Page:Poems by William Wordsworth (1815) Volume 2.djvu/151

143 Deep the River was, and crusted

Thinly by a one night's frost;

But the nimble Hare hath trusted

To the ice, and safely crost;

She hath crost, and without heed

All are following at full speed,

When, lo! the ice, so thinly spread,

Breaks—and the Greyhound,, is over head!

Better fate have and —

See them cleaving to the sport!

has no heart to follow,

Little, she stops short.

She hath neither wish nor heart,

Hers is now another part:

A loving Creature she, and brave!

And fondly strives her struggling Friend to save.

From the brink her paws she stretches,

Very hands as you would say!

And afflicting moans she fetches,

As he breaks the ice away.

For herself she hath no fears,—

Him alone she sees and hears,—

Makes efforts and complainings; nor gives o'er

Until her Fellow sunk, and reappeared no more.