Deep the river was, and crusted
  Thinly by a one night’s frost;
  But the nimble Hare hath trusted
  To the ice, and safely crost; so 20
  She hath crost, and without heed
  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—­25
  See them cleaving to the sport! 
  Music has no heart to follow,
  Little music, she stops short. 
  She hath neither wish nor heart,
  Hers is now another part:  30
  A loving creature she, and brave! 
  And fondly strives [2] her struggling friend to save.

  From the brink her paws she stretches,
  Very hands as you would say! 
  And afflicting moans she fetches, 35
  As he breaks the ice away. 
  For herself she hath no fears,—­
  Him alone she sees and hears,—­
  Makes efforts with complainings; nor gives o’er
  Until her fellow sinks to re-appear no more. [3] 40

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1837.

  Hath an instinct ... 1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1815.

  And doth her best ... 1807.]

[Variant 3: 

1837.

  Makes efforts and complainings; nor gives o’er
  Until her Fellow sunk, and reappear’d no more. 1807.

  ... sank, ... 1820.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  In 1807 and 1815 the title was ’Incident, Characteristic of a favourite Dog, which belonged to a Friend of the Author’.—­Ed.]

* * * * *

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE SAME DOG

Composed 1805.—­Published 1807

[Was written at the same time, 1805.  The Dog Music died, aged and blind, by falling into a draw-well at Gallow] Hill, to the great grief of the family of the Hutchinsons, who, as has been before mentioned, had removed to that place from Sockburn.—­I.  F.]

One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”—­Ed.

  Lie [1] here, without a record of thy worth,
  Beneath a [2] covering of the common earth! 
  It is not from unwillingness to praise,
  Or want of love, that here no Stone we raise;
  More thou deserv’st; but this man gives to man, 5
  Brother to brother, this is all we can. 
  Yet [3] they to whom thy virtues made thee dear
  Shall find thee through all changes of the year: 
  This Oak points out thy grave; the silent tree
  Will gladly stand a monument of thee. 10