Thomas Hardy - Wagtail and Baby lyrics

A baby watched a ford, whereto   A wagtail came for drinking; A blaring bull went wading through,   The wagtail showed no shrinking. A stallion splashed his way across,   The birdie nearly sinking; He gave his plumes a twitch and toss,   And held his own unblinking. Next saw the baby round the spot   A mongrel slowly slinking; The wagtail gazed, but faltered not   In dip and sip and prinking. A perfect gentleman then neared;   The wagtail, in a winking, With terror rose and disappeared;   The baby fell a-thinking.