Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. III. The Eighteenth Century: Addison to Blake
William Cowper (17311800)Epitaph on a Hare
H
Nor swifter greyhound follow,
Whose foot ne’er tainted morning dew,
Nor ear heard huntsman’s halloo;
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domestic bounds confined,
Was still a wild Jack hare.
His pittance every night,
He did it with a jealous look,
And, when he could, would bite.
And milk, and oats, and straw;
Thistles, or lettuces instead,
With sand to scour his maw.
On pippins’ russet peel,
And, when his juicy salads failed,
Sliced carrot pleased him well.
Whereon he loved to bound,
To skip and gambol like a fawn,
And swing his rump around.
For then he lost his fear,
But most before approaching showers,
Or when a storm drew near.
He thus saw steal away,
Dozing out all his idle noons,
And every night at play.
For he would oft beguile
My heart of thoughts that made it ache,
And force me to a smile.
He finds his long last home,
And waits, in snug concealment laid,
Till gentler Puss shall come.
From which no care can save,
And, partner once of Tiney’s box,
Must soon partake his grave.