EMULATION OF THE HOUNDS. 167 



Wide gaping threatens death. The craggy steep. 

 Where the poor dizzy shepherd crawls with care, 

 And clings to every twig, gives us no pain ; 

 But down we sweep, as stoops the falcon bold 

 To pounce his prey. Then up th' oj)ponent hill, 

 By the swift motion slung, we mount aloft : 

 So ships in winter seas now sliding sink 

 Adown the steepy wave, then toss'd on high. 

 Ride on the billows, and defy the storm." 



SOMERVILE. 



It was then the fox I saw as we came down the 

 hill : those crows directed me which way to look, 

 and the sheep ran from him as he passed along. 

 The hounds are now on the very spot ; yet the 

 sheep stop them not, for they dash beyond them. 

 Now see with what eagerness they cross the plain ! 

 Galloper no longer keeps his place. Brusher 

 takes it : see how he flings for the scent, and 

 how impetuously he runs ! How eagerly he 

 took the lead, and how he strives to keep it ! 

 yet Victor comes up apace. He reaches him ! 

 See what an excellent race it is between them ! 

 It is doubtful which will reach the cover first. 

 How equally they run ! how eagerly they strain ! 

 — now Victor, Victor ! Ah ! Brusher you are 

 beat : Victor first tops the hedge. See there ! 

 see how they all take it in their strokes ! The 

 hedge cracks with their weight, so many jump 

 at once. 



