The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke ... In Four Volumes Octavo. Revised and corrected by the Original Manuscript With a Portrait of the Author, and His Life By Miss Brooke. The Third Edition |
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THE FOX-CHASE. |
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 | The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke |  |
417
THE FOX-CHASE.
Young Marcus with the lark salutes the morn—
“Saddle your horses; huntsman, wind your horn.”
We start, we rise at the enlivening sound—
The woods all ring—and wind the horn around:
We snatch a short repast within the hall;
“To horse! To horse!”—We issue at the call.
“Saddle your horses; huntsman, wind your horn.”
We start, we rise at the enlivening sound—
The woods all ring—and wind the horn around:
We snatch a short repast within the hall;
“To horse! To horse!”—We issue at the call.
As when, to rid his country from alarms
Of Russian inroads, and of Gallic arms,
Great Prussia bids the patriot trump to blow,
The free-born gather, and around him glow:
So, at the call of Marcus—grateful sound—
Men, steeds, and dogs, tumultuous pour around.
Of Russian inroads, and of Gallic arms,
Great Prussia bids the patriot trump to blow,
The free-born gather, and around him glow:
So, at the call of Marcus—grateful sound—
Men, steeds, and dogs, tumultuous pour around.
The youth upon their coursers vault with grace;
The coursers neigh, impatient for the chase:
Their short and eager steps the bit restrains;
They paw and pant, reluctant to the reins.
Unfolding gates a spacious passage yield—
Forward we move, and issue to the field.
The coursers neigh, impatient for the chase:
Their short and eager steps the bit restrains;
They paw and pant, reluctant to the reins.
418
Forward we move, and issue to the field.
Far within cover thoughtless Reynard lay,
And slept the riots of the night away.
Late, from the ravage of a neighbouring farm,
He had withdrawn, impenitent of harm;
The tainted gales his felon steps pursue,
And tell his travels to the conscious dew.
But he, whom many a 'scape had render'd sure,
For slights and wiles unrivall'd, slept secure,
In unsuspecting spirits blithe and bland,
Nor dreams the dreadful reck'ning is at hand.
And slept the riots of the night away.
Late, from the ravage of a neighbouring farm,
He had withdrawn, impenitent of harm;
The tainted gales his felon steps pursue,
And tell his travels to the conscious dew.
But he, whom many a 'scape had render'd sure,
For slights and wiles unrivall'd, slept secure,
In unsuspecting spirits blithe and bland,
Nor dreams the dreadful reck'ning is at hand.
Trueman, whom for sagacious nose we hail
The Chief, first touch'd the scarce-distinguish'd gale;
His tongue was doubtful, and no hound replies:
“Haux!—Wind him!—Haux!”—the tuneful huntsman cries.
At once the list'ning pack asunder spread,
With tail erect, and with inquiring head:
With busy nostrils they foretaste their prey,
And snuff the lawn-impearling dews away.
The Chief, first touch'd the scarce-distinguish'd gale;
His tongue was doubtful, and no hound replies:
“Haux!—Wind him!—Haux!”—the tuneful huntsman cries.
At once the list'ning pack asunder spread,
With tail erect, and with inquiring head:
With busy nostrils they foretaste their prey,
And snuff the lawn-impearling dews away.
Now here, now there, they chop upon the scent,
Their tongues in undulating æther spent:
More joyous now, and louder by degrees,
Warm, and more warm, they catch the coming breeze.
Now with full symphony they jointly hail
The welcome tidings of a surer gale;
Along the vale they pour the swelling note;
Their ears and dewlaps on the morning float.
Their tongues in undulating æther spent:
More joyous now, and louder by degrees,
Warm, and more warm, they catch the coming breeze.
419
The welcome tidings of a surer gale;
Along the vale they pour the swelling note;
Their ears and dewlaps on the morning float.
How vainly Art aspires, by rival sounds,
To match the native melody of Hounds!
Not eunuchs warbling in the vocal choir,
Tho' join'd by pipe and string, such bliss inspire,
When with joint sense they quaff the tainted gale,
And in full concert ring their morning peal:
The list'ning planets from their orbits bend,
And the still elements with joy attend.
To match the native melody of Hounds!
