Snowdrop of dogs, with ear of brownest dye, Like the last orphan leaf of naked tree Which shudders in bleak autumn; though by thee, Of hearing careless and untutored eye, Not understood articulate speech of men, Nor marked the artificial mind of books, -- The mortal's voice eternized by the pen, -- Yet hast thou thought and language all unknown To Babel's scholars; oft intensest looks, Long scrutiny o'er some dark-veined stone Dost thou bestow, learning dead mysteries Of the world's birth-day, oft in eager tone With quick-tailed fellows bandiest prompt replies, Solicitudes canine, four-footed amities. |