His watchful bands; and low into the ground
A pit they fink, full many a fathom deep.
Then in the midft a column high is rear'd,
The butt of fome tair trce; upon whofe top
A lamb is plac'd, juit ravish'd from his dam. 235
And next a wall they build, with ftones and earth
Encircling round, and hiding from all view
The dreadful precipice Now when the fhades
Of night hang lowering o'er the mountain's
brow;

245

And hunger keen, and pungent thirst of blood, 240 Rouze up the flothful beaft, he fhakes his fides, Slow-rising from his lair, and ftretches wide His ravenous paws, with recent gore diftain'd. The forefts tremble, as he roars aloud, Impatient to destroy. O'erjoy'd he hears The bleating innocent, that claims in vain The fhepherd's care, and feeks with piteous moan The foodful teat; himfelf, alas! defign'd Another's mical. For now the greedy brute Winds him from far; and leaping o'er the mound To feize his trembling prey, headlong is plung'd Juto the deep abyfs P.oftrate he lies Aftunn'd and impotent. Ah! what avail Thine eye-balls flashing fire, thy length of tail, That lafhes thy broad fides, thy jaws befmear d 255 With blood and offals crude thy fhaggy mane The terror of the woods, thy stately port, And bulk enormous, fince by stratagem Thy ftrength is foil'd? Unequal is the ftrife, When fovereign reafon combats brutal rage. 260 On diftant Ethiopia's fun-burnt coasts, The black inhabitants a pitfall frame, But of a different kind, and different ufe. With flender poles the wide capacious mouth, And hurdles flight, they clofe; o'er these is spread A floor of verdant turf, with all its flowers Smiling delufive, and from ftrictest search Concealing the deep grave that yawns below. Then boughs of trees they cut, with tempting

fruit

275

Of various kinds furcharg'd; the downy peach 270
The clustering vine, and of bright golden rind
The fragrant orange. Soon as evening grey
Advances flow, befprinkling all around
With kind refreshing dews the thirsty glebe,
The stately elephant from the close fhade
With step majestic ftrides, eager to tafte
The cooler breeze, that from the fea-beat shore
Delightful breathes, or in the limpid stream
To lave his panting fidès; joyous he fcents
The rich repast, unweeting of the death
That lurks within. And foon he sporting breaks
The brittle boughs, and greedily devours
The fruit delicious. Ah! too dearly bought;
The price is life. For now the treacherous turf
Trembling gives way; and the unwieldy beast, 285
Self-finking, drops into the dark profound.
So when dilated vapours, ftruggling, heave
Th' incumbent earth; if chance the cavern'd
ground

Shrinking fubfide, and the thin furface yield, Down finks at once the ponderous dome, ingulph'd 290

With all its towers. Subtle, delufive man!

How various are thy wiles; artful to kill
hy favage foes, a dull unthinking race!
Fierce from his lair, fprings forth the speckled
pard,

Thirfting for blood, and eager to deftroy; 29%
The huntiman flies, but to his flight alone
Confides not: at convenient diftance fix'd,
A polifh'd mirror ftops in full career
The furious brute: he there his image views;
Spots against spots with rage improving glow; 300
another p rd his briftly whi" ers curls,
Grins as he grins, fierce-menacing, and wide
Diftends his opening paws; himfelf against
Himfelf oppes'd, and with dread vengeance arm'd
The huntfman, now fecure with fatal aim 305
Directs the pointed fpear, by which transfix'd
He dies, and with him dies the rival fhade.
Thus man innemerous engines forms, t'affail
The favage kind; but moft the docile horse,
Swift and confederate with man, annoys 310
His brethren of the plain; without whofe aid
The hunter's arts are vain, unfkill'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 fecure. 315

Him the fierce Arab mounts, and, with his troop
Of bold compeers, ranges the deferts wild,
Where, by the magnet's aid, the traveller
Steers his untrodden courfe; yet oft on land
Is wreck'd, in the high-rolling waves of fand 310
Immerst and loft. While thefe intrepid bands,
Safe in their horfes fpecd, out-fly the ftorm,
And fcouring round, make men and beats their

prey.

