THE DEAD RABBIT.

Weep on! he has a happier fateThan many such as he,To lie there in the gentle snow,And die so quietly:To feel your warm tears fall on him,To feel your tender hands.Youknowhe feels as well as you,Youknowhe understands.He might have now been dyingShot by a cruel gun;With panting heart and glazing eyeFor life he might have run.E’en now he might be hangingAbove your larder shelves,And you, you might, indeed you might,Have eaten him yourselves.Weep on! you will not better it;Or change the world’s old way,For men will hunt and course and shoot,Though you should weep for aye.Weep on! be not ashamed of it,You’ll own in after years,Thatyou yourselves, if not the world,Are better for your tears.

Weep on! he has a happier fate

Than many such as he,

To lie there in the gentle snow,

And die so quietly:

To feel your warm tears fall on him,

To feel your tender hands.

Youknowhe feels as well as you,

Youknowhe understands.

He might have now been dyingShot by a cruel gun;With panting heart and glazing eyeFor life he might have run.E’en now he might be hangingAbove your larder shelves,And you, you might, indeed you might,Have eaten him yourselves.

He might have now been dying

Shot by a cruel gun;

With panting heart and glazing eye

For life he might have run.

E’en now he might be hanging

Above your larder shelves,

And you, you might, indeed you might,

Have eaten him yourselves.

Weep on! you will not better it;Or change the world’s old way,For men will hunt and course and shoot,Though you should weep for aye.Weep on! be not ashamed of it,You’ll own in after years,Thatyou yourselves, if not the world,Are better for your tears.

Weep on! you will not better it;

Or change the world’s old way,

For men will hunt and course and shoot,

Though you should weep for aye.

Weep on! be not ashamed of it,

You’ll own in after years,

Thatyou yourselves, if not the world,

Are better for your tears.

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