Spots against spots with rage improving glow;
Another pard his bristly whiskers curls,
Grins as he grins, fierce-menacing, and wide
Distends his opening paws; himself against
Himself opposed, and with dread vengeance arm'd.
The huntsman, now secure, with fatal aim
Directs the pointed spear, by which transfix'd
He dies, and with him dies the rival shade.
Thus man innumerous engines forms, t' assail
The savage kind; but most the docile horse,
Swift and confederate with man, annoys
His brethren of the plains; without whose aid
The hunter's arts are vain, unskill'd to wage
With the more active brutes an equal war.
But borne by him, without the well-train'd pack,
Man dares his foe, on wings of wind secure.

Him the fierce Arab mounts, and, with his troop
Of bold compeers, ranges the deserts wild;
Where, by the magnet's aid, the traveller
Steers his untrodden course; yet oft on land
Is wreck'd, in the high-rolling waves of sand
Immerst and lost. While these intrepid bands,
Safe in their horses' speed, outfly the storm,
And scouring round, make men and beasts
The grisly boar is singled from his herd,
As large as that in Erimanthian woods,
A match for Hercules. Round him they fly
In circles wide; and each in passing sends
His feather'd death into his brawny sides.
But perilous th' attempt. For if the steed
Haply too near approach; or the loose earth
His footing fail, the watchful angry beast
Th' advantage spies; and at one sidelong glance
Rips up his groin. Wounded, he rears aloft,
And, plunging, from his back the rider hurls
Precipitant; then bleeding spurns the ground,
And drags his reeking entrails o'er the plain.
Meanwhile the surly monster trots along,
But with unequal speed; for still they wound,
Swift-wheeling in the spacious ring. A wood
Of darts upon his back he bears; adown
His tortur'd sides, the crimson torrents roll
From many a gaping font. And now at last
Staggering he falls, in blood and foam expires.

But whither roves my devious Muse, intent
On antique tales? while yet the royal stag
Unsung remains. Tread with respectful awe [bard,
Windsor's green glades; where Denham, tuneful
Charm'd once the listening Dryads, with his song
Sublimely sweet. O! grant me, sacred shade,
To glean submiss what thy full sickle leaves.

The morning Sun, that gilds with trembling rays
Windsor's high towers, beholds the courtly train
Mount for the chase, nor views in all his course
A scene so gay; heroic, noble youths,
In arts and arms renown'd, and lovely nymphs
The fairest of this isle, where Beauty dwells
Delighted, and deserts her Paphian grove
For our more favor'd shades: in proud parade
These shine magnificent, and press around
The royal happy pair. Great in themselves,
They smile superior; of external show
Regardless, while their inbred virtues give
A lustre to their power, and grace their court
With real splendors, far above the pomp
Of Eastern kings, in all their tinsel pride.
Like troops of Amazons, the female band
Prance round their cars, not in refulgent arms
As those of old; unskill'd to wield the sword,
Or bend the bow, these kill with surer aim.

The royal offspring, fairest of the fair,
Lead on the splendid train. Anna, more bright
Than summer suns, or as the lightning keen,
With irresistible effulgence arm'd,

Fires every heart. He must be more than man,
Who unconcern'd can bear the piercing ray.
Amelia, milder than the blushing dawn,
With sweet engaging air, but equal power,
Insensibly subdues, and in soft chains
Her willing captives leads. Illustrious maids,
Ever triumphant! whose victorious charms,
Without the needless aid of high descent,
Had aw'd mankind, and taught the world's great

Or Britain's second hope? Hail, blooming youth!
May all your virtues with your years improve,
[prey, Till in consummate worth, you shine the pride
their Of these our days, and to succeeding times

A bright example. As his guard of mutes
On the great sultan wait, with eyes deject,
And fix'd on earth, no voice, no sound is heard
Within the wide serail, but all is hush'd,
And awful silence reigns; thus stand the pack
Mute and unmov'd, and cowering low to earth,
While pass the glittering court, and royal pair:
So disciplin'd those hounds, and so reserv'd,
Whose honor 'tis to glad the hearts of kings.
But soon the winding horn, and huntsman's voice,
Let loose the general chorus; far around

