ON his morning rounds the Master <br />Goes to learn how all things fare; <br />Searches pasture after pasture, <br />Sheep and cattle eyes with care; <br />And, for silence or for talk, <br />He hath comrades in his walk; <br />Four dogs, each pair of different breed, <br />Distinguished two for scent, and two for speed. <br /> <br />See a hare before him started! <br />--Off they fly in earnest chase; <br />Every dog is eager-hearted, <br />All the four are in the race: <br />And the hare whom they pursue, <br />Knows from instinct what to do; <br />Her hope is near: no turn she makes; <br />But, like an arrow, to the river takes. <br /> <br />Deep the river was, and crusted <br />Thinly by a one night's frost; <br />But the nimble Hare hath trusted <br />To the ice, and safely crost; <br />She hath crost, and without heed <br />All are following at full speed, <br />When, lo! the ice, so thinly spread, <br />Breaks--and the greyhound, DART, is overhead! <br /> <br />Better fate have PRINCE and SWALLOW-- <br />See them cleaving to the sport! <br />MUSIC has no heart to follow, <br />Little MUSIC, she stops short. <br />She hath neither wish nor heart, <br />Hers is now another part: <br />A loving creature she, and brave! <br />And fondly strives her struggling friend to save. <br /> <br />From the brink her paws she stretches, <br />Very hands as you would say! <br />And afflicting moans she fetches, <br />As he breaks the ice away. <br />For herself she hath no fears,-- <br />Him alone she sees and hears,-- <br />Makes efforts with complainings; nor gives o'er <br />Until her fellow sinks to re-appear no more.<br /><br />William Wordsworth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/incident-characteristic-of-a-favorite-dog/
