methinks, I said, in thee I find

The sin and madness of mankind.

To joys forbidden man aspires,

Consumes his soul with vain desires;

Folly the spring of his pursuit,

And disappointment all the fruit.

While Cynthio ogles, as she passes,

The nymph between two chariot glasses,

She is the pineapple, and he

The silly unsuccessful bee.

The maid who views with pensive air

The show-glass fraught with glittering ware,

Sees watches, bracelets, rings and lockets,

But sighs at the thought of empty pockets;

Like thine, her appetite is keen,

But ah, the cruel glass between!

Our dear delights are often such,

Exposed to view, but not to touch;

The sight our foolish heart inflames;

We long for pineapples in frames;

With hopeless wish one looks and lingers,

One breaks the glass, and cuts his fingers;

But they whom Truth and Wisdom lead,

Can gather honey from a weed.

 

William Cowper