Incident : Characteristic of a Favourite Dog 



ON his morning rounds the master 

 Goes to learn how all things fare ; 

 Searches pasture after pasture, 

 Sheep and cattle eyes with care ; 

 And, for silence or for talk, 

 He hath comrades in his walk ; 

 Four dogs, each pair of different breed, 

 Distinguished, two for scent, and two for speed. 



See a hare before him started ! 



Off they fly in earnest chase ; 



Every dog is eager-hearted, 



All the four are in the race : 



And the hare whom they pursue, 



Hath an instinct what to do : 



Her hope is near : no turn she makes ; 



But, like an arrow, to the river takes. 



Deep the river was, and crusted 



Thinly by a one night's frost ; 



But the nimble hare hath trusted 



To the ice, and safely crost ; 



She hath crost, and without heed 



All are following at full speed, 



When, lo I the ice, so thinly spread, 



Breaks— and the greyhound, Dart, is over head ! 



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