Birds — Meditation 2
HEaring a whole quire of Birds chirping and twinking together, it ingaged my curiosity a little to enquire into the occasion of that convocation, which mine eye quickly inform'd me of; for I perceived a dead Hawk in the bush, about which they made such a noise, seeming to triumph at the death of their enemy; and I could not blame them to sing his knell, who like a Cannibal was wont to feed upon their living bodies; tearing them limb from limb, and scaring them with his frightful appearance. This Bird which living was so formidable, being dead the poorest Wren or Titmouse fears not to chirp or hop over. This brings to my thoughts the base and ignoble ends of the greatest Tyrants and greedy ingroffers of the world, of whom (while living) men were more afraid than birds of a Hawk, but dead became objects of contempt and scorn. The death of such Tyrants is both inglorious and unlamented; When the wicked perish, there is shouting, Prov. 11. 10. Which was exemplified to the life at the death of Nero of whom the Poet thus sings, Cum mors crudelem rapuisset saeva Neronem Credibile est multos Roman agitasse jacos. When cruel Nero dy'd th' Historian tells. How Rome did mourn with Bonefires, plays and bells.
Remarkable for contempt and shame have the ends of many bloudy Tyrants been; so Pompey the great, of whom Clau| dian the Poet sings, Nudus pascit aves jacet en qui p[•]ssidet orbem Exiguae telluris inops— Birds eat his flesh, lo now he cannot have Who rul'd the world, a space to make a grave.
The like is storied of Alexander the great, who lay unburied thirty dayes, and William the Conquerer, with many other such Birds of prey; while a beneficial and holy life is usually closed up in an honourable and much lamented death.
For mine own part, I wish I may sooder my conversation in the world, that I may live when I am dead in the aff[•]ctions of the best, and leave an honourable testimony in the consciences of the worst; that I may oppress none, do good to all, and say when I dye, as good Ambrose did, I am neither ashamed to live, nor afraid to dye.
