238 The Poets Beasts, 



choice, soon whiten all the land " (Cowper). They are the 

 "restless," "ever-wandering" sheep — 



" Russet lawn and fallows grey 

 Where the nibbling flocks do stray." 



So the morning passes and the heat increases. "With 

 numerous bleat," they seek the trees " spreading a shady 

 boon," and "creep close by the grove, to hide from the 

 rigours of day." Here they lie ruminating ; smoothing the 

 knotted thorns by rubbing against them ; and then spread 

 again over the land till evening, and " in the soft sunshine 

 of departing day" the "cheerful lambs skip in the fields 

 and lead the wanton race." The twilight falls, and 



" Every mother ruminates apart 

 Recumbent in the dusk, and every son 

 Sportful no longer, and his bleating hushed, 

 Reclines expectant of the dewy night 

 Fast by his chewing dam." 



Or the shepherd convenes the flock, and they troop to the 

 fold " with hurried bell and dust-provoking feet." 



Not that their days are altogether uneventful. Cowper's 

 " Needless Alarm " is an excellent case in point, when they 

 discuss the propriety of suicide in consequence of the over- 

 whelming horrors of the approaching fox-hunt, thinking all 

 the fiends are let loose upon themselves. The description 

 of the mutton-headed folk is delightful — 



" Awhile they mused. Surveying every face, 

 Tiiou hadst supposed tliem of superior race ; 

 Tiieir periwigs of wool and fears combined, 

 Stamped on eacli countenance such marks of mind, 

 That sage they seemed as lawyers o'er a doubt, 

 Which, puzzling long, at last they puzzle out." 



Sometimes, again, dogs worry the flock. Somerville pre- 

 scribes the proper punishment for any hound caught in 

 such an act — 



