Nor some reproof yourself refuse 

 From your aggrieved bow-wow ; 



If killing birds be such a crime, 

 (Which I can hardly see,) 

 What think you, Sir, of killing time 

 With verse address'd to me ? 



William Cowper. 



The Parson, the Squire, and the Spaniel ^> 



A Tale 



A GENTLEMAN possess'd a fav'rite spaniel, 

 ^*- That never treated maid nor man ill : 

 This dog, of whom we cannot too much say, 

 Got from his godfather the name of Tray. 



After ten years of service just, 



Tray, like the race of mortals, sought the dust — 



That is to say, the spaniel died : 



A coffin then was order'd to be made, 

 The dog was in the churchyard laid, 



And o'er his pale remains the master cry'd. 



Lamenting much his trusty fur-clad friend, 

 And willing to commemorate his end, 

 He rais'd a small blue stone, just after burial, 

 And weeping, wrote on it this sweet memorial : 



9 1 



