But hear a wonder, for whose sake A lasting monument of words This wonder merits well. The Dog, which still was hovering nigh, This Dog, had been through three months' space A dweller in that savage place. Yes, proof was plain that, since the day When this ill-fated traveller died, The Dog had watched about the spot, How nourished here through such long time INCIDENT CHARACTERISTIC OF A FAVOURITE DOG. On his morning rounds the Master He hath comrades in his walk; Four dogs, each pair of different breed, Distinguished two for scent, and two for speed. See a hare before him started! Her hope is near: no turn she makes; Deep the river was, and crusted To the ice, and safely crost; All are following at full speed, When, lo! the ice, so thinly spread, Breaks-and the Greyhound, DART, is over head! Better fate have PRINCE and SWALLOW See them cleaving to the sport! MUSIC has no heart to follow, Hers is now another part : A loving creature she, and brave! And fondly strives her struggling friend to save. From the brink her paws she stretches, Very hands as you would say ! And afflicting moans she fetches, Him alone she sees and hears,— Makes efforts and complainings; nor gives o'er Until her Fellow sank, and re-appeared no more. HART-LEAP WELL. Hart-Leap Well is a small spring of water, about five miles from Richmond in Yorkshire, and near the side of the road that leads from Richmond to Askrigg. Its name is derived from a remarkable Chase, the memory of which is preserved by the monuments spoken of in the second Part of the following Poem, which monuments do now exist as I have there described them. THE Knight had ridden down from Wensley Moor "Another horse!"-That shout the vassal heard Joy sparkled in the prancing courser's eyes; A rout this morning left Sir Walter's Hall, Sir Walter, restless as a veering wind, The Knight hallooed, he cheered and chid them on Where is the throng, the tumult of the race? The poor Hart toils along the mountain side; Dismounting, then, he leaned against a thorn; Close to the thorn on which Sir Walter leaned, Upon his side the Hart was lying stretched : And with the last deep groan his breath had fetched And now, too happy for repose or rest, (Never had living man such joyful lot!) Sir Walter walked all round, north, south, and west, And gazed and gazed upon that darling spot. And climbing up the hill-(it was at least Three several hoof-marks which the hunted Beast Sir Walter wiped his face, and cried, "Till now "I'll build a Pleasure-house upon this spot, "A cunning artist will I have to frame 66 A basin for that Fountain in the dell ! And they who do make mention of the same, From this day forth, shall call it HART-LEAP WELL. And, gallant Stag! to make thy praises known, "And, in the summer-time when days are long, "Till the foundations of the mountains fail My Mansion with its Arbour shall endure ;- |