jBooK ] Chace, 259 



Advances flow, befprinkling all around 



With kind refrelhing dews the thirfty glebe, 



The (lately elephant from the clofe fhade 



With ftep majeftic flrides, eager to tafte 



The cooler breeze that from the fea-beat Ihore 



Delightful breathes, or in the limpid ftream 



To lave his panting fides ; joyous he fcents 



The rich repaft, unweeting of the death 



That lurks within. And foon he fporting breaks 



The brittle boughs, and greedily devours 



The fruit delicious. Ah ! too dearly bought 5 



The price is life. For now the teach'rous turf 



Trembling gives way, and the unwieldy beaft^ 



Self-finking, drops into the dark profound. 



So when dilated vapours ftruggling hsave 



Th'incumbent earth; if chance the cavern'd ground 



Shrinking fubfide, and the thin furface yield, 



Down finks at once the pond'rous dome, ingulph'd 



With all its tow'rs. Subtle, delufive man t 



How various are thy wiles ! artful to kill 



Thy favage foes, a dull, unthinking race. 



Fierce from his lair fprings forth the fpeckled pard^ 



Thirftingfor blood, and eager to deftroy ; 



The huntfman flies, but to his flight alone 



Confides not: at convenient diftance fix*d, 



A polifli'd mirrour flops in full career 



The furious brute : he there his image views j 



Spots againft fpots with rage improving glow ; 



Another pard his briflly whifkers curls. 