385

The grifly boar is fingled from his herd,
As large as that in Erimanthian woods,
A match for Hercules. Round bim they fly
In circles wide; and each in paffing fends
His feather'd death into his brawny fides.
But perilous th' attempt. For if the fteed
Haply too near approach; or the loofe earth 330
His footing fail, the watchful angry beaft
Th' advantage (pics; and at one fidelong glance
Rips up his groin. Wounded, he tears aloft,
And, plunging from his back the rider hurls
Precipitant: then bleeding fpurrs the ground, 335
And drags his recking entrails o'er the ; lain,
Meanwhile the furly monfter trots along,
But with unequal speed; for still they wound,
Swift-wheeling in the fpacious ring. A wood
Of darts upon his back he bears; adown
340
His tortur'd fides, the crimfen torrents roll
From many a gaping font. And now at laft
Staggering he falls, in blood and foam expires.

But whither roves my devious Mufe, intent On antique tales? While yet the royal ftag 345 Unfung remains. Tread with respectful awe Windfor's green glades; where Denham, tunefal bard,

Charm'd once the liftening Dryads, with his fong Sublimely fweet. O grant me, facred fhade. To glean fubmifs what thy full fickle leaves. 350 The morning fun, that gilds with trembling

360

Mount for the chace, nor views in all his courfe
A fcene fo gay: heroic, noble youths,
In arts and arms renown'd, and lovely nymphs 355
The fairest of this ifle where Beauty dwells
Delighted, and deferts her Paphian grove
For our more favour'd fhades: in proud parade
Thefe fhine magnificent, and prefs around
The royal appy pair. Great in themselves,
They fmile uperior; of external show
Regardless, while their inbred virtues give
A luftre to their power, and grace their court
With real fplendors, far above the pomp
Of Eaftern kings, in all their tinfel pride.
Like troops of Amazons the female band
Prance round their cars, not in refulgent arms
As thofe of old; unfkill'd to wield the fword,
Or bend the bow, these kill with furer aim.
The royal offspring, faireft of the fair,
Lead on the fplendid train. Anna more bright
Than fummer funs, or as the lightning keen,
With irresistible effulgence arm'd,

35

370

Fires every heart. He must be more than man,

375

Who unconcern'd can bear the piercing ray.
Amelia, milder than the blushing dawn,
With fweet engaging air but equal power,
Infenfibly fubdues and in foft chains
Her willing captives leads. Illuftrious maids,
Ever triumphant! whofe victorious charms, 380
Without the needlefs aid of high defcent,
Had aw'd mankind, and taught the world's great
lords

To bow and fue 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, fee,
He reins his docile barb with nianly grace.
Is it Adonis for the chace array'd?

385

Or Britain's fecond hope? Hail, blooming youth!
May all your virtues with your years improve!
Till in confummate worth, you thine the pride
Of these our days, and to fucceeding times
Abright example. As his guard of mures
On the great fultan wait, with eyes deject,
And fix'don earth, no voice, no found is heard 395
Within the wide ferail, but all is hufh'd,
And awful filence reigns; thus ftand the pack
Mute and unmov'd, and cowering low to earth,
While pafs the glittering court, and royal pair,
So difciplin'd thofe hounds, and fo referv'd, 400
Whole honour 'tis to glad the hearts of kings.
But foon the winding horn, and huntfman's voice,
Let loose the general chorus; far around
Joy fpreads its wings, and the gay morning fmiles.
Unharbour'd now the royal ftag forfakes 405
His wonted lair; he shakes his dappled fides,
And toffes high his beamy head, the copfe
Beneath his antlers bends. What doubling fhifts
He tries! not more the wily hair; in these
Would ftill perfift, did not the full-mouth'd pack
With dreadful concert thunder in his rear.
The woods reply, the hunter's chearing fhouts
Float through the glades, and the wide foreft
rings.

How merrily they chant! their noftrils deep lohale the grateful team. Such is the cry, 415 VOL. V,

420

And fuch th' harmonious din, the foldier deems
The battle kindling, and the statesman grave
Forgets his weighty cares; each age each sex,
In the wild tranfport joins; luxuriant joy,
And pleasure in excefs, fparkling exult
On every brow, and revel unreftrain'd.
How happy art thou, man, when thou'rt no more
Thyfelf! when all the pangs that grind thy soul,
In rapture and in fweet oblivion loft,
Yield a fhort interval and eafe from pain!

