44 THE BUMBLE-BEE'S PARADISE 



Or else his heavy feet would stumble 



Against some bud, and down he'd tumble 20 



Amongst the grass; there lie and grumble 



In low, soft bass poor maudlin bumble ! 



HENRY A. BEERS 

 (quoted by Walt Whitman in 

 Specimen Days, under the 

 heading ' Bumble-Bees '). 



[Compare this poem with the second stanza of the preceding 

 poem ' Life in a Garden ' by Marvell.] 



COWPER'S THREE TAME HARES 



IN the year 1774, being much indisposed both in 

 mind and body, incapable of diverting myself either 

 with company or books, and yet in a condition that 

 made some diversion necessary, I was glad of any- 

 thing that would engage my attention without fa- 

 tiguing it. The children of a neighbour of mine had 

 a leveret given them for a plaything ; it was at that 

 time about three months old. Understanding better 

 how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and 

 soon becoming weary of their charge, they readily 10 

 consented that their father, who saw it pining and 

 growing leaner every day, should offer it to my 

 acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prisoner 

 under my protection, perceiving that in the manage- 

 ment of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame 

 it, I should find just that sort of employment which 

 my case required. It was soon known among the 

 neighbours that I was pleased with the present, and 



