214 SELECT POETRY

THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY.

THE noon was shady, and soft airs
Swept Ouse’s' silent tide,

When, ’scaped from literary cares,
I wandered by its side.

My dog, now? lost in flags and reeds,
Now, starting into sight,

Pursued the swallow o’er the meads
With scarce a slower flight.

1t was the time when Ouse displayed
Its lilies newly blown ;

Their beauties I intent surveyed,
And one I wished my own.

With cane extended far, I sought
To steer it close to land !

But still the prize, though nearly caught
Escaped my eager hand.

Beau marked my unsuccessful pains
With fixed, considerate face,

And puzzling set his puppy brains
To comprehend the case.

But with a cherup clear and strong,
Dispersing all his dream,

I thence withdrew, and followed long
The windings of the stream.

1 Ouse—a river in Buckinghamshire.
2 Now lost, &c.—the first now means at one time, the
second, at another time.