As a poet he was not worthy to unloose the buckles
of their shoes; but he had one thing in common with the best
and greatest, the feeling of tender love and compassion for
the lower animals which was in Thomson and Cowper, but found
its highest expression in his own great contemporaries,
Coleridge, Shelley, and Wordsworth. In virtue of this feeling
he was of their illustrious brotherhood.
In conclusion, I will quote one more passage. From the
subject of horses he passes to that of dogs and their
occasional reversion to wildness, when the mastiff or cur, the
"faithful" house-dog by day, takes to sheep-killing by night.
As a rule he is exceedingly cunning, committing his
depredations at a distance frown home, and after getting his
fill of slaughter he sneaks home in the early hours to spend
the day in his kennel "licking his guilty paws." This is an
anxious time for shepherds and farmers, and poor Giles is
compelled to pay late evening visits to his small flock of
heavy-sided ewes penned in their distant fold. It is a
comfort to him to have a full moon on these lonely
expeditions, and despite his tremors he is able to appreciate
the beauty of the scene.
With saunt'ring steps he climbs the distant stile,
Whilst all around him wears a placid smile;
There views the white-robed clouds in clusters driven
And all the glorious pageantry of heaven.
Low on the utmost bound'ry of the sight
The rising vapours catch the silver light;
Thence fancy measures as they parting fly
Which first will throw its shadow on the eye,
Passing the source of light; and thence away
Succeeded quick by brighter still than they.
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