Joseph Warton

Here you will find the Poem Verses on a Butterfly of poet Joseph Warton

Verses on a Butterfly

Fair Child of Sun and Summer! we behold 
With eager eyes thy wings bedropp'd with gold; 
The purple spots that o'er thy mantle spread, 
The sapphire's lively blue, the ruby's red, 
Ten thousand various blended tints surprise, 
Beyond the rainbow's hues or peacock's eyes: 
Not Judah's king in eastern pomp array'd, 
Whose charms allur'd from far the Sheban maid, 
High on his glitt'ring throne, like you could shine 
(Nature's completest miniature divine): 
For thee the rose her balmy buds renews, 
And silver lillies fill their cups with dews; 
Flora for thee the laughing fields perfumes, 
For thee Pomona sheds her choicest blooms, 
Soft Zephyr wafts thee on his gentlest gales 
O'er Hackwood's sunny hill and verdant vales; 
For thee, gay queen of insects! do we rove 
From walk to walk, from beauteous grove to grove; 
And let the critics know, whose pedant pride 
And awkward jests our sprightly sport deride: 
That all who honours, fame, or wealth pursue, 
Change but the name of things--they hunt for you.