Th'incumbentearth ifchance the cavern'd ground i The morning sun, that gildswith trembling rays
Shrinking subside, and the thin surface yield,
Down sinks at once the pond'rousdome, ingulph'd
With all its tow'rs. Subtle, delusive Man!
How various are thy wiles! artful to kill

Thy savage foes, a dull unthinking race! [pard
Fierce from his lair springs forth the speckled
Thirsting for blood, and eager to destroy;
The huntsman flies, but to his flight alone
Confides not; at convenient distance fix'd
A polish'd mirror stops in full career
The furious brute: he there his image views;
Spots against spots with rage improving glow!
Another pard his bristly whiskers curls,
Grins as he grins, fierce-menacing and wide
Distends his op'ning jaws; himself against
Himself oppos d,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 innuin'rous engines form'd 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 were 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 desarts wild,
Where by the magnet's aid the traveller
Steers his untrodded course, yet oft on land
Is wreck'd, in the high rolling waves of sand
Immers'd and lost; while these intrepid bands,
Safe in their horses speed, outfly the storm,
And, scouring round, make men and beasts their
The grisly boar is singled from his herd, [prey.
As large as that in Erimanthean 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 recking entrails o'er the plain.
Meanwhile the surly monster trots along,

Windsor's high tow'rs, beholds the courtly train
Mount for the chace, 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 pow'r, 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, inore bright
Than summer suns, or as the lightning keen,
With irresistible effulgence arm'd,
Fires ev'ry 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 pow`r,
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
lords

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

Or Britain's second hope? Hail, blooming youth!
May all your virtues with your years improve,
Till in consummate worth you shine the pride
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 cow'ring low to earth,
While pass the glitt'ring court and royal pair:

But with unequal speed; for still they wound,So disciplin'd those hounds, and so reserv'd,
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
Stagg'ring he falls, in blood and foam expires.

But whether rolls my devious Muse, intent
On antique tales, while yet the royal stag
Unsung remains? Tread with respectful awe
Windsor's green glades, where Denham, tuneful
bard!

Charm'd once the list'ning Dryads with his song,
Sublimely sweet. Oh grant me, sacred shade!
To glean submiss what thy full sickle leaves,

Whose honor 'tis to glad the hearts of kings:
But soon the winding horn and huntsman's voice
Let loose the gen'ral chorus; far around
Joy spreads its wings, and the gay morning smiles.
Unharbour'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 denbling 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 hunters' cheering shouts
Float

Fleat thro' the glades, and the wide forest rings.
How merrily they chant! their nostrils deep
Inhale the grateful steam. Such is the cry,
And such th' harmonious din, the soldier deems
The battle kindling, and the statesman grave
Forgets his weighty cares: cach age, each sex,
In the wild transport joins: luxuriant joy,
And pleasure in excess, sparkling exult
On ev'ry 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 case from pain!

See the swift courser strains, his shining hoofs
Securely beat the solid ground. Who now
The dang'rous pitfall fears, with tangling heath
High-overgrown? or who the quiv'ring 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 wond'ring view:
Such was the king's command. Let tyrant 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 works
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 gen'rous 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
Solicitous, and now with love inflam'd.

Oh grant iudulgent Heaven! no rising stornr
May darken with black wings this glorious scene!
Should some malignant pow'r thus dampour 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.
Now the blown stag thro' woods, bogs, roads, and
Has measur'd half the forest; but, alas! [streams,
He flies in vain; he flies not from his fears.
Tho' far he cast the ling'ring pack behind,
His haggard fancy still with horror views
The fell destroyer; still the fatal cry
Insults his cars, and wounds his trembling heart.
So the poor fury-haunted wretch (his hands
In guiltless blood distain'd) still seems to hear
The dyingshrieks; and the pale threat'ning ghost
Moves as he moves, and as he flies pursues.
See here his slot; up yon green hill he climbs,
Pants on his brow awhile, sadly looks back
On his pursuers, cov'ring all the plain ;
But, wrung with anguish, bears notlong the fight,
Shoots down the steep, and sweats along the vale

There mingles withthe herd, whereoncehereign'd
Proud monarchofthegroves, whoseclashing beam
His rivals aw'd,-and whose exalted pow'r
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 imboss'd; 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
Skins 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 and 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
Danni'd up a while, they foam and pour along
With fresh recruiting might. The stag, whohop'd
His foes were lost, now once more hears astunn'd
The dreadful din: he shivers ev'ry 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 appalled;1
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 tow'ring 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 thro' the vales; the moving storin
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 ev'ry side
Hemm'd in, besieg'd; not the least op'ning left
To gleaming hope, th' unhappy's last reserve.
Where shall we turn, or whither fly? Despair
Gives courage to the weak. Resolv'd to die,
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

eyes

Mark well the wanton females of thy pack,
That curl their taper tails, and frisking court
Their piebald mates enamour'd; their red
Flash fires impure; nor rest nor food they take,
Goaded by furious love. In separate cells
Confine them now, lest bloody civil wars
Annoy thy peaceful state. If left at large,
The growling rivals in dread battle join,
And rude encounter; on Scamander's stream
Heroes of old with far less fury fought
For the bright Spartan dame, their valor's prize.
Mangled and toru thy fav'rite hounds shall lie
Stretch'd on the ground; thy kennel shall appear
A field of blood: like some unhappy town
In civil broils confus'd, while Discord shakes
Her bloody scourge aloft, fierce parties rage,
Staining their impious hands in mutual death;
And still the best belov'd and bravest fall:
Such are the dire effects of lawless love.