Joy spreads its wings, and the gay morning smiles
Unharbor'd now the royal stag forsakes
His wonted lair; he shakes his dappled sides,
And tosses high his beamy head; the copse
Beneath his antlers bends. What doubling shifts
He tries! not more the wily hare; in these
Would still persist, did not the full-mouth'd pack
With dreadful concert thunder in his rear.
The woods reply, the hunter's cheering shouts
Float through the glades, and the wide forest rings
How merrily they chant! their nostrils deep
Inhale the grateful steam. Such is the cry,
And such the harmonious din, the soldier deems
The battle kindling, and the statesman grave
Forgets his weighty cares; each age, each sex,
In the wild transport joins; luxuriant joy,
And pleasure in excess, sparkling exult
On every brow, and revel unrestrain'd.
How happy art thou, man, when thou'rt no more
Thyself! when all the pangs that grind thy soul,
In rapture and in sweet oblivion lost,
Yield a short interval and ease from pain!

lords

To bow and sue for grace. But who is he
Fresh as a rose-bud newly blown, and fair
As opening lilies; on whom every eye
With joy and admiration dwells? See, see,
He reins his docile barb with manly grace.
Is it Adonis for the chase array'd?

See the swift courser strains, his shining hoofs
Securely beat the solid ground. Who now
The dangerous pitfall fears, with tangling heath
High-overgrown? or who the quivering bog
Soft-yielding to the step? All now is plain,
Plain as the strand sea-lav'd, that stretches far
Beneath the rocky shore. Glades crossing glades,
The forest opens to our wondering view:
Such was the king's command. Let tyrants fierce
Lay waste the world; his the more glorious part
To check their pride; and when the brazen voice
Of war is hush'd (as erst victorious Rome)
[T" employ his station'd legions in the work

Of peace; to smooth the rugged wilderness,
To drain the stagnate fen, to raise the slope
Depending road, and to make gay the face
Of Nature, with th' embellishments of Art.

How melts my beating heart! as I behold
Each lovely nymph, our island's boast and pride,
Push on the generous steed, that strokes along
O'er rough, o'er smooth, nor heeds the steepy hill,
Nor falters in th' extended vale below:
Their garments loosely waving in the wind,
And all the flush of beauty in their cheeks!
While at their sides their pensive lovers wait,
Direct their dubious course; now chill'd with fear
Solicitious, and now with love inflam'd.
O! grant, indulgent Heaven, no rising storm
May darken with black wings this glorious scene!
Should some malignant power thus damp our joys,
Vain were the gloomy cave, such as of old
Betray'd to lawless love the Tyrian queen.
For Britain's virtuous nymphs are chaste as fair,
Spotless, unblam'd, with equal triumph reign
In the dun gloom, as in the blaze of day.

Has measur'd half the forest; but alas!
He flies in vain, he flies not from his fears.
Though far he cast the lingering pack behind,
His haggard fancy still with horror views
The fell destroyer; still the fatal cry
Insults his ears, and wounds his trembling heart.
So the poor fury-haunted wretch (his hands
In guiltless blood distain'd) still seems to hear
The dying shrieks; and the pale threatening ghost
Moves as he moves, and as he flies, pursues.
See here his slot; up yon green hill he climbs,
Pants on its brow awhile, sadly looks back
On his pursuers, covering all the plain;
But wrung with anguish, bears not long the sight,
Shoots down the steep, and sweats along the vale.
There mingles with the herd, where once he reign'd
Proud monarch of the groves, whose clashing beam
His rivals aw'd, and whose exalted power
Was still rewarded with successful love.
But the base herd have learn'd the ways of men,
Averse they fly, or with rebellious aim
Chase him from thence: needless their impious deed,
The huntsman knows him by a thousand marks,
Black, and imbost; nor are his hounds deceiv'd;
Too well distinguish these, and never leave
Their once devoted foe; familiar grows
His scent, and strong their appetite to kill.
Again he flies, and with redoubled speed
Skims o'er the lawn; still the tenacious crew
Hang on the track, aloud demand their prey,
And push him many a league. If haply then
Too far escap'd, and the gay courtly train
Behind are cast, the huntsman's clanging whip
Stops full their bold career; passive they stand,
Unmov'd, an humble, an obsequious crowd,
As if by stern Medusa gaz'd to stones.
So at their general's voice whole armies halt
In full pursuit, and check their thirst of blood.
Soon at the king's command, like hasty streams
Damm'd up awhile, they foam, and pour along
With fresh recruited might. The stag, who hop'd
His foes were lost, now once more hears astunn'd
The dreadful din; he shivers every limb,
He starts, he bounds, each bush presents a foe.
Press'd by the fresh relay, no pause allow'd,
Breathless, and faint, he falters in his pace,

