54: Bird Day Book 



In terror backward gazing toward the wood ; 



And when the East was bathed in golden light, 

 Came Acteon and in the meadow stood, 



Searching with eager glance to left and right. 

 He saw her ! gave a loud triumphant cry, 

 And plucked an arrow from his war-girth thigh. 



But there he paused. Out of the morning blue 



Swift as a plummet dropped from Zeus' throne 

 With sword-shaped pinions dipped in sunrise hue, 



A great gold eagle plunged, a living stone, 

 Ah, then it was the hunter stayed his hand, 



For with its mighty wings spread dark and wide, 

 The bird in cooling shadow gently fanned 



The stricken deer ; and hovering by her side 



Wrenched at the arrow that had laid her low, 

 And filled the air with screams of fiercest woe. 



Oh, Acteon, be gone ere yet the dawn 



Hath dried from vine and leaf the crystal dew ; 

 Go, go ! ere Dryad, Nymph and bearded Faun 



Come to avenge the death of her ye slew. 

 But look! Fate holds him and he waits too long, 



The meadow seethes in anger and dismay ; 

 The eagle claps his wings, ten thousand strong 



Flash creatures of the forest forth to slay ! 



And he who reaped the life blood of the doe, 

 The king of birds strikes earthward with a blow! 



So are the weaker championed by the strong; 

 So doth the hunter with the hunted bleed; 

 And so the eagle's battle ringing song 



Doth voice for man a brave immortal creed! 



— Paul Brandreth. 