Not eunuchs warbling in the vocal choir,
Tho' join'd by pipe and string, such bliss inspire,
When with joint sense they quaff the tainted gale,
And in full concert ring their morning peal:
The list'ning planets from their orbits bend,
And the still elements with joy attend.
Again the doubtful scent our hope defeats:
“To cover—hark!”—the huntsman's voice repeats.
Wide on the left a neighbouring copse was spread,
And thither the obsequious pack he led.
But more aloof the parting sportsmen scout,
Watch every path, and skirt the wood about.
The huntsman now, with expectation flush,
“Haux, Fox!” he cries, and strikes the hopeful bush:
To cover strait the spreading hounds now take,
Snuff every tuft, and spy in every brake.
Again the breeze betrays the tainted ground,
And Lovely tells the gladsome tidings round;
“Hark!—Lovely!—hark!”—deep echoing glens resound.
“To cover—hark!”—the huntsman's voice repeats.
Wide on the left a neighbouring copse was spread,
And thither the obsequious pack he led.
But more aloof the parting sportsmen scout,
Watch every path, and skirt the wood about.
The huntsman now, with expectation flush,
“Haux, Fox!” he cries, and strikes the hopeful bush:
To cover strait the spreading hounds now take,
Snuff every tuft, and spy in every brake.
Again the breeze betrays the tainted ground,
And Lovely tells the gladsome tidings round;
“Hark!—Lovely!—hark!”—deep echoing glens resound.
420
Ah, hapless foxes! ever blind to fate!
Without a cause dejected and elate.
Darkling ye walk, unconscious of your end,
Nor mark the gathering mischiefs that impend!
The shrewd and simple share an equal lot—
In death the wizard finds himself a sot.
Without a cause dejected and elate.
Darkling ye walk, unconscious of your end,
Nor mark the gathering mischiefs that impend!
The shrewd and simple share an equal lot—
In death the wizard finds himself a sot.
That luckless morn, when first along the glade
The tell-tale dews his nightly steps betray'd,
Wrap'd in soft slumbers Reynard press'd his bed,
And there on visionary poultry fed.
He dream'd, as by a neighbouring grange he crept,
Couch'd while he mov'd, and linger'd as he stept,
Two virgin pullets fix'd his side regard,
Plump from the sounding barn and pamp'ring yard:
Near, and more near, he steals with winking eyes,
Then springs at once, and seizes on his prize.
Loud piercing screams th' affrighted welkin fill,
And down his jaws the luscious streams distil.
The tell-tale dews his nightly steps betray'd,
Wrap'd in soft slumbers Reynard press'd his bed,
And there on visionary poultry fed.
He dream'd, as by a neighbouring grange he crept,
Couch'd while he mov'd, and linger'd as he stept,
Two virgin pullets fix'd his side regard,
Plump from the sounding barn and pamp'ring yard:
Near, and more near, he steals with winking eyes,
Then springs at once, and seizes on his prize.
Loud piercing screams th' affrighted welkin fill,
And down his jaws the luscious streams distil.
Ev'n in this rapturous moment, while his taste
Gorg'd the full riot of a fancied feast,
Lovely's near note, far echoing, pierc'd his ears—
He wakes, and inward shrinks to shun his fears.
Upward he starts—erects his ears—and then
Hears the loud “Hark!”—and down he sinks again.
Trembling he strives to re-assure his heart
With a fresh promise of long prospering art;
Then with sly caution, crouching as he rose,
From his warm kennel's ancient seat he goes;
The seat to which he shall return no more,
Now with chill moss and dropping branches hoar.
Gorg'd the full riot of a fancied feast,
Lovely's near note, far echoing, pierc'd his ears—
He wakes, and inward shrinks to shun his fears.
Upward he starts—erects his ears—and then
Hears the loud “Hark!”—and down he sinks again.
421
With a fresh promise of long prospering art;
Then with sly caution, crouching as he rose,
From his warm kennel's ancient seat he goes;
The seat to which he shall return no more,
Now with chill moss and dropping branches hoar.
Thro' frizzled thickets, and thro' yielding sprays,
He thwarts each path, and treads a puzzling maze.
So steer'd, some devious vessel shifts her sail,
And, veering, gains upon the adverse gale.
He thwarts each path, and treads a puzzling maze.
