BOOK.] Chace. 247 



Of eager hofts, thro' all the circling line. 

 And the wild howlings of the beafts within. 

 Rend wide the welkin ; flights of arrows, wing'd 

 With death, and javelins launched from ev'ry arm. 

 Gall fore the brutal bands, with many a wound 

 Gor'd thro' and thro'. Defpair at laft prevails, 

 When faintinor nature fhrinks, and roufes all 

 Their drooping courage. Swell*d with furious rage. 

 Their eyes dart fire ; and on the youthful band 

 They rufli implacable. They their broad Ihields 

 Quick interpofe ; on each devoted head 

 Their flaming falchions, as the bolts of Jove, 

 Defcend unerring. Proftrate on the ground 

 The grinning monfters lie, and their foul gore 

 Defiles the verdant plain. Nor idle {land 

 The trufty flaves ; with pointed fpears they pierce 

 Thro' their tough hides, 01 at their gaping mouths 

 An eafier paffage find. The king of brutes 

 In broken roarings breathes his laft ; the bear 

 Grumbles in death ; nor can his fpotted ikin, 

 Tho' fleek it Ihine, with varied beauties gay. 

 Save the proud pard from unrelenting fate. 

 The battle bleeds, grim Slaughter ftrides along. 

 Glutting her greedy jaws, grins o*er her prey : 

 Men, horfes, dogs, fierce beafts of ev'ry kind, 

 A ftrange promifcuous carnage, drenched in blood. 

 And heaps on heaps amafs'd. What yet remain 

 Alive, with vain aflault contend to break 

 Th' impenetrable line. Others, whom fear 

 Infpires with felf-preferving wiles, beneath 



R 4 The 



