Other dogs in thymy dew Tracked the hares and followed through Sunny moor or meadow This dog only, crept and crept Next a languid cheek that slept, Sharing in the shadow. Other dogs of loyal cheer Bounded at the whistle clear, Up the woodside hieing— This dog only, watched in reach And if one or two quick tears Up he sprang in eager haste, In a tender trouble. And this dog was satisfied, If a pale thin hand would glide, Which he pushed his nose within, On the palm left open. This dog, if a friendly voice Call him now to blyther choice Than such chamber-keeping, 'Come out!' praying from the door,— Presseth backward as before, Up against me leaping. Therefore to this dog will I, Tenderly not scornfully, Render praise and favour! With my hand upon his head, Is my benediction said Therefore, and for ever. And because he loves me so, Better than his kind will do Often, man or woman,— Give I back more love again Than dogs often take of men,— Leaning from my Human. Blessings on thee, dog of mine, Pretty collars make thee fine, Sugared milk make fat thee! Pleasures wag on in thy tail Hands of gentle motion fail Downy pillow take thy head, Silken coverlid bestead, Sunshine help thy sleeping! No fly's buzzing wake thee upNo man break thy purple cup, Set for drinking deep in. Whiskered cats arointed flee Sturdy stoppers keep from thee Nuts lie in thy path for stones, And thy feast-day macaroons Turn to daily rations! Mock I thee, in wishing weal?- Thou art made so straightly, Blessing needs must straighten too, Little canst thou joy or do, Thou who lovest greatly. Yet be blessed to the height Pervious to thy nature,― Only loved beyond that line, Loving fellow-creature! THE FOURFOLD ASPECT. WHEN ye stood up in the house With your little childish feet, And, in touching Life's first shows, First, the touch of Love, did meet,— Love and Nearness seeming one, By the hearthlight cast before, And, of all Beloveds, none Standing farther than the door→ Not a name being dear to thought, With its owner beyond call,— Nor a face, unless it brought Its own shadow to the wall, When the worst recorded change Was of cherry dropt from bough, When love's sorrow seemed more strange Than love's treason can seem now, |