AND ANGLING SONGS. 1 5 I 



V. 

 The stately antlers branching free 



Above its forehead tragic 

 The form of animated grace 

 Are kindred to the quiet place, 



A portion of its magic ! 



VI. 



And there the wild-duck, like a skiff, 



Shoots from her bower of rushes ; 

 His glossy neck enamour'd rears 

 Her mate, and through the screen of spears, 



Sounding his love charge, brushes. 



VII. 



The peerly water-heron, too, 



Where the faint sun-ray trembles, 

 Drooping its ever-graceful head 

 Above the floating lily-bed, 



A poet-bird resembles. 



VIII. 



And yonder, on the distant marge, 



Behold an angler eager, 

 With taper wand and arm of skill, 

 In shadow of the darkening hill, 



A solitary figure ! 



IX. 



But, falling from the heights beyond, 



Shadow and mist together, 

 Glideth away the silent show 

 The mountain and the lake below 



The forest and the heather. 



