INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think: a monitory rhime That beams delight? an heart untaught to sigh?- Anticipates a day it never sees, And many a tomb, like Hamilton's, aloud Exclaims, 66 Prepare thee for an early shroud!” H EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Nor swifter greyhound follow, Whose foot ne'er tainted morning dew, Nor ear heard huntsman's hallo', Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Who, nurs'd with tender care, And to domestic bounds confin'd, 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, And, when his juicy salads fail'd, A Turkey carpet was his lawn, To skip and gambol like a fawn, His frisking was at evening 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 He thus saw steal away, Dozing out all his idle noons, And ev'ry night at play. I kept him for his humour' sake, For he would oft beguile My heart of thoughts that made it ache, And force me to a smile. But now, beneath this walnut-shade And waits, in snug concealment laid, He, still more aged, feels the shocks And, partner once of Tiney's box, Must soon partake his grave. EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM. Hic etiam jacet Qui totum novennium vixit Puss. Siste paulisper Qui præteriturus es Et tecum sic reputa Hunc neque canis venaticus Nec plumbum missile Nec laqueus Nec imbres nimii Confecêre Tamen mortuus est Et moriar ego. Memorandum found among Mr. Cowper's papers. Tuesday, March 9, 1786. This day died poor Puss, aged eleven years eleven months. She died between twelve and one at noon, of mere old age, and apparently without pain. |