When fainting Nature called for aid, The power of art without the show. In misery's darkest caverns known, No summons mocked by chill delay, The toil of every day supplied. His virtues walked their narrow round, His single talent well employed. The busy day, the peaceful night, His frame was firm, his powers were bright, Then, with no throbs of fiery pain, And freed his soul the nearest way. XXV CHEVY CHACE THE HUNTING GOD prosper long our noble king, To drive the deer with hound and horn Erle Percy took his way; The child may rue that is unborn, The hunting of that day. The stout Erle of Northumberland His pleasure in the Scottish woods The chiefest harts in Chevy-Chace Who sent Erle Percy present word, With fifteen hundred bow-men bold, Who knew full well in time of neede The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran, And long before high noone they had The bow-men mustered on the hills, Their backsides all, with special care That day were guarded sure. The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, And with their cryes the hills and dales Lord Percy to the quarry went, But if I thought he wold not come, With that, a brave younge gentleman 'Lo, yonder doth Erle Douglas come, Full twenty hundred Scottish speares All men of pleasant Tivydale, 'O, cease your sports,' Erle Percy said, 'And take your bowes with speede; And now with me, my countrymen, That ever did on horsebacke come, I durst encounter man for man, THE CHALLENGE Erle Douglas on his