28 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



hinds have brushed the dew from the grass in retreating 

 to their covert.* 



And thus, year after year perhaps, will a stag be seen 

 at a certain spot at this particular season, although he is 

 absent the whole year beside. Not only is the distance 

 he travels, but the speed also with which he traverses the 

 ground, astonishing. His pace is a sort of ambling trot, 

 nor does he skim over the ground at full speed except 

 when the foe is nigh ; indeed at this season a stag could 

 not maintain such pace long, he being too well-con- 

 ditioned, and his broad back and sides too heavy, for the 

 exertion of a stride like the courser's when careering over 

 the plain j and though the poet may, with undisputed 

 license, describe him as galloping along, he never does 

 so except when suddenly scared and when hotly pursued. 

 And indeed in his other pace there is beauty too, and 

 more of majesty. Though retreating before some dan- 

 ger, there is no ignoble haste or precipitancy in his flight. 

 With front erect and steady eye he moves over the ground 

 seeming hardly to touch the earth, so lightly does he step 

 along ; and in his whole mien and bearing he is " every 

 inch a king." 



At the usual time he suddenly appears amid his old 

 haunts and his former loves. Until now a troop of hinds 

 only were to be seen by the hunter who watched for them 

 at morning or at evening, with the calves of this, and the 



* Since these words were written I have met with a very graceful al- 

 lusion to the deer being out at early morning, in the poems of M. Casi- 

 mir Sarbievius, translated by E,. C. Coxe. 



" Friendly dews ! with faithful guiding 

 Show where roving, feeding, loving, 

 Sought the stag at last his hiding, 



Cautious through the covert moving ! 

 Show your king the cloven horn, 

 Gentle dews of early morn !" 



