Beasts of Chase. 225 



opposed, he turns upon his foes," and as the "churlish- 

 throated" hounds attack him "dealeth deadly blows with 

 his sharp pointed head." Then the huntsmen come up, 

 and one of them kills the stag. And so 



" Opprest by force, 

 He who the mourner is to his own dying corse 

 Upon the ruthless earth his precious tear lets fall." 



Thomson's sententious caricature of this passage in his 

 " Autumn " is well worth noting, but as the poet only knew 

 of fallow deer he makes the stag " spotted " in the face and 

 " chequered " in the sides. But in all matters of fact his 

 animal is simply Somerville's. It starts off with all its faith 

 in its own speed, '• bursts through the thickets," and goes 

 away. But — 



" Slow of sure, adhesive to the track. 

 Hot-steaming up behind him come again 

 The inhuman rout. " 



And then " oft to full-descending flood he turns," and '• oft 

 seeks the herd." But his "once so vivid ner\-es" begin to 

 fail, and " he stands at bay," " putting his last weak refuge 

 in despair '" — 



" The bij round tears run down his dappled face; 

 He groans in anguish while the growling pack, 

 Blood-happy, hang at his fair jutting cheek 

 And mark his beauteous checkered sides with gore." 



In metaphor also the deer symbol is often used as of a 

 creature that may lay claim to superior intelligence and 

 special protection. Thus in Quarles — 



'• Great God of hearts, the world's sole sov'raign Ranger, 

 Preserve Thy deer, and let my soul be biest 

 la Thy safe forrest when I seek for rest : 

 Then let the hell-hounds roar, I fear no ill, 

 Rouse me they may, but Iiave no power to ki.I." 



P 



