Shaggy, and lean, and shrewd, with pointed ears 

 And tail cropp'd short, half lurcher and half cur, 

 His dog attends him. Close behind his heel 

 Now creeps he slow ; and now with many a frisk 

 Wide scampering, snatches up the drifted snow 

 With ivory teeth, or ploughs it with his snout : 

 Then shakes his powdered coat, and barks for joy. 



William Cowper, 



The Dog and the Water-Lily <i> ^> *^> 



No Fable 



HP HE noon was shady, and soft airs 



-*- Swept Ouse's silent tide, 

 When, 'scaped from literary cares, 

 I wander'd on his side. 



My spaniel, prettiest of his race, 

 And high in pedigree, 

 (Two nymphs adorn'd with every grace 

 That spaniel found for me,) 



Now wanton'd lost in flags and reeds, 

 Now starting into sight, 

 Pursued the swallow o'er the meads 

 With scarce a slower flight. 



85 



