Or when night warn'd us homeward, tired and spent 

 With our long' day, and tedious beggary. 

 These were my manners, this my way of life, 

 Till age and slow disease me overtook, 

 And sever'd from my sightless master's side. 

 But lest the grace of so good deeds should die, 

 Through tract of years in mute oblivion lost, 

 This slender tomb of turf hath Irus reared, 

 Cheap monument of no ungrudging hand, 

 And with short verse inscribed it, to attest, 

 In long and lasting union to attest, 

 The virtues of the Beggar and his Dog. 



CJiarles La»ib. 



That you must Love Me and Love my Dog ^> 



(From The Essays of Elia) 



" f~* OOD sir, or madam — as it may be — we most 

 ^-^ willingly embrace the offer of your friendship- 

 We have long known your excellent qualities. 

 We have wished to have you nearer to us ; 

 to hold you within the very innermost fold of our 

 heart. We can have no reserve towards a person 

 of your open and noble nature. The frankness of 

 your humour suits us exactly. We have been long 

 looking for such a friend. Quick — let us disburthen 

 our troubles into each other's bosom — let us make 



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