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 halloo; Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Who, nursed with tender care, And, when he could, would bite. And milk, and oats, and straw; With sand to scour his maw. Whereon he loved to bound, But most before approaching showers, Eight years and five round rolling moons He thus saw steal away, Dozing out all his idle noons, And every night at play. I kept him for his humour's sake, For he would oft beguile My heart of thoughts that made it ache, But now beneath his walnut shade 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 estEt moriar ego. THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT OF THE TREATMENT OF HIS HARES, WAS INSERTED BY COWPER IN THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. 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 anything 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 my 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 all males. Immediately commencing carpenter, I built them houses to sleep in; each had a separate apartment, so contrived that their ordure would pass through the bottom of it; an earthen pan placed under each received whatsoever fell, which being duly emptied and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean. In the daytime they had the range of a hall, and at night retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another. Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer me to take him up, and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that they might not molest him, (for, like many other wild animals, they persecute one of their own species that is sick) and by constant care, and trying him with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than my patient after his recovery; a sentiment which he most significantly expressed by licking my hand, first the back of it, then the palm, then every finger separately, then between all the fingers, as if anxious to leave no part of it unsaluted; a ceremony which he never performed but once again upon a similar occasion. Finding him extremely tractable, I made it my custom to carry him always after breakfast into the garden, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of a cucumber vine, sleeping or chewing the cud till evening; in the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast. I had not long habituated him to this taste of liberty, before he began to be impatient for the return of the time when he might enjoy it. He would invite me to the garden by drumming upon my knee, and by a look of such expression, as it was not possible to misinterpret. If this rhetoric did not immediately succeed, he would take the skirt of my coat between his teeth, and pull it with all his force. Thus Puss might be said to be perfectly tamed, the shyness of his nature was done away; and on the whole it was visible by many symptoms, which I have not room to enumerate, that he was happier in human society than when shut up with his natural companions. Not so Tiney; upon him the kindest treatment had not the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an equal share of my attention; but if after his recovery I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike with his fore feet, spring forward, and bite. He was however very entertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth, and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity, and performed his feats with such a solemnity of manner, that in him too I had an agreeable companion. Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and whose death was occasioned by his being turned into his box, which had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage; Tiney was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a courage and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk, and bound, and play a thousand gambols, in which Bess, being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superior to the rest, and proved himself the Vestris of the party. One evening the cat, being in the room, had the hardiness to pat Bess upon the cheek, an indignity which he resented by drumming upon her back with such violence that the cat was happy to escape from under his paws, and hide herself. I describe these animals as having each a character of his own. Such they were in fact, and their countenances were so expressive of that character, that, when I looked only on the face of either, I immediately knew which it was. It is said that a shepherd, however numerous his flock, soon becomes so familiar with their features, that he can, by that indication only, distinguish each from all the rest; and yet, to a common observer, the difference is hardly perceptible. I doubt not that the same discrimination in the cast of countenances would be discoverable in hares, and am persuaded that among a thousand of them no two could be found exactly similar; a circumstance little suspected by those who have not had opportunity to observe it. These creatures have a singular sagacity in discovering the minutest alteration that is made in the place to which they are accustomed, and instantly apply their nose to the examination of a new object. A small hole being burnt in the carpet, it was mended with a patch, and that patch in a moment underwent the strictest scrutiny. They seem too to be very much directed by the smell in the choice of their favourites: to some persons, though they saw them daily, they could never be reconciled, and would even scream when they attempted to touch them; but a miller coming in engaged their affections at once; his powdered coat had charms that were irresistible. It is no wonder that my intimate acquaintance with these specimens of the kind has taught me to hold the sportsman's amusement in abhorrence; he little knows what amiable creatures he persecutes, of what gratitude they are capable, how cheerful they are in their spirits, what enjoyment they have of life, and that, impressed as they seem with a peculiar dread of man, it is only because man gives them peculiar cause for it. That I may not be tedious, I will just give a short summary of those articles of diet that suit them best. I take it to be a general opinion that they graze, but it is an erroneous one, at least grass is not their staple: they seem rather to use it medicinally, soon quitting it for leaves of almost any kind. Sowthistle, dandelion, and lettuce, are their favourite vegetables, especially the last. I discovered by accident that fine white sand is in great estimation with them; I suppose as a digestive. It happened, that I was cleaning a birdcage when the hares were with me; I placed a pot filled with such sand upon the floor, which being at once directed to by a strong instinct, they devoured voraciously; since that time I have generally taken care to see them well supplied with it. They account green corn a delicacy, both blade and stalk, but the ear they seldom eat: straw of any kind, especially wheat-straw, is another of their dainties; they will feed greedily upon oats, but if furnished with clean straw never want them; it serves them also for a bed, and, if shaken up daily, will be kept sweet and dry for a considerable time. They do not indeed require aromatie herbs, but will eat a small quantity of them with great relish, and are particularly fond of the plant called musk; they seem to resemble sheep in this, that, if their pasture be too succulent, they are very subject to the rot; to prevent which, I