And lifts his weary limbs with pain, that scarce
Sustain their load: he pants, he sobs appall'd!
Drops down his heavy head to earth, beneath
His cumbrous beams oppress'd. But if perchance
Some prying eye surprise him; soon he rears
Erect his towering front, bounds o'er the lawn
With ill-dissembled vigor, to amuse
The knowing forester; who inly smiles
At his weak shifts and unavailing frauds.
So midnight tapers waste their last remains,
Shine forth awhile, and as they blaze expire.
From wood to wood redoubling thunders roll,
And bellow through the vales; the moving storm
Thickens amain, and loud triumphant shouts,
And horns shrill-warbling in each glade, prelude
To his approaching fate. And now in view
With hobbling gait, and high, exerts amaz'd
What strength is left: to the last dregs of life
Reduc'd, his spirits fail, on every side
Hemm'd in, besieg'd; not the least opening left
To gleaming hope, th' unhappy's last reserve.
Where shall he turn? or whither fly? Despair

Now the blown stag, through woods, bogs, roads, Gives courage to the weak. Resolv'd to die,
and streams
He fears no more, but rushes on his foes,
And deals his deaths around; beneath his feet
These grovelling lie, those by his antlers gor'd
Defile th' ensanguin'd plain. Ah! see distress'd
He stands at bay against yon knotty trunk,
That covers well his rear, his front presents
An host of foes. O! shun, ye noble train,
The rude encounter, and believe your lives
Your country's due alone. As now aloof
They wing around, he finds his soul uprais'd,
To dare some great exploit; he charges home
Upon the broken pack, that on each side
Fly diverse; then as o'er the turf he strains,
He vents the cooling stream, and up the breeze
Urges his course with equal violence :
Then takes the soil, and plunges in the flood
Precipitant; down the mid-stream he wafts
Along, till (like a ship distress'd, that runs
Into some winding creek) close to the verge
Of a small island, for his weary feet

Sure anchorage he finds, there skulks immers'd.
His nose alone above the wave draws in
The vital air; all else beneath the flood
Conceal'd, and lost, deceives each prying eye
Of man or brute. In vain the crowding pack
Draw on the margin of the stream, or cut
The liquid wave with oary feet, that move
In equal time. The gliding waters leave
No trace behind, and his contracted pores
But sparingly perspire: the huntsman strains
His laboring lungs, and puffs his cheeks in vain:
At length a blood-hound bold, studious to kill,
And exquisite of sense, winds him from far;
Headlong he leaps into the flood, his mouth
Loud opening spends amain, and his wide throat
Swells every note with joy; then fearless dives
Beneath the wave, hangs on his haunch, and wounds
Th' unhappy brute, that flounders in the stream
Sorely distress'd, and struggling strives to mount
The steepy shore. Haply once more escap'd,
Again he stands at bay, amid the groves
Of willows, bending low their downy heads.
Outrageous transport fires the greedy pack;
These swim the deep, and those crawl up with pain
The slippery bank, while others on firm land
Engage; the stag repels each bold assault,
Maintains his post, and wounds for wounds returns

As when some wily corsair boards a ship

Should he not kill, as erst the Samian sage Full-freighted, or from Afric's golden coasts, Taught unadvis'd, and Indian brachmans now Or India's wealthy strand, his bloody crew As vainly preach; the teeming ravenous brutes Upon her deck he slings; these in the deep Might fill the scanty space of this terrene, Drop short, and swim to reach her steepy sides, Encumbering all the globe: should not his care And clinging climb aloft; while those on board Improve his growing stock, their kinds might fail; Urge on the work of Fate ; the master bold, Man might once more on roots and acorns feed, Press'd to his last retreat, bravely resolves And through the deserts range, shivering, forlorn, To siuk his wealth beneath the whelming wave, Quite destitute of every solace dear, His wealth, his foes, nor unreveng'd to die. And every smiling gaiety of life. So fares it with the stag: so he resolves

The prudent huntsman therefore will supply To plunge at once into the flood below,

With annual large recruits his broken pack, Himself, his foes, in one deep gulf immers'd. And propagate their kind; as from the root Ere yet he executes this dire intent,

Fresh scions still spring forth and daily yield In wild disorder once more views the light; New blooming honors to the parent-tree. Beneath a weight of woe he groans distress'd, Far shall his pack be fam'd, far sought his breed. The lears run trickling down his hairy cheeks ; And princes at their tables feast those hounds He weeps, nor weeps in vain. The king beholds His hand presents, an acceptable boon. His wretched plight, and tenderness innate

Ere yet the Sun through the bright Ram has urg'd Moves his great soul. Soon at his high command His steepy course, or mother Earth unbound Rebuk'd, the disappointed, hungry pack

Her frozen bosom to the Western gale; Retire submiss, and grumbling quit their prey. When feather'd troops, their social leagues dissolv'd, Great Prince! from thee what may thy subjects Select their mates, and on the leafless elm hope;

The noisy rook builds high her wicker nest, So kind, and so beneficent to brules!

