The Poetry of Hunting 145 



He all the country could outrun, 



Could leave both man and horse behind ; 

 And often, ere the chase was done. 



He reeled, and was stone-blind. 

 And still there's something in the world 



At which his heart rejoices ; 

 For when the chiming hounds are out. 



He dearly loves their voices. 



JViUiam Wordsworth. 



Hunting Song ^o^ ^^o^ ^:^ 



WAKEN, lords and ladies gay, 

 On the mountains dawns the day, 

 All the jolly chace is here, 

 With hawk and horse and hunting-spear ; 

 Hounds are in their couples yelling. 

 Hawks are whistling, horns are knelling. 

 Merrily, merrily, mingle they, 

 " Waken, lords and ladies gay." 



Waken, lords and ladies gay. 



The mist has left the mountain gray, 



Springlets in the dawn are steaming, 



Diamonds on the brake are gleaming : 



And foresters have busy been. 



To track the buck in thicket green. 



Now we come to chaunt our lay, 



" Waken, lords and ladies gay." 



Waken, lords and ladies gay. 

 To the green-wood haste away ; 

 We can show you where he lies, 

 Fleet of foot and tall of size ; 

 We can show the marks he made. 

 When 'gainst the oak his antlers fray d ; 



