Some Harmhss Beasts. 167 



The cmel hounds pour ronnd on every hand ; 

 Desperate, he turns to make a feeble stand, 

 Big tears on tears roli down his harmless face ; 

 He falls, and sues in vain, alas I for grace." 



Thomson's imitation of this poem is well worth noting. 

 It differs from Leyden's admirable lines chiefly by its errors 

 and its lack of force. But he repeats all Leyden's sympathy 

 for the stag. 



Drayton, after a passing word of wonder that no poets 

 before himself should have sung the chase,^ invokes Diana, 

 and commences to tell in rhyme of the hunting in Arden 

 Forest 



But Drayton, though fired by the sport of the chase, keeps 

 his sympathy with the st^. The hunters are "blooey 

 hunters," and the hounds are "cruel and ravenous." 

 Quarles tells us how the stag's " weeping eyes beg silent 

 mercy from the following hounds," and from the chase 

 draws this vigorous metaphor — " Before a pack of deep- 

 mouthed lusts I flee." 



Grahame, in his " October," has — 



" The clamorous pack rush rapid down the vale, 

 \Yhilst o'er yon brushwood tops at times are seen 

 The moving branches of the victim stag. 

 Soon far beyond he stretches o'er the plain ; 

 Oh ! may he safe elude the savage rout. 

 And may the woods oe left to peace again ! " 



Nor can Scott be charged with want of sympathy for the 

 "bold red deer." How he triumphs with the "antlered 

 monarch of the waste," that, sleeping in lone Glenartneys 

 hazel shade, suddenly awakes to the deep-mouthed blood- 

 hounds' heavy bay — 



" Then, as the headmost foes appeared, 



\Yith one brave bound the copse he cleared, 



^ Drayton's memory was at fault. 