So steer'd, some devious vessel shifts her sail,
And, veering, gains upon the adverse gale.
Now, from the mansion of his late repose
Rank steams and reeking exhalations rose;
The tepid vapours are diffus'd around,
And reach the nerves of each inquiring hound:
With answering notes, their heads tow'rds Heav'n they cast,
And in full concert hail the rich repast.
Rank steams and reeking exhalations rose;
The tepid vapours are diffus'd around,
And reach the nerves of each inquiring hound:
With answering notes, their heads tow'rds Heav'n they cast,
And in full concert hail the rich repast.
The sculking caitiff, who beneath the spread
Of fav'ring umbrage veil'd his luckless head,
Close at his ear believes the distant peals,
And a whole host of dæmons at his heels.
His instant terrors cast all wiles away,
He breaks from cover, and demands the day:
O'er the fair field he flies his num'rous foes,
And down the wind, as swift as wind he goes.
Of fav'ring umbrage veil'd his luckless head,
Close at his ear believes the distant peals,
And a whole host of dæmons at his heels.
His instant terrors cast all wiles away,
He breaks from cover, and demands the day:
422
And down the wind, as swift as wind he goes.
A watchful scout his bold elopement spies—
“Ho!—tally-ho!”—triumphantly he cries.
His rash alarm the gen'rous Marcus blames—
“Law!—give him law!”—as loudly he exclaims.
The distant sportsmen gather at the shout,
As bees they buzz and 'close their chief about;
The fervid youth attending crowd the plain,
And bind the crested coursers to the rein.
“Ho!—tally-ho!”—triumphantly he cries.
His rash alarm the gen'rous Marcus blames—
“Law!—give him law!”—as loudly he exclaims.
The distant sportsmen gather at the shout,
As bees they buzz and 'close their chief about;
The fervid youth attending crowd the plain,
And bind the crested coursers to the rein.
The choiring hounds, with deep harmonious throats,
Fill the charm'd wood, and swell the doubling notes;
Sweeter than those of that enchanting strain
That still'd the surge on the Trinacrian main,
When to the mast, the Grecian, wisely bound,
Scarce dar'd the tempting magic of the sound.
Fill the charm'd wood, and swell the doubling notes;
Sweeter than those of that enchanting strain
That still'd the surge on the Trinacrian main,
When to the mast, the Grecian, wisely bound,
Scarce dar'd the tempting magic of the sound.
The dogs a travers'd labyrinth unwind,
Subtler than that which Dædalus design'd.
By slow degrees the doubling wile is won,
Trac'd through the shade, and push'd into the sun;
There the broad airs a livelier scent assume,
And greet their senses with a full perfume.
Then, as a shaft from the withholding thong,
They shoot away, and pour the plains along.
Subtler than that which Dædalus design'd.
By slow degrees the doubling wile is won,
Trac'd through the shade, and push'd into the sun;
There the broad airs a livelier scent assume,
And greet their senses with a full perfume.
423
They shoot away, and pour the plains along.
No more the youth their eager steeds restrain;
Ardent they start, and loose the granted rein:
The steeds spring forth, and from the rein unbound,
Devour the lessening distance of the ground;
They stretch and strain each nerve and active limb,
Sweep down the slopes, and o'er the levels skim.
Their force a generous emulation fires;
Beneath our speed the fleeting earth retires.
In a glad frenzy we attempt the sky;
Nor seem to run, or ride, but mount and fly!
Ardent they start, and loose the granted rein:
The steeds spring forth, and from the rein unbound,
Devour the lessening distance of the ground;
They stretch and strain each nerve and active limb,
Sweep down the slopes, and o'er the levels skim.
Their force a generous emulation fires;
Beneath our speed the fleeting earth retires.
In a glad frenzy we attempt the sky;
Nor seem to run, or ride, but mount and fly!
Now lightly o'er opposing walls we bound,
Clear the broad trench and top the rising mound:
No stop, no time for respite or recess;
On, and still on, fox, dogs, and horses press.
Clear the broad trench and top the rising mound:
No stop, no time for respite or recess;
On, and still on, fox, dogs, and horses press.
The hounds outbreath'd from their late tuneful throat,
Now break—half short—the disappointed note.
