EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Though duly from my hand he took His pittance ev'ry night, He did it with a jealous look, And, when he could, would bite. His diet was of wheaten bread, And milk, and oats, and straw; Thistles, or lettuces instead, With sand to scour his maw. On twigs of hawthorn he regal'd, A Turkey carpet was his lawn, To skip and gambol like a fawn, His frisking was at ev'ning hours, For then he lost his fear, But most before approaching show'rs, Or when a storm drew near. Eight years and five round-rolling moons Dozing out all his idle noons, I kept him for his humour's sake, My heart of thoughts, that made it ache, But now beneath his walnut shade And waits, in snug concealment laid, He, still more aged, feels the shocks, And, partner once of Tiney's box, EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM. Hic etiam jacet, Qui totum novennium vixit, Siste paulisper, Qui præteriturus es, Et tecum sic reputa- Nec plumbum missile, Nec imbres nimii, Confecêre: Tamen mortuus est Et moriar ego. The following Account of the Treatment of his Hares, was inserted by Mr. Cowper in the Gentleman's Magazine, whence it is transcribed. In the year 1774, being much indisposed both in mind and body, incapable of diverting myself either with company or books, and yet in a condition that made some diversion necessary, I was glad of any thing, that would engage my attention without fatiguing it. The children of a neighbour of mine had a leveret given them for a plaything; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and, soon becoming weary of their charge, they readily consented that their father, who saw it pining and growing leaner every day, should offer it to my acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prisoner under my protection, perceiving that, in the management of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I should find just that sort of employment which my case required. It was soon known among the neighbours that I was pleased with the present; and the consequence was, that in a short time I had as many leverets offered to me, as would have stocked a paddock. I undertook the care of three, which it is necessary that I should here distinguish by the names I gave them—Puss, Tiney, and Bess. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives, I must inform you that they were |