Adam and Eve, with no sin to atone,
Knowledge untasted, less rapture have known!

Keeping by Harry, a friend who is fond
Follows as closely as follow he can:
_Is_ there an earthly affection beyond
The love a good dog feels for a good man?

If twenty people fling down twenty gloves
Our Rover has never been known to fail;
He picks out the glove of the man he loves,
And brings it triumphantly, wagging his tail.

Rover and I, under shadowy yew,
List'ning for Harry's dear step on the path--
He _always_ hears it the first of the two,
Which gives me a feeling half joy, half wrath.

By divers states can our spirits be mov'd
Our hearts will answer to many a touch;
We love one creature for being much lov'd,
And we love another for loving much.

By delicate touches our souls are stirr'd,
Fraught with a meaning life never reveals:
I wonder the Bible says not a word
Of the faithful love that a good dog feels.