Now o'er the smoaking vale each gen'rous steed
Relaxes from the fervour of his speed:
Push'd up the bray, indignantly they feel
The clanking lash and the retorted steel;
Then down the steep with quick'ning rapture go,
And stretch and sweat upon the plain below.
Now break—half short—the disappointed note.
Now o'er the smoaking vale each gen'rous steed
Relaxes from the fervour of his speed:
Push'd up the bray, indignantly they feel
The clanking lash and the retorted steel;
424
And stretch and sweat upon the plain below.
Athwart one way a tumbling stream was laid
That to the lake its daily tribute paid:
Here the first stop our rapid course delays,
And with a grateful interruption stays.
Upon the bank, in watchful silence still,
We breathe the rising freshness of the rill;
We pant—we drop our languid limbs—and all,
Like fainting Cephalus, on Aura call.
Dark as a mist that to the distant view
Caps the brown mountains with a murky blue;
So from our steeds the thick'ning vapours rise,
Enfold their riders and obscure the skies.
The glowing dogs, forgetful of their foe,
Full on the stream their headlong bodies throw,
Like iron on the whizzing smithy flung,
And lap, and pant, and loll the length'ning tongue.
That to the lake its daily tribute paid:
Here the first stop our rapid course delays,
And with a grateful interruption stays.
Upon the bank, in watchful silence still,
We breathe the rising freshness of the rill;
We pant—we drop our languid limbs—and all,
Like fainting Cephalus, on Aura call.
Dark as a mist that to the distant view
Caps the brown mountains with a murky blue;
So from our steeds the thick'ning vapours rise,
Enfold their riders and obscure the skies.
The glowing dogs, forgetful of their foe,
Full on the stream their headlong bodies throw,
Like iron on the whizzing smithy flung,
And lap, and pant, and loll the length'ning tongue.
Now, from the west, a livelier gale upsprings,
And with new nerves each listless member strings.
In terms still varying their harmonious sounds,
The huntsman calls, and chears his circling hounds.
Now up, now down, now 'cross the stream he beats—
“Haux!—wind him!—haux!—Fox, find him!” he repeats.
Now round and round a fruitless search he plies,
And now a tour of wider circuit tries.
But no intelligence rewards his care;
No note confess'd the fox was ever there—
As though some opening gulph had gorg'd our prey,
Or sudden power had snatch'd him quite away.
And with new nerves each listless member strings.
In terms still varying their harmonious sounds,
The huntsman calls, and chears his circling hounds.
425
“Haux!—wind him!—haux!—Fox, find him!” he repeats.
Now round and round a fruitless search he plies,
And now a tour of wider circuit tries.
But no intelligence rewards his care;
No note confess'd the fox was ever there—
As though some opening gulph had gorg'd our prey,
Or sudden power had snatch'd him quite away.
But Reynard, hotly push'd, and close pursu'd,
Yet fruitful in expedients to elude,
When to the bourn's refreshing bank he came,
Had plung'd, all reeking, in the friendly stream.
The folding waves his failing pow'rs restore,
And close the gates of every fuming pore.
Then down the channel, over flats and steeps,
He steals, and trots—or wades, or swims, or creeps;
Till, where the pebbled shores the surges break,
He quits his feet, and launches on the lake.
Yet fruitful in expedients to elude,
When to the bourn's refreshing bank he came,
Had plung'd, all reeking, in the friendly stream.
The folding waves his failing pow'rs restore,
And close the gates of every fuming pore.
Then down the channel, over flats and steeps,
He steals, and trots—or wades, or swims, or creeps;
Till, where the pebbled shores the surges break,
He quits his feet, and launches on the lake.
As when some coasting skiff, with shatter'd geers,
A cautious course 'twixt land and ocean steers,
Fearful alike on either dang'rous hand
To trust the boist'rous sea or faithless land:
Possess'd of equal fears and equal lore,
So Reynard coasts aloof, and shuns the shore,
Lest the uncover'd odour should exhale,
And tell sure tidings to the trait'rous gale.
A cautious course 'twixt land and ocean steers,
426
To trust the boist'rous sea or faithless land:
Possess'd of equal fears and equal lore,
So Reynard coasts aloof, and shuns the shore,
Lest the uncover'd odour should exhale,
And tell sure tidings to the trait'rous gale.
