The right-hand Horseman, young and fair, He waved his huntsman's cap on high, To match the princely chase, afford ?" "Cease thy loud bugle's changing knell," Cried the fair youth, with silver voice; "And for devotion's choral swell, Exchange the rude unhallow'd noise. "To-day the ill-omen'd chase forbear, Yon bell yet summons to the fane; To-day the Warning Spirit hear, To-morrow thou mayst mourn in vain." "Away, and sweep the glades along!" The Wildgrave spurr'd his ardent steed, "Hence, if our manly sport offend! With pious fools go chant and pray:Well hast thou spoke, my dark-brow'd friend: Halloo, halloo! and, hark away!" The Wildgrave spurr'd his courser light, Each Stranger Horseman follow'd still. Up springs, from yonder tangled thorn, A heedless wretch has cross'd the way; 66 Still, Forward, forward!" on they go. See, where yon simple fences meet, "O mercy, mercy, noble lord! Spare the poor's pittance," was his cry, "Earn'd by the sweat these brows have pour'd, In scorching hour of fierce July.”— Earnest the right-hand Stranger pleads, 66 Away, thou hound! so basely born, Or dread the scourge's echoing blow!"— Then loudly rung his bugle horn, "Hark forward, forward, holla, ho!" So said, so done:-A single bound Clears the poor labourer's humble pale; Wild follows man, and horse, and hound, Like dark December's stormy gale. And man and horse, and hound and horn, Again uproused, the timorous prey Scours moss and moor, and holt and hill; Hard run, he feels his strength decay, And trusts for life his simple skill. Too dangerous solitude appear'd; He seeks the shelter of the crowd; Amid the flock's domestic herd His harmless head he hopes to shroud. O'er moss and moor, and holt and hill, O'er moss and moor, unwearied still, Full lowly did the herdsman fall;thou noble Baron, spare These herds, a widow's little all; spare, These flocks, an orphan's fleecy care!"— Earnest the right-hand Stranger pleads, But furious keeps the onward way. "Unmanner'd dog! To stop my sport Were tenants of these carrion kine!"— Again he winds his bugle horn, "Hark forward, forward, holla, ho!" And through the herd, in ruthless scorn, He cheers his furious hounds to go. In heaps the throttled victims fall; With blood besmear'd, and white with foam, The humble hermit's hallow'd bower. But man and horse, and horn and hound, The sacred chapel rung around With, "Hark away! and, holla, họ!" All mild, amid the rout profane, The holy hermit pour'd his prayer; "Forbear with blood God's house to stain: Revere his altar, and forbear! “The meanest brute has rights to plead, : Still the Fair Horseman anxious pleads; The Black, wild whooping, points the prey:Alas! the Earl no warning heeds, 66 But frantic keeps the forward way. Holy or not, or right or wrong, Thy altar, and its rites, I spurn; Not sainted martyr's sacred song, Not God himself, shall make me turn!" He spurs his horse, he winds his horn, And horse and man, and horn and hound, Wild gazed the affrighted Earl around; He listens for his trusty hounds; Still dark and darker frown the shades, ddd |