With cherished sullenness of Their way pursue, pace ΙΟ Ingrates who wear a smileless face If kindred humours e'er would make A counter impulse let me take 1837. (?) 15 XVII. INCIDENT. CHARACTERISTIC OF A FAVOURITE DOG. ON his morning rounds the Master Four dogs, each pair of different breed, 5 Distinguished two for scent, and two for speed. See a hare before him started! -Off they fly in earnest chase; 10 Her hope is near: no turn she makes; Deep the river was, and crusted 15 To the ice, and safely crost; 20 Breaks-and the greyhound, DART, is over head! Better fate have PRINCE and SWALLOW 25 See them cleaving to the sport! MUSIC has no heart to follow, Little MUSIC, she stops short. She hath neither wish nor heart, A loving creature she, and brave! 30 And fondly strives her struggling friend to save. From the brink her paws she stretches, Very hands as you would say ! And afflicting moans she fetches, As he breaks the ice away. Him alone she sees and hears, 35 Makes efforts with complainings; nor gives o'er Until her fellow sinks to re-appear no more. 40 1805. XVIII. TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE SAME DOG. LIE here, without a record of thy worth, Or want of love, that here no Stone we raise; Yet they to whom thy virtues made thee dear Shall find thee through all changes of the year: This Oak points out thy grave; the silent tree Will gladly stand a monument of thee. 10 We grieved for thee, and wished thy end were past; 15 And willingly have laid thee here at last: Not only for a thousand thoughts that were, Old household thoughts, in which thou hadst thy share; But for some precious boons vouchsafed to thee, 25 30 Found scarcely any where in like degree! 36 XIX. FIDELITY. A BARKING Sound the Shepherd hears, eyes 5 He halts-and searches with his The Dog is not of mountain breed ; Nor is there any one in sight All round, in hollow or on height; Nor shout, nor whistle strikes his ear; It was a cove, a huge recess, That keeps, till June, December's snow; A silent tarn1 below! Far in the bosom of Helvellyn, Remote from public road or dwelling, From trace of human foot or hand. There sometimes doth a leaping fish 1 Tarn is a small Mere or Lake, mostly high up the mountains. 10 15 20 25 in Thither the rainbow comes-the cloud- Not free from boding thoughts, a while Nor far had gone before he found From those abrupt and perilous rocks He instantly recalled the name, 30 35 40 45 On which the Traveller passed this way. 50 But hear a wonder, for whose sake A lasting monument of words This wonder merits well. The Dog, which still was hovering nigh, Repeating the same timid cry, 55 This Dog, had been through three months' Yes, proof was plain that, since the day 60 |