Mark well the wanton females of thy pack, O Mercy, heavenly born! sweet attribute! That curl their taper tales, and frisking court Thou great, thou best prerogative of power! Their piebald mates enamour'd; their red eyes Justice may guard the throne, but, join'd with thee, Flash fires impure ; nor rest nor food they take, On rocks of adamant it stands secure,

Goaded by furious love. In separate cells
And braves the storm beneath: soon as thy smiles Confine them now, lest bloody civil wars
Gild the rough deep, the foaming waves subside, Annoy thy peaceful state. If left at large,
And all the noisy lumult sinks in peace.

The growling rivals in dread battle join,
And rude encounter; on Scamander's streams

Heroes of old with far less fury fought
BOOK IV.

For the bright Spartan dame, their valor's prize.
Mangled and torn thy favorite hounds shall lie,

Stretch'd on the ground; thy kennel shall appear
Argument.

A field of blood : like some unhappy town

In civil broils confus'd, while Discord shakes of the necessity of destroying some beasts, and pre- Her bloody scourge aloft, fierce parties rage,

serving others for the use of man. Of breeding Staining their impious hands in mutual death; of hounds; the season for this business. The And still the best belov'd, and bravest fall : choice of the dog, of great moment. Of the Such are the dire effects of lawless love. litter of whelps. Of the number to be reared. Huntsman! these ills by timely prudent care Of setting them out to their several walks. Care Prevent: for every longing dame select to be taken to prevent their hunting too soon. Some happy paramour; to him alone Of entering the whelps. Of breaking them from In leagues connubial join. Consider well running at sheep. Of the diseases of hounds. His lineage; what his fathers did of old, Of their age. Of madness; two sorts of it de- Chiefs of the pack, and first to climb the rock, scribed, the dumb and outrageous madness : its Or plunge into the deep, or thread the brake dreadful effects. Burning of the wound recom- With thorn sharp-pointed, plash'd, and briers inmended as preventing all ill consequences. The infectious hounds to be separated, and fed apart. Observe with care his shape, sort, color, size. The vanity of trusting to the many infallible Nor will sagacious huntsmen less regard cures for this malady. The dismal effects of the His inward habits: the vain babbler shun, biting of a mad dog, upon man, described. De- Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong. scription of the otter hunting. The conclusion. His foolish offspring shall offend thy ears

With false alarms, and loud impertinence. WHATE'ER of earth is form'd, to earth returns Nor less the shifting cur avoid, that breaks Dissolv'd : the various objects we behold, Illusive from the pack; to the next hedge Plants, animals, this whole material mass,

Devious he strays, there every muse he tries : Are ever changing, ever new. The soul

If haply then he cross the steaming scent, Or man alone, that particle divine,

Away he flies vain-glorious; and exults Escapes the wreck of worlds, when all things fail. As of the pack supreme, and in his speed Hence great the distance'twixt the beasts that perish, And strength unrivall’d. Lo! cast far behind, And God's bright image, man's immortal race. His vex'd associates pant, and laboring strain The brute creation are his property,

To climb the steep ascent. Soon as they reach Subservient to his will, and for him made. Th'insulting boaster, his false courage fails, As hurtful these he kills, as useful those

Behind he lags, doomd to the fatal noose, Preserves; their sole and arbitrary king.

His master's hate, and scorn of all the field.

Woven;

cave.

What can from such be hop'd, but a base brood The panting wretch ; till, breathless and astunn'd Of coward curs, a frantic, vagrant race?

Stretch'd on the turf he lie. Then spare not thou When now the third revolving Moon appears, The twining whip, but ply his bleeding sides With sharpen'd horns, above th' horizon's brink, Lash after lash, and with thy threatening voice, Without Lucina's aid, expect thy hopes

Harsh-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud Are amply crown'd; short pangs produce to light His vile offence. Sooner shall trembling doves The smoking litter; crawling, helpless, blind, Escap'd the hawk's sharp talons, in mid air, Nature their guide, they seek the pouting teat Assail their dangerous foe, than he once more That plenteous streams. Soon as the tender dam Disturb the peaceful flocks.

