Vanity - Thy Name is Woman

William Robertson had a rather scathing tongue for those who liked to elevate themselves artificially above their fellow man or to abuse the natural world that he loved so much (hmm - a family trait perhaps?)

Often times the poetry spoke of men in this way - but I rather like the following poem which pays homage to a poor little "Ox-eye" bird (pictured) which has been killed and stuffed as an ornament on a lady's hat. Apparently the issue of bird plumage used in fashions in the late 1800s was a real concern - with thousands of birds slaughtered to feed the clothing industry.

This engraving came from an 1892 edition of Punch and was entitled "Bird of Prey". The issue was clearly a serious one - similar to the outcry today over the use of furs in fashion. Further details on the wholesale slaughter that went into maintaining this sorry fashion can be found here.

LINES

ON SEEING THAT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BIRD, THE "OX-EYE", STUFFED AND STUCK ON A LADY'S BONNET BY WAY OF ORNAMENT.

Bird of surpassing loveliness,

A little perfect gem,

A bloom thou seem'st kiss'd by sunbeams

Just parted from its stem!

Lively, breathing thing of beauty,

Painted with skill devine;

What dearer fav'rite, sweet and winsome,

Could any heart enshrine?

Like the sparkling sunlit rain-drops,

When hopping to and fro,

Thy robe seemed culled from meadow flow'rs

Spann'd by the mystic bow.

Dear tiny thing of beauty,

Limn'd by a master hand,

All art and skill surpassing

That mortals can command.

And are their hearts so pitiless,

So hardened and so cruel,

That can with senseless brutishness

Smite down this living jewel?

Bird of surpassing loveliness,

Thy fate may well give pain,

A victim to the foolish pride

Of silly heads and vain.

The wretched shifts and pompous airs

That vanity assumes,

Why should Eve's lovely daughters aye.

Thus walk in borrow'd plumes?