Lyrical Ballads,; with Other Poems. in Two Volumes Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1800 edition. Excerpt: ... HART-LEAP WELL. Hart-Leap Well is a small spring of water, about Jive miles from Richmond in Yorkshire, and near the side of the road which leads from Richmond to Askrigg. Its name is derived from a remarkable chace, the memory of which is preserved by the monuments spoken of in the second Part of the following Poem, whichmonuments do now exist as I have there described them. The Knight had ridden down from Wensley moor With the slow motion of a summer's cloud; He turn'd aside towards a Vassal's door, And, "Bring another Horse!" he cried aloud. "Another Horse!"--That shout the Vassal heard, And saddled his best steed, a comely Grey; Sir Walter mounted him; he was the third Which he had mounted on that glorious day. Vol. II. A Joy sparkled in the prancing Courser's eyes; The horse and horsemen are a happy pair; But, though Sir Walter like a falcon flies, There is a doleful silence in the air. A rout this morning left Sir Walter's Hall, That as they gallop'd made the echoes roar; But horse and man are vanish'd, one and all 5 Such race, I think, was never seen before. Sir Walter, restless as a veering wind, Calls to the few tired dogs that yet remain: Brach, Swift and Music, noblest of their kind, Follow, and weary up the mountain strain. Tie fclnight halloo'd, he chid and cheer'd them on With suppliant gestures and upbraidings stern; But breath and eye-sight fail, and, one'by one, The dogs are stretch'd among the mountain fern. Where is the tlirong, the tumult of the chace? The bugles that so joyfully were blown? -- This race U looks not like an earthly race j Sir Walter and the Hart are left alone. The poor Hart toils along the mountain side; - I will not stop to tell how far he fled, Nor wUl I mention by what death he died; But now the...