425

See the fwift courfer ftrains, his fhining hoofs Securely beat the folid ground. Who now The dangerous pitfall fears, with tangling heath High overgrown? or who the quivering bog Soft-yielding to the ftep? All now is plain, 430 Plain as the ftrand fea-lav'd, that ftretches far Beneath the rocky fhere Glades croffing glades The foreft opens to our wondering view: Such was the king's command. Let tyrants fierce Lay wafte the world; his the more glorious part To check their pride; and when the brazen voice Of war is hufh'd (as erft victorious Rome) T'employ his ftation'd legions in the works Of peace; to fmooth the rugged wi dernefs, To drain the stagnate fen, to raise the flope 440 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,
Pufh on the generous steed that strokes along 445
O'er rough, o'er fmooth, nor heeds the steepy
hill,

Nor faulters in th' extended vale below:
Their garments loofely waving in the wind,
And all the flush of beauty in their cheeks!
While at their fides their penfive lovers wait, 450
Direct their dubious courfe; now chill'd with
fear

Solicitous, and now with love inflam'd.
O grant, indulgent heaven, no rifing ftorm
May darken with black wings this glorious fcene!
Should fome malignant power thus damp our

joys,

455

Vain were the gloomy cave, fuch as of old
Betray'd to lawless love the Tyrian queen.
For Britain's virtuous nymphs are chafte as fair,
Spotlefs, unblam'd, with equal triu aph reign
In the dun gloom, as in the blaze of day.
Now the blown ftag, tbrough woods, bogs,
roads, and streams,

460

465

Has meafur'd half the foreft; but alas!
He flies in vain, he flies not from his fears.
hough far he caft the li gering pack behind,
His haggard fancy ftill with horror views
The full deftroyer; ftill the fatal cry
Infults his ears, and wounds his trembling heart.
So the poor fury-haunted wretch (his hands
In guiltless blood diftain'd still feems to hear
The dying fhrieks: and the pale threatening
ghoft

470

Shoots down the fteep, and fweats along the vale: There mingles with the herd, where once he reign'd

480

Proud monarch of the groves, whofe clafhing beam
His rivals aw'd, and whofe exalted power
Was ftill rewarded with fuccefsful love.
But the bafe herd have learnt the ways of men,
Averfe they fly, or with rebellious aim.
Chace him from thence needless their impious
deed,

'The huntíman knows him by a thousand marks,
Black, and imboft; nor are his hounds deceiv'd;
Too well diftinguish these, and never leave
Their once devoted foe; familiar grows
His fcent, and ftrong their appetite to kill.
Again he flies, and with redoubled fpecd
Skims o er the lawn; ftill the tenacious crew 490
Hang on the track, aloud demand their prey,
And push him many a league. If haply then
Too far efcap'd, and the gay courtly train
Behind are caft, the huntfman's clanging whip
Stops full their bold career; paffive they ftand,
Unnrov'd, an humble, an obfequious crowd,
As if by ftern Medusa gaz'd to stones.

So at their general's voice whole armies halt
In full purfuit, and check their thirst of blood,
Soon at the king's command, like hafty freams
Darim'd up awhile, they foam, and pour along
With fresh recruited might. The stag, who hop'd
His foes were loft, now once more hears aftunn'd
The dreadful din; he fhivers every limb,
He ftarts. he bounds; each bufh presents a foe.
Prefs'd by the fresh relay, no pause allow'd,
Breathlets, and faint, he faulters in his pace,
And lifts his weary limbs with pain, that fcarce
Suftain their load: he pants, he fobs appall'd;
Drops down his heavy head to earth, beneath 510
His cumbrous beams opprefs'd. But if per-
chance

515

Some prying eye furprize him; foon he rears
Fret his towering front, bounds o'er the lawn
With ill-diffembled vigour, to amuse
The knowing forefter; who inly smiles
At his weak shifts and unavailing frauds.
So midnight tapers wafte their laft remains,
Shine forth a while, and as they blaze expire.
From wood to wood redoubling thunders roll,
And bellow through the vales; the moving
ftorm
520