In tender age Has form'd them with her tongue, with pleasure Thus youth is train'd; as curious artists bend view

The taper pliant twig, or potters form The marks of their renown'd progenitors, Their soft and ductile clay to various shapes. Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come. All these Nor is 't enough to breed; but to preserve, Select with joy; but to the merciless food Must be the huntsman's care. The staunch old Expose the dwindling refuse, nor o'erload

hounds, Th' indulgent mother. If thy heart relent, Guides of thy pack, though but in number few, Unwilling to destroy, a nurse provide,

Are yet of great account; shall oft untie And to the foster-parent give the care

The Gordian knot, when reason at a stand Of thy superfluous brood; she'll cherish kind Puzzling is lost, and all thy art is vain. The alien offspring ; pleas’d thou shalt behold O'er clogging fallows, o'er dry plaster'd roads, Her tenderness, and hospitable love.

O'er floated meads, o'er plains with flocks distain'd If frolic now and playful they desert

Rank-scenting, these must lead the dubious, Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf, As party-chiefs in senates who preside, With nerves improv'd, pursue the mimic chase, With pleaded reason and with well-turn'd speech, Coursing around ; unto the choicest friends Conduct the staring multitude; so these Commit thy valued prize : the rustic dames Direct the pack, who with joint cry approve, Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps And loudly boast discoveries not their own. Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kiss Unnumber'd accidents, and various ills, Caress, and dignify their little charge

Attend thy pack, hang hovering o'er their heads, With some great title, and resounding name And point the way that leads to Death's dark Of high import. But cautious here observe To check their youthful ardor, nor permit Short is their span; few at the date arrive The unexperienc'd younker, immature,

of ancient Argus, in old Homer's song Alone to range the woods, or haunt the brakes So highly honord : kind, sagacious brute ! Where dodging conies sport; his nerves unstrung, Not ev'n Minerva's wisdom could conceal And strength unequal; the laborious chase Thy much-lov'd master from thy nicer sense. Shall stint his growth, and his rash forward youth Dying his lord he own'd, view'd him all o'er Contract such vicious habits, as thy care

With eager eyes, then clos'd those eyes, well pleas'd. And late correction never shall reclaim.

Of lesser ills the Muse declines to sing, When to full strength arriv'd, mature and bold, Nor stoops so low; of these each groom can tell Conduct them to the field ; not all at once, The proper remedy. But 0! what care, But as thy cooler prudence shall direct,

What prudence, can prevent madness, the worst Select a few, and form them by degrees

Of maladies ? Terrific pest! that blasts To stricter discipline. With these consort The huntsman's hopes, and desolation spreads The staunch and steady sages of thy pack, Through all th' unpeopled kennel unrestraind, By long experience vers'd in all the wiles More fatal than th' envenom'd viper's bite; And subtle doublings of the various Chase. Or that Apulian spider's poisonous sting, Easy the lesson of the youthful train

Heal'd by the pleasing antidote of sounds. When instinct prompts, and when example guides. When Sirius reigns, and the Sun's parching beams If the too forward younker at the head

Bake the dry gaping surface, visit thou Press boldly on in wanton sportive niood, Each ev'n and morn, with quick observant eye, Correct his haste, and let him feel abash'd Thy panting pack. If, in dark sullen mood, The ruling whip. But if he stoop behind The glouting hound refuse his wonted meal, In wary modest guise, to his own nose

Retiring to some close, obscure retreat, Confiding sure; give him full scope to work Gloomy, disconsolate ; with speed remove His winding way, and with thy voice applaud The poor infectious wretch, and in strong chains His patience, and his care: soon shalt thou view Bind him suspected. Thus that dire disease The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe,

Which art can't cure, wise caution may prevent. And all the listening pack attend his call.

But, this neglected, soon expect a change, Oft lead them forth where wanton lambkins play, A dismal change, confusion, frenzy, death. And bleating dams with jealous eyes observe Or in some dark recess the senseless brute Their tender care. If at the crowding flock Sits sadly pining ; deep melancholy, He bay presumptuous, or with eager haste And black despair, upon his clouded brow Pursue them scatter'd o'er the verdant plain, Hang lowering ; from his half-opening jaws In the foul fact attach'd, to the strong ram The clammy venom, and infectious froth, Tie fast the rash offender. See! at first Distilling fall; and from his lungs inflam'd, llis horn'd companion, fearful and amaz'd, Malignant vapors taint the ambient air, Shall drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground; Breathing perdition ; his dim eyes are glaz'd, Then, with his load fatigud, shall turn ahead, He droops his pensive head, his trembling limbs And with his curl'd hard front incessant peal No more support his weight; abject he lies,