Then gathering flocks on unknown mouutains fed, And secret transports touch'd the conscious swain. 91 95 101 Ye vig'rous swains! while youth ferments your And purer spirits swell the sprightly flood, [blood, Now range the hills, the gameful woods beset, Wind the shrill horn, or spread the waving net. When milder autumn summer's heat succeeds, And in the new-shorn field the partridge feeds, Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds, Panting with hope, he tries the furrow'd grounds; But when the tainted gales the game betray, Couch'd close he lies, and meditates the prey; Secure they trust th' unfaithful field beset, Till hov'ring o'er 'en sweeps the swelling net. Thus (if small things we may with great compare) When Albion sends her eager sons to war, Some thoughtless town, with ease and plenty blest, Near, and more near, the closing lines invest; Sudden they seize th' amaz'd, defenceless prize, And in high air Britannia's standard flies. 106 110 See! from the brake the whirring pheasant springs, And mounts exulting on triumphant wings: Short is his joy; he feels the fiery wound, Flutters in blood, and panting beats the ground. Ah! what avails his glossy, varying dyes, His purple crest, and scarlet-circled eyes, The vivid green his shining plumes unfold, 115 120 His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold? With slaught'ring guns th' unwearied fowler roves, Where doves in flocks the leafless trees o'ershade, 130 140 145 In genial spring, beneath the quiv'ring shade, 135 Where cooling vapours breathe along the mead, The patient fisher takes his silent stand Intent, his angle trembling in his hand, With looks unmov'd, he hopes the scaly breed, And eyes the dancing cork and bending reed. Our plenteous streams a various race supply; The bright-ey'd perch, with fins of Tyrian dye; The silver eel, in shining volumes roll'd; The yellow carp, in scales bedropp'd with gold; Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains; And pikes, the tyrants of the watʼry plains. Now Cancer glows with Phoebus' fiery car, The youth rush eager to the sylvan war,· Swarm o'er the lawns, the forest walks surround, Rouse the fleet hart, and cheer the op'ning hound. Th' impatient courser pants in ev'ry vein, And pawing, seems to beat the distant plain: Hills, vales, and floods appear already cross'd, And ere he starts, a thousand steps are lost. See the bold youth strain up the threat'ning steep, Rush through the thickets, down the valiies sweep, Hang o'er their coursers' heads with eager speed, And earth rolls back beneath the flying steed. Let old Arcadia boast her ampie plain, Th' immortal huntress, and her virgin train: Nor envy, Windsor! since thy shades have seen As bright a goddess, and as chaste a queen; Whose care, like her's, protects the sylvan reign, The earth's fair light, and empress of the main. Here too, 'tis sung, of old, Diana stray'd, And Cynthus top forsook for Windsor shade; 151 160 165 170 Here was she seen o'er airy wastes to rove, 176 180 185 190 The muse shall sing, and what she sings shall last.) 195 201 205 |