Thickens amain, and loud triumphant shouts
And horns fl warbling in each glade, pre-
lude

To his approaching fate And now in view
With hobbling gait, and high, exerts amaz'd
What ftrength is left: to the laft dregs of life 525
Reduc'd, his spirits fail, on every side
Heinn'd in, befieg'd: not the leaft opening left
To gleaming hope, th' unhappy's laft referve.
Where fall he turn? or whither fly? Defpair
Gives courage to the weak. Refolv'd to die, 530
He fears no more, but rushes on his focs,
And deals his deaths around; beneath his feet
Thefe groveling lie, thofe by his antlers gor'd
Defile th' enfanguin'd plain. Ah! fee diftrefs'd
He stands at bay against yon knotty trunk, 535

550

That covers well his rear, his front prefents
An hoft of foes. O! fhun, ye noble train,
The rude encounter, and believe your lives
Your country's due alone. As now aloof
They wing around, he finds his foul uprais'd, 540
To dare fome great exploit; he charges home
Upon the broken pack, that on each side.
Fly diverfe; then as o'er the turf he strains,
He vents the cooling ftream, and up the breeze
Urges his courfe with equal violence; 345
Then takes the foil, and plunges in the flood
Precipitant; down the mid-ftream he wafts
Along, till like a ship distress'd, that runs
Into fome winding creek) close to the verge
Of a small island, for his weary feet
Sure anchorage he finds, there skulks immers'd.
His nofe alone above the wave draws in
The vital air; all elfe beneath the flood
Conceal'd, and loft, deceives each prying eye
Of man or brute. In vain the crowding pack 553
Draw on the margin of the ftream, 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 fparingly perspire: the huntsman strains 560
His labouring lungs, and puffs his cheeks in vain.
At length a blood hound bold, studious to kill,
And exquifite of fenie, winds him from far;
Headlong he leaps into the flood, his mouth
Loud opening fpends amain, and his wide
throat

565 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 diftrefs'd, and struggling strives to mount
The steepy fhore. Haply once more escap'd, 570
Again he stands at bay, amid the groves
Of willows, bending low their downy heads.
Outrageous transport fires the greedy pack;
Thefe fwim the deep, and those crawl up with
pain

The flippery bank, while others on firm land 575
Engage; the ftag repels each bold assault,
Maintains his poft, and wounds for wounds res

turns.

As when fome wily corfair boards a fhip
Full-freighted, or from Afric's golden coafts,
Or India's wealthy strand, his bloody crew &
Upon the deck he flings; these in the deep
Drop fhort, and fwim to reach her steepy fides,
And clinging climb aloft; while those on board
Urge on the work of fate; the master bold,
Prefs'd to his laft retreat, bravely refolves
To fink his wealth beneath the whelming wave,
His wealth, his foes, not unreveng'd to die.
So fares it with the ftag: to he refolves
To plunge at once into the flood below,
Himself, his foes, in one deep gulph immers❜d. 59
Ere yet he executes this dire intent,
In wild diforder once more views the light;
Beneath a weight of woe he groans diftrefs'd,
The tears run trickling down his hairy cheeks;
He weeps, nor weeps in vain. The king beholds
His wretched plight, and tenderness innate

The marks of their renown'd progenitors,
Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come.
Select with joy; but to the merci efs flood
Expofe the dwindling refufe, nor o'erload
Th' indulgent mother. If thy heart relent,
Unwilling to deftroy, a nurfe provide,
And to the foreft-parent give the care
Of thy fuperfluous brood; fhe'll cherish kind
"The alien offspring; pleas'd thou shalt behold 100
Her tenderness, and hofpitable love.

