European robin

"It was on the day when Lord Jesus felt his pain upon the bitter cross of wood that a small and tender bird, which had hovered awhile around, drew nigh, about the seventh hour, and nestled upon the wreath of Syrian thorns. And when the gentle creature of the air beheld those cruel spikes, the thirty and three, which pierced that bleeding brow, she was moved with compassion and the piety of birds; and she sought to turn aside, if but one of those thorns, with her fluttering wings and her lifted feet! It was in vain! She did but rend her own soft breast, until blood flowed over her feathers from the wound! Then said a voice from among the angels: ‘Thou hast done well, sweet daughter of the boughs! Yea, and I bring thee tidings of reward: Henceforth, from this very hour, and because of this deed of thine, it shall be that, in many a land, thy race and kind shall bear upon their bosoms the hue and banner of thy faithful blood; and the children of every house shall yearn with a natural love towards the birds of the ruddy breast, and shall greet their presence, in its season, with a voice of thanksgiving!’"

"Oh, remember this, He that does good deeds here waits at a table Where angels are his fellow-servitors. TORENTI: I am no robin redbreast to bring straws To cover such a corse."

"For ever from his threshold fly, Who, void of honour, once shall try, With base inhospitable breast, To bar the freedom of his guest. O, rather seek the peasant’s shed, For he will give thee wasted bread, And fear some new calamity Should any there spread snares for thee."

"Then the Redbreast His tunes redrest And sayde now wyll I holde With the churche, for there Out of the ayre I kepe me from the colde.Te per orbem terrarum In usum Sarum; He sange cum gloria, Sancta was nexte; And then the holye text Confitebur ecclesia."

"Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."

"“Ah, wretched me!” he loudly cried, “What is it I have done? O, would to the Powers above I’d dyed When thus I left her alone:Come, come, you gentle redbreast now, And prepare for us a tomb, Whilst unto cruel death I bow, And sing like a swan my doom.”"

"Come, gentle death, and end my grief; Ye pretty birds ring forth my knell; Let robin redbreast be the chief To bury me, and so farewell."

"No burial this pretty pair From any man receives, Till robin redbreast, piously, Did cover them with leaves."

"The robin and the wren Are God’s cock and hen; The martin and the swallow Are God’s mate and marrow."

"Said the Prior: God will help us In this hour of bitter loss. Then, one spied a Robin Redbreast Sitting on a wayside cross.Doubtless came the bird in answer To the words the Prior did speak, For a heavy wheat-ear dangled From the Robins polished beak.Then the brothers, as he dropped it, Picked it up and careful sowed, And abundantly in autumn Reaped the harvest where they strewed.* * * * * Therefore, Christian, small beginnings Pass not by with lip of scorn; God may prosper them, as prospered Robin Redbreasts ear of corn."

"A little robin sitting on a tree In doleful notes bewailed her tragedy."

"The tune is solemn, as if set To fit some doleful ditty; In lamentation for the Queen To move all hearts to pity. * * * I call it he, not she, because It sings and cocks its tail; Which that no female robin doth, Ill hold a pot of ale. * * * Some say this bird an angel is; If so, we hope ’tis good. But why an angel? Why, forsooth They say he takes no food.But that the robin lives by meat Is true without dispute; For tho’ none ever saw him eat, Enough have seen him mute.And that sometimes undecently, Upon the statue-royal, Which made some call him Jacobite, Or otherwise illoyal. * * * The robin may have lost his mate, So hath King William his; And that he well may match again Our hearty prayer is."