ANSWER To Stanzas addressed to Lady Hesketh, by Miss Catharine Fanshawe, in returning a Poem of Mr. Cowper's, lent to her, on condition she should neither show it, nor take a copy. To be remember'd thus is fame, And in the first degree; So Homer, in the memory stored Was once preserved—a richer hoard, 1793. ON FLAXMAN'S PENELOPE. THE suitors sinn'd, but with a fair excuse, September, 1793. TO THE SPANISH ADMIRAL COUNT GRAVINA, My rose, Gravina, blooms anew, 1793. INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think: a monitory rhyme Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vein; And many a tomb, like Hamilton's, aloud EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Though duly from my hand he took He did it with a jealous look, And, when he could, would bite. His diet was of wheaten bread, On twigs of hawthorn he regaled, And, when his juicy salads fail'd, A Turkey carpet was his lawn, His frisking was at evening hours, But most before approaching showers, 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 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, And force me to a smile. But now beneath his walnut shade He, still more aged, feels the shocks, VOL. VII. EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM. Hic etiam jacet, Siste paulisper, Qui præteriturus es, Et tecum sic reputa― Hunc neque canis venaticus, Nec imbres nimii, Confecêre: Tamen mortuus est- A A 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 any thing 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 the 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. |