Not distant far, upon the beach there stood
The hoary growth of a majestic wood,
Whose age of oak and intervening yew
Not the great-grandsires of the living knew:
The flooring, deep beneath the distant shade,
With thorn and frizzling brush was thick inlaid,
While clamouring rooks, scarce heard above our head,
Amid the cloud-commingling branches bred.
The hoary growth of a majestic wood,
Whose age of oak and intervening yew
Not the great-grandsires of the living knew:
The flooring, deep beneath the distant shade,
With thorn and frizzling brush was thick inlaid,
While clamouring rooks, scarce heard above our head,
Amid the cloud-commingling branches bred.
Here Reynard lands, all dripping from the lake,
And seeks the shelter of his wonted brake.
Arriv'd, he shakes, and rolls, and turns him round;
Then entering, sinks o'ertoil'd upon the ground:
Stretch'd at full length, secure of care he lies,
And instant slumbers seal his willing eyes.
And seeks the shelter of his wonted brake.
Arriv'd, he shakes, and rolls, and turns him round;
Then entering, sinks o'ertoil'd upon the ground:
Stretch'd at full length, secure of care he lies,
And instant slumbers seal his willing eyes.
The chop-fall'n hounds meantime are heard no more,
But silent range along the winding shore.
Hopeless alike the hunters lag behind,
And give all thoughts of Reynard to the wind—
All, save one wily rival of his art,
Who vows unpitying vengeance e'er they part.
Along the coast his watchful course he bent,
Careful to catch and wind the thwarting scent;
And last, to make his boastful promise good,
Enter'd the precincts of the fatal wood.
But silent range along the winding shore.
427
And give all thoughts of Reynard to the wind—
All, save one wily rival of his art,
Who vows unpitying vengeance e'er they part.
Along the coast his watchful course he bent,
Careful to catch and wind the thwarting scent;
And last, to make his boastful promise good,
Enter'd the precincts of the fatal wood.
There, thro' the gloom, he leads one hopeless train,
And cheers the long desponding pack in vain;
Till Ringwood first the faint effluvia caught,
And with loud tongue reform'd their old default.
And cheers the long desponding pack in vain;
Till Ringwood first the faint effluvia caught,
And with loud tongue reform'd their old default.
Rous'd at the swell of that reviving sound,
Our hopes rekindle, and our hearts rebound!
Eager we spread thro' furze and mingling brush,
And lash the woof of each afflicted bush;
While here and there the busy dogs reveal
The languid tidings of the dubious gale.
Our hopes rekindle, and our hearts rebound!
Eager we spread thro' furze and mingling brush,
And lash the woof of each afflicted bush;
While here and there the busy dogs reveal
The languid tidings of the dubious gale.
Meanwhile the fox, unconscious of the chase,
Repair'd his late fatigues, and slept in peace;
Nor mark'd the cry of many a hostile tongue
That through the copious forest loudly rung,
Till a bold youth approach'd his thoughtless bed,
And struck the bower that trembl'd o'er his head.
Repair'd his late fatigues, and slept in peace;
Nor mark'd the cry of many a hostile tongue
That through the copious forest loudly rung,
Till a bold youth approach'd his thoughtless bed,
And struck the bower that trembl'd o'er his head.
428
As when amaz'd upstarted Manoah's heir,
Shorn of his strength and his enchanted hair,
While his peal'd ears receiv'd the hostile sound
Of shouting foes that girt his couch around;
So Reynard wakes with sudden horrors chill,
Scant of his force, and shorten'd of his skill.
Bold thro' despair, he breaks at once away,
Bounds thro' the brush, and rushes into day!
The fields, the shores, the hills, each wood resounds
With echoing hunters, and with op'ning hounds:
Rocks, waters, undulating air, and sky,
Become one peal, and propagate the cry.
From the firm land, and from the trembling lake,
Full on our ears the tuneful thunders break,
Roll o'er the waves, and strike the distant coast,
And far beyond, 'mid heav'n-top'd hills, are lost.
Shorn of his strength and his enchanted hair,
While his peal'd ears receiv'd the hostile sound
Of shouting foes that girt his couch around;
So Reynard wakes with sudden horrors chill,
Scant of his force, and shorten'd of his skill.