110

If frolic now and playful they defert Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf With nerves improv'd. purfue the mimic chace, Courfing around: unto the choiceft friends 105 Commir thy valued prize: the ruftic dames Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps Receive thy growing hopes, ith many a kiss Carefs, and dignify their little charge With fome great title and refounding name Of hith import. But cautious here obferve To check their youthful ardour, nor permit The unexperienc'd younker, immature, Alone trange the woods, or haunt the brakes Where dodging conies fport; his nerves unftrung, And frength unequal: the laborious chace Shall fint his growth, and his rafh forward youth Contract fuch vicious habits, as thy care And late corre&tian never fhal: reclaim. When to full ftrength arriv'd, mature bold,

and

120

125

Conduct them to the field; nor all at once But as thy cooler prudence shall direct, Select a few, and form them by degrees To ftricter difcipline. With these confort The itaunch and steady fages of thy pack, By long experience vers'd in all the wiles, And fubtle doublings of the various chace. Eafy the leffon of the youthful train, When inftinct prompts, and when example guides. If the too forward younker at the head 130 Prefs boldly on in wanton fportive niood, Correct his hafte, and let him feel abash'd The ruling whip. But if he ftoop behind In wary modeft guife, to his own nose Confiding fure; give him full fcope to work 135 His winding way, and with thy voice applaud 'His patience, and his care; foon fhalt thou view The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe, And all the liftening pack attend his call.

Oft lead them forth where wanton lambkins
play,

And bleating dams with jealous eyes obferve
Their tender care. If at the crowding flock
He bay presumptuous, or with eager hatte
Purfue them fcatter'd o'er the verdant plain;

140

In the foul fact attach'd, to the ftrong ram 14
Tie faft the rafh offender. See! at firit
His horn'd companion, fearful and amaz'd,
Shall drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground;
Then, with his load fatigu'd, fhall turn a-head,
And with his curl'd hard front inceffant peal 150
The panting wretch, till, breathlefs and afturn'd,
Stretch'd on the turf he lies. Then fpare not thou
The twining whip, but ply his bleeding fides
Lafh after lash, and with thy threatening voice,
Harfh-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud 155
His vile offence. Sooner fhall trembling doves
Efcap'd the hawk's fharp talons, in mid air
Affail, their dangerous foe, than he once more
Difturb the peaceful flocks. In tender age
Thus youth is train'd; as curious artists hend 160
The taper pliant twig, or potters form
Their foft and ductile clay to various shapes.

Nor is 't enough to breed; but to preserve, Must be the huntfman's care. The ftaunch old hounds,

170

Guides of thy pack, though but in number few,
Are yet of great account; fhall oft untic
The Gordian knot, when reason at a stand
Puzzling is loft, and all thy art is vain.
O'er clogging fallows, o'er dry plafter'd roads,
O'er floated meads, o'er plains with flocks dif
tain'd
Rank-fcenting, these must lead the dubious way.
As party-chiefs in fenates who prefide,
With pleaded reafon and with well-turn'd fpecch
Conduct the staring multitude; so these
Direct the pack, who with joint cry approve, 175
And loudly boaft discoveries not their own.

Unnumber'd accidents, and various ills,
Attend thy pack, hang hovering o'er their heads,
And point the way that leads to death's dark cave.
Short is the fpan; few at the date arrive 18
Of ancient Argus in old Homer's fong
So highly honour'd: kind, fagacious brute!
Not ev'n Minerva's wifdom could conceal
Thy much lov'd master from thy nicer sense.
Dying his lord he own'd, view'd him all o'er 185
With eager eyes, then clos'd those eyes, well
pleas d

195

Of leffer ills the Mufe declines to fing, Nor stoops fo low; of these each groom can tell The proper remedy. But O! what care, What prudence, can prevent madness, the work Of maladies? Terrific peft! that blasts The huntsman's hopes, and defolation fpreads Through all th' unpeopled kennel unreftrain'd, More fatal than th' envenom'd viper's bite; Or that Apulian spider's poisonous.fting, Heal'd by the pleasing antidote of founds. When Sirius reigns, and the fun's parching beams Bake the dry gaping furface, vifit thou Each ev'n and morn, with quick obfervant eye, Thy panting pack. If, in dark fullen mood, 200 Retiring to fome close, obfcure retreat, The glouting hound refufe his wanted meal, Gloomy, difconfolate: with fpeed remove The poor infectious wretch, and in ftrong chains Bind him fufpected. Thus that dire difeafe 205 Which art can't cure, wife caution may prevent. But