always made bread their principal nourishment, and, filling a pan with it cut into small squares, placed it every evening in their chambers, for they feed only at evening and in the night; during the winter, when vegetables were not to be got, I mingled this mess of bread with shreds of carrot, adding to it the rind of apples cut extremely thin; for, though they are fond of the paring, the apple itself disgusts them. These however not being a sufficient substitute for the juice of summer herbs, they must at this time be supplied with water; but so placed, that they cannot overset it into their beds. I must not omit, that occasionally they are much pleased with twigs of hawthorn, and of the common brier, eating even the very wood when it is of considerable thickness. Bess, I have said, died young; Tiney lived to be nine years old, and died at last, I have reason to think, of some hurt in his loins by a fall; Puss is still living, and has just completed his tenth year, discovering no signs of decay, nor even of age, except that he has grown more discreet and less frolicsome than he was. I cannot conclude without observing, that I have lately introduced a dog to his acquaintance, a spaniel that had never seen a hare to a hare that had never seen a spaniel. I did it with great caution, but there was no real need of it. Puss discovered no token of fear, nor Marquis the least symptom of hostility. There is therefore, it should seem, no natural antipathy between dog and hare, but the pursuit of the one occasions the flight of the other, and the dog pursues because he is trained to it; they eat bread at the same time out of the same hand, and are in all respects sociable and friendly. I should not do complete justice to my subject, did I not add, that they have no ill scent belonging to them, that they are indefatigably nice in keeping themselves clean, for which purpose nature has furnished them with a brush under each foot; and that they are never infested by any vermin. May 28, 1784. Memorandum found among Mr. Cowper's Papers. Tuesday, March 9, 1786. THIS day died poor Puss, aged eleven years eleven months. He died between twelve and one at noon, of mere old age, and apparently without pain. OLNEY HYMNS. L. WALKING WITH GOD. Gen. v. 24. OH! for a closer walk with God ; What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd! Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made thee mourn, Help me to tear it from thy throne, So shall my walk be close with God, II. JEHOVAH-JIREH. THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. Gen. xxii. 14. THE saints should never be dismay'd, Nor sink in hopeless fear; For when they least expect his aid, The Saviour will appear. This Abraham found: he raised the knife; Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey; 1 1 Sam. xxiii. 27. When Jonah sunk beneath the wave, He thought to rise no more2; But God prepared a fish to save, And bear him to the shore. Blest proofs of power and race divine, May every deep-felt care of mine Wait for his seasonable aid, And though it tarry, wait: III. JEHOVAH-ROPHI. I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE. Exod. xv. 26. HEAL us, Emmanuel! here we are, We faintly trust thy word; Be that far from thee, Lord! Remember him who once applied, With trembling, for relief; "Lord, I believe," with tears he cried 3, "Oh, help my unbelief!" She too, who touch'd thee in the press, Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace 4, Conceal'd amid the gathering throng, Like her, with hopes and fears we come, IV. JEHOVAH-NISSI, THE LORD MY BANNER. Exod. xvii. 15. By whom was David taught To aim the deadly blow, And laid the Gittite low? Nor sword nor spear the stripling took, But chose a pebble from the brook. "Twas Israel's God and king Who sent him to the fight; Ye feeble saints, your strength endures, Who order'd Gideon forth, To storm the invaders' camp, With arms of little worth, A pitcher and a lamp? The trumpets made his coming known, And all the host was overthrown. Oh! I have seen the day, When with a single word, "My trust is in the Lord," My soul hath quell'd a thousand foes, But unbelief, self-will, Self-righteousness, and pride, How often do they steal My weapon from my side! Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's friend, Will help his servant to the end. VI. WISDOM. Prov. viii. 22—31. ERE God had built the mountains, When, like a tent to dwell in, He wrought by weight and measure, Thus Wisdom's words discover And couldst thou be delighted And mystery divine! The voice that speaks in thunder, V. JEHOVAH-SHALOM. THE LORD SEND PEACE. Judges, vi. 24. JESUS! whose blood so freely stream'd To satisfy the law's demand; By thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd, Before the Father's face I stand. To reconcile offending man, Make Justice drop her angry rod; What creature could have form'd the plan, Or who fulfil it but a God? No drop remains of all the curse, For wretches who deserved the whole ; No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce The guilty, but returning soul. Peace by such means so dearly bought, What rebel could have hoped to see? Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought, His Sovereign fasten'd to a tree. Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare! For strife with earth and hell begins; They may assault, they may distress; I Judges, vii. 9, and 20. VII. VANITY OF THE WORLD. GOD gives his mercies to be spent ; The world's esteem is but a bribe, To buy their peace you sell your own; The slave of a vainglorious tribe, Who hate you while they make you known The joy that vain amusements give, Oh! sad conclusion that it brings! The honey of a crowded hive, Defended by a thousand stings. "Tis thus the world rewards the fools That live upon her treacherous smiles: She leads them blindfold by her rules, And ruins all whom she beguiles. God knows the thousands who go down VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. Isaiah, xii. 1. I WILL praise thee every day Here, in the fair gospel-field, Still his worth your praise exceeds ; God the Saviour dwells in thee! "There, like streams that feed the garden, Pleasures without end shall flow; For the Lord, your faith rewarding, "Ye no more your suns descending, God shall rise, and shining o'er ye, XI. JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer. xxiii. 6. IX. THE CONTRITE HEART. Isaiah, Ivii. 15. THE Lord will happiness divine On contrite hearts bestow; I hear, but seem to hear in vain, If aught is felt, 'tis only pain, I sometimes think myself inclined My best desires are faint and few, But when I cry, "My strength renew!" Thy saints are comforted, I know, O make this heart rejoice or ache; X. THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH. Isaiah, ix. 15-20. HEAR what God the Lord hath spoken: My God, how perfect are thy ways! Sin twines itself about my praise, When I would speak what thou hast done I cannot make thy mercies known, Divine desire, that holy flame This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, While self upon the surface floats, Let others in the gaudy dress Of fancied merit shine; The Lord shall be my righteousness, XII. EPHRAIM REPENTING. Jer. xxxi. 18-20, My God, till I received thy stroke, So unaccustom'd to the yoke, With grief my just reproach I bear; Thy merciful restraint I scorn'd, "Is Ephraim banish'd from my thoughts, Or vile in my esteem? No," saith the Lord, "with all his faults, I still remember him. |