Bold thro' despair, he breaks at once away,
Bounds thro' the brush, and rushes into day!
The fields, the shores, the hills, each wood resounds
With echoing hunters, and with op'ning hounds:
Rocks, waters, undulating air, and sky,
Become one peal, and propagate the cry.
From the firm land, and from the trembling lake,
Full on our ears the tuneful thunders break,
Roll o'er the waves, and strike the distant coast,
And far beyond, 'mid heav'n-top'd hills, are lost.
Again we start, we bound, we stretch amain,
O'er the brown heath and o'er the bright champaign:
Again o'er gates we fly, thro' hedges rush,
Thro' moorlands labour, and thro' thickets push.
Intense again our gath'ring fervour grows—
Again the coursers smoak—the rider glows:
Distinguish'd steeds their fellow steeds outwind,
And leave their late associates far behind;
While laggard hounds, that form a lengthen'd train,
Run, hoarse, and mute, and panting, o'er the plain.
O'er the brown heath and o'er the bright champaign:
Again o'er gates we fly, thro' hedges rush,
Thro' moorlands labour, and thro' thickets push.
Intense again our gath'ring fervour grows—
Again the coursers smoak—the rider glows:
Distinguish'd steeds their fellow steeds outwind,
And leave their late associates far behind;
429
Run, hoarse, and mute, and panting, o'er the plain.
O'erbreath'd we come where, 'twixt impending hills,
Ran the joint current of two gurgling rills;
On either hand, adown each fearful steep,
Hung forth the shaggy horrors, dark and deep:
Here, thro' brown umbrage, glow'd the vivid green,
And headlong slopes, and winding paths between;
Growth above many a growth, tall trees arose,
The tops of these scarce veil'd the roots of those;
A winding court where wandering fancy walk'd
And to herself responsive Echo talk'd.
Ran the joint current of two gurgling rills;
On either hand, adown each fearful steep,
Hung forth the shaggy horrors, dark and deep:
Here, thro' brown umbrage, glow'd the vivid green,
And headlong slopes, and winding paths between;
Growth above many a growth, tall trees arose,
The tops of these scarce veil'd the roots of those;
A winding court where wandering fancy walk'd
And to herself responsive Echo talk'd.
Here, stay'd again, we hail the kind delay,
And down the shadowy paths delighted stray;
The gathering pack unite, and enter in,
Then spread, and pierce the darkness of the glen.
Now here, now there, now sole, and now combin'd,
They catch the wand'ring odour from the wind;
Thro' many a traverse many-twirling maze,
And all the wond'rous wisdom of his ways,
The Fox they trace, unrav'ling as they go,
Discreetly sure, and musically slow;
Now in joint harmony they pour their notes,
And Echo answers from ten thousand throats.
From hill to hill, with replicated sounds,
The peal rolls down the glen, and still rebounds,
Packs beyond packs seem sweetly to reply,
And waft to distant climes the lessening cry.
And down the shadowy paths delighted stray;
The gathering pack unite, and enter in,
Then spread, and pierce the darkness of the glen.
Now here, now there, now sole, and now combin'd,
They catch the wand'ring odour from the wind;
Thro' many a traverse many-twirling maze,
And all the wond'rous wisdom of his ways,
The Fox they trace, unrav'ling as they go,
Discreetly sure, and musically slow;
430
And Echo answers from ten thousand throats.
From hill to hill, with replicated sounds,
The peal rolls down the glen, and still rebounds,
Packs beyond packs seem sweetly to reply,
And waft to distant climes the lessening cry.
At length, from path to path, and glade to glade,
'Midst woven thickets and impending shade,
Thro' the steep wilderness their way they won,
And reach'd the shelve that open'd to the sun:
Then up the slope they speed them, swift as wind,
As swift the hunters press, and shout behind.
'Midst woven thickets and impending shade,
Thro' the steep wilderness their way they won,
And reach'd the shelve that open'd to the sun:
Then up the slope they speed them, swift as wind,
As swift the hunters press, and shout behind.
But now no more our coursers pull the rein
O'er the firm greensward, or expanded plain,
Thro' rude and craggy grounds, thro' miry clay,
We urge with peril our o'erlabour'd way.