The alien offspring; pleas'd thou shalt behold
Her tenderness and hospitable love.

If frolic now and playful they desert
Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf,
With nerves improv'd, pursue the mimic chace
Coursing around, unto thy choicest friends
Commit thy valued prize; the rustic dames
Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps
Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kiss
Caress, and dignify their little charge
With some great title, and resounding name
Of high import. But cautious here observe
To check their youthful ardor; nor permit
The unexperienced yonker, immature,
Alone to range the woods, or haunt the brakes
Where dodging conies sport: his nerves unstrung
And strength unequal, the laborious chace
Shall stint his growth, and his rash forward youth
Contract such vicious habits as thy care

Huntsman! these ills by timely prudent care And late correction never shall reclaim.
Prevent: for ev'ry longing dame select.
Some happy paramour; to him alone
In league connubial join. Consider well
His lineage; what his fathers did of old,
Chiefs of the pack, and first to climb the rock,
Or plunge into the deep, or thread the brake
With thorns sharp-pointed, plash'd, and briers
interwoven.

Observe with care his shape, sort, color, size:
Nor will sagacious huntsmen less regard
His inward habits. The vain babbler shun,
Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong :
His foolish offspring shall offend thy ears
With false alarms and loud impertinence.
Nor less the shifting cur avoid, that breaks
Illusive from the pack; to the next hedge
Devious he strays, there ev'ry Muse he tries;
If haply then he cross the steaming scent,
Away he flies vain-glorious, and exults
As of the pack supreme, and in his speed
And strength unrivall'd. Lo! cast far behind
His vex'd associates pant, and lab'ring strain
To climb the steep ascent. Soon as they reach
Th' insulting boaster, his false courage fails,
Behind he lags, doom'd to the fatal noose,
His master's hate, and scorn of all the field.
What can from such be hop'd but a base brood
Of coward curs a frantic, vagrant race?
When now the third revolving moon appears,
With sharpen'd horns, above the horizon's brink,
Without Lucina's aid expect thy hopes
Are amplycrown'd: short pangs produce to light
The smoking litter, crawling, helpless, blind;
Nature their guide, they seek the pouting teat
That plenteous streams. Soon as the tender dam
Has form'd them with her tongue, with pleasure
The marks of their renoun'd progenitors, [view
Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come. All these
Select with joy; but to the merciless flood
Expose the dwindling refuge, nor o'erload
Th' indulgent mother. If thy heart relent,
Unwilling to destroy, a nurse provide,
And to the foster-parent give the care
Of thy superfluous brood; she'll cherish kind

When to full strength arriv'd, mature and bold,
Conduct them to the field: not all at once;
But, as thy cooler prudence shall direct,
Select a few, and form them by degrees
To stricter discipline. With these consort
The staunch and steady sages of thy pack,
By long experience vers'd in all the wiles
And subtle doublings of the various chace.
Easy the lesson of the youthful train
When instinct prompts,andwhenexampleguides.
If the too forward yonker at the head
Press boldly on in wanton sportive mood,
Correct his haste, and let him feel abash'd
The ruling whip; but if he stoop behind
In wary modest guise, to his own nose
Confiding sure, give him full scope to work
His winding way, and with thy voice applaud
His patience and his care; soon shalt thou view
The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe,
And all the list ning pack attend his call. [play

Oft lead them forth were wanton lambkins
And bleating dams with jealous eyes observe
Their tender care. If at the crowding flock
He bay presumptuous, or with eager haste
Pursue them scatter'd o'er the verdant plain,
In the foul fact attach'd, to the strong ram
Tie fast the rash offender. See! at first
His horn'd companion, fearful and amaz'd
Shall drag him tremblingo'er the rugged ground;
Then, with his load fatigu'd, shall turn ahead,
And with his curl'd hard front incessant peal
The panting wretch, till breathless and astunn'd,
Stretch'd on the turf he lie. Then spare not thou
The twining whip, but ply his bleeding sides,
Lash after lash; and with thy threat'ning voice,
Harsh-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud
His vile offence. Sooner shall trembling doves,
Escap'd the hawk's sharp talons, in mid air
Assail their dang'rous foe, than he once more
Disturb the peaceful flocks. In tender age
Thus youth is train'd, as cursous artists bend
The taper pliant twig, or potters form
Their soft and ductile clay to various shapes.
Nor is't enough to breed, but to preserve

Must

Must be the huntsman's care. The staunch old | He drops, and with harsh broken howlings rends