16 
THE HERON. 
Into the air, from joyous hearts, 
Another shout was sent. 
Up, up, into the azure skies 
On circling pinions strong, 
Fair eyes pursued thy mounting course 
While the falcon sped along. 
Up, up, into the azure skies : 
Thy strenuous pinions go, 
While shouts and cries, and wondering eyes, 
Still reach thee from below ; 
But higher and higher, like a spirit of fire, 
Still o’er thee hangs thy foe; 
Thy cruel foe, still seeking 
With one down-plunging aim, 
To strike thy precious life 
For ever from thy frame! 
But doomed perhaps, as down he darts 
Swift as the rushing wind, 
Impaled upon thy up-turned beak, 
To leave his own behind. 