Cast, here and there, along the dangerous course,
Lies spread the rider, and the floundering horse;
But onward still the foremost press, nor mind
To ask for luckless friends that limp behind.
At last the bottom of a mount we reach'd,
Whose top from sea to sea its prospect stretch'd,
And seem'd a look of stately scorn to throw
On the proud works of little men below.
O'er the firm greensward, or expanded plain,
Thro' rude and craggy grounds, thro' miry clay,
We urge with peril our o'erlabour'd way.
Cast, here and there, along the dangerous course,
Lies spread the rider, and the floundering horse;
But onward still the foremost press, nor mind
To ask for luckless friends that limp behind.
At last the bottom of a mount we reach'd,
Whose top from sea to sea its prospect stretch'd,
And seem'd a look of stately scorn to throw
On the proud works of little men below.
With half a pack, and scarcely half a train,
We dare all dangers, and all toil disdain;
The dogs near faint, yet still on slaughter bent,
With tongues abrupt avow the burning scent;
The pendant cliffs audaciously essay,
And trot, or crawl, or climb their desperate way.
While, slanting, we avoid the headlong deep,
Yet bend, press on, and labour up the steep.
We dare all dangers, and all toil disdain;
431
With tongues abrupt avow the burning scent;
The pendant cliffs audaciously essay,
And trot, or crawl, or climb their desperate way.
While, slanting, we avoid the headlong deep,
Yet bend, press on, and labour up the steep.
Where the brow beetling from the mountain sprung
With stunted thorn and shaggy rocks o'erhung,
Beneath whose base a sanded bench, with shade
Of furze and tangling thicket was o'erlaid,
Reynard his palace kept, his regal seat,
His fort of sure resource and last retreat;
The rest were but the mansions of a night,
For casual respite, or for fresh delight.
With stunted thorn and shaggy rocks o'erhung,
Beneath whose base a sanded bench, with shade
Of furze and tangling thicket was o'erlaid,
Reynard his palace kept, his regal seat,
His fort of sure resource and last retreat;
The rest were but the mansions of a night,
For casual respite, or for fresh delight.
Here a Vulcanian Cacus erst was said
To hale the carcases whose blood he shed;
Or as in rolls of old romance we read
Of ravening giants, an enormous breed,
With grizly bones who hung their spacious bower,
Dire trophies of their cruelty and power:
So bones and blood did Reynard's hall distain,
And whitening skeletons confess'd the slain;
Hens, leverets, lambs,—sad trophies of his art,
His raging appetite and ruthless heart.
To this dread fort, with many a hard essay,
We win with peril our o'er-labour'd way;
At length our journey, not our work is done,
The way indeed, but not the fort is won.
To hale the carcases whose blood he shed;
Or as in rolls of old romance we read
Of ravening giants, an enormous breed,
With grizly bones who hung their spacious bower,
Dire trophies of their cruelty and power:
So bones and blood did Reynard's hall distain,
And whitening skeletons confess'd the slain;
Hens, leverets, lambs,—sad trophies of his art,
His raging appetite and ruthless heart.
432
We win with peril our o'er-labour'd way;
At length our journey, not our work is done,
The way indeed, but not the fort is won.
Here had the felon earth'd;—with many a hound
And many a horse we gird his hold around:
The hounds 'fore heaven their accusation spread,
And cry for justice on his caitiff head.
And many a horse we gird his hold around:
The hounds 'fore heaven their accusation spread,
And cry for justice on his caitiff head.
Meanwhile, with cutlasses, we clear each bush
Of platted black-thorn, and of stubborn brush,
Remove the covert of befriending night,
And on the cavern's entrance pour the light.—
Aghast, and trembling in the burst of day,
With haggard eyes the shrinking savage lay;
In vain he glares his desperate glance around,
No scape—no stratagem—no hope is found!
He dies!—he dies! the echoing hills reply,
And the loud triumph rends the vaulted sky.
Of platted black-thorn, and of stubborn brush,
Remove the covert of befriending night,
And on the cavern's entrance pour the light.—
Aghast, and trembling in the burst of day,
With haggard eyes the shrinking savage lay;
In vain he glares his desperate glance around,
No scape—no stratagem—no hope is found!
He dies!—he dies! the echoing hills reply,
And the loud triumph rends the vaulted sky.
| The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke | |