But nearer was the copse-wood gray,
That waved and wept on Loch-Achray,
And mingled with the pine-trees blue
On the bold cliffs of Ben-venue.

Fresh vigour with the hope returned,
With flying foot the heath he spurned,
Held westward with unwearied race,

And left behind the panting chase.

VI.

'Twere long to tell what steeds

gave o'er,

As swept the hunt through Cambus-more;

What reins were tightened in despair,

When rose Benledi's ridge in air;

Who flagged upon Bochastle's heath,

Who shunned to stem the flooded Teith,

For twice, that day, from shore to shore,

The gallant Stag swam stoutly o'er.
Few were the stragglers, following far,
That reached the lake of Vennachar;

And when the Brigg of Turk was won,

The headmost Horseman rode alone.

VII.

Alone, but with unbated zeal,

That horseman plied the scourge and steel;
For, jaded now, and spent with toil,

Embossed with foam, and dark with soil,
While every gasp with sobs he drew,
The labouring Stag strained full in view.
Two dogs of black Saint Hubert's breed,
Unmatched for courage, breath, and speed,

Fast on his flying traces came,

And all but won that desperate game;

For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch,

Vindictive toiled the blood-hounds staunch;

Nor nearer might the dogs attain,
Nor farther might the quarry strain.

Thus up the margin of the lake,

Between the precipice and brake,

O'er stock and rock their race they take.

VIII.

The hunter marked that mountain high,

The lone lake's western boundary,

And deemed the Stag must turn to bay, Where that huge rampart barred the way;

Already glorying in the prize,

Measured his antlers with his eyes;

For the death-wound, and death-halloo,
Mustered his breath, his whinyard drew;
But thundering as he came prepared,
With ready arm and weapon bared,
The wily quarry shunned the shock,
And turned him from the opposing rock;

Then, dashing down a darksome glen,
Soon lost to hound and hunter's ken,

In the deep Trosach's wildest nook

His solitary refuge took.

There while, close couched, the thicket shed

Cold dews and wild flowers on his head,

He heard the baffled dogs in vain

Rave through the hollow pass amain,

Chiding the rocks, that yelled again.

IX.

Close on the hounds the hunter came,
To cheer them on the vanished game;

But, stumbling in the rugged dell,
The gallant horse exhausted fell.
The impatient rider strove in vain
To rouse him with the spur and rein,
For the good steed, his labours o'er,
Stretched his stiff limbs to rise no more;
Then, touched with pity and remorse,
He sorrowed o'er the expiring horse.
"I little thought, when first thy rein
I slacked upon the banks of Seine,
That highland eagle e'er should feed
On thy fleet limbs, my matchless steed!
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day,

That costs thy life, my gallant grey !"

X.

Then through the dell his horn resounds, From vain pursuit to call the hounds.

Back limped, with slow and crippled pace, The sulky leaders of the chase

;

Close to their master's side they pressed,
With drooping tail and humbled crest;

But still the dingle's hollow throat
Prolonged the swelling bugle-note.
The owlets started from their dream,
The eagles answered with their scream,
Round and around the sounds were cast,
Till echo seemed an answering blast;
And on the hunter hied his way,
To join some comrades of the day;
Yet often paused, so strange the road,
So wondrous were the scenes it show'd.