After reviewing and criticising some of the faults and follies of human society, the poem concludes, "By this, the sun was out o' sight, And darker gloaming brought the night: Resolved to meet some ither day." 6 1786. "Burns," says A. Cunningham, "had a favourite collie at Ellisland, with this legend on its collar: Robert Burns, Poet.' His last dog, a fine burly fellow, which survived him sometime, was named THURLOW, which I suppose the poet had bestowed on him in compliment to the rough, manly character of the Chancellor. You remember Thurlow's famous reply to 1 Shaggy. 6 Dug. 2 Jolly. 5 Intimate. 9 Beetle. the Duke of Grafton, in which he challenged comparison with the noble Duke as A MAN. This could not fail to take a strong hold of the feelings of Burns."-R. Carruthers' MS. Burns was very fond of animals, and he showed it in 'The Farmer's Address to his Mare,' his 'Lines on a Wounded Hare,' 'The Winter's Night,' and other pieces. He also, at a lady's importunity, wrote an epitaph on a lapdog, but it has slight merit. Blacklock, mentioned above, composed a better inscription of the kind, and also an ode. Undisguis'd, each reigning passion, May her favour still pursue thee, In each other bless'd and blessing, Roscommon was also happy on another of the fondlings of the fair. ON THE DEATH OF A LADY'S DOG. "Thou, happy creature, art secure How didst thou scorn Life's meaner charms, Thou who could'st break from Laura's arms! Poor Cynic! still methinks I hear Thy awful murmurs in my ear; Fréville, a French writer on the canine race, has given the next pretty lines on his pets. ÉPÎTRE À LIRON ET LIRETTE. “Liron, Lirette, . Petits toutous Plus gents que tous, Par amusette J'adresse à vous Ce loisir doux Race funeste, Pas même un zeste; Petits louloux, Petits bijoux, Avec simplesse : Nulle souplesse, Nul tour d'adresse, Ne font de vous des preux; Avec liesse, Vous chérissez maîtresse Plus que mille, à vous deux. Ce qu'encor puis écrire, C'est qu'à sages fameux Dans les arts merveilleux Dont Minerve a l'empire, Aux amis de Montreuil, Hélas! toujours en deuil, Et pleurant au cercueil De sa jeune Thémire! A Lalande, à Lemire, Vous faites tant d'accueil, Que c'est presque un délire. Ne mordant nullement; Montrant mine doucette; Donnant très-poliment, Patte svelte et blanchette; Badinant bellement; Caressant gentiment; A chacun faisant fête, De façon joliette : L'un, l'autre vous aimant Où l'on voit constamment Dans ces jours de tempête, Au moins, d'une âme droite Enfin, Liron, Lirette, A. F. J. FRÉVILLE. 1796. Hamilton, born in 1704, and who fought for the Pretender, wrote the following: ON A DOG. "Calm though not mean, courageous without rage, Serious not dull, and without thinking sage; Pleas'd at the lot that Nature has assign'd, Snarl as I list, and freely bark my mind; 1 Old coin worth less than a farthing. 2 Names of four dogs. |