You must not think, sir, to catch old birds with chaff.

You must not think, sir, to catch old birds with chaff.

The woosel cock so black of hue,
With orange-tawny bill,
The throstle with his note so true,
read more

The woosel cock so black of hue,
With orange-tawny bill,
The throstle with his note so true,
The wren with little quill--
. . . .
The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
The plain-song cuckoo grey,
Whose note full many a man doth mark,
And dares not answer nay.

I was always a lover of soft-winged things.

I was always a lover of soft-winged things.

That which prevents disagreeable flies from feeding on your
repast, was once the proud tail of a splendid bird.

That which prevents disagreeable flies from feeding on your
repast, was once the proud tail of a splendid bird.

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly
I got to love one man till I die,
read more

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly
I got to love one man till I die,
Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.

Birdes of a feather will flocke togither.

Birdes of a feather will flocke togither.

Never look for birds of this year in the nests of the last.

Never look for birds of this year in the nests of the last.

When the swallows homeward fly,
When the roses scattered lie,
When from neither hill or dale,
read more

When the swallows homeward fly,
When the roses scattered lie,
When from neither hill or dale,
Chants the silvery nightingale:
In these works my bleeding heart
Would to thee its brief impart;
When I thus thy image lose
Can I, ah! can I, e'er know repose?

He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the
bush.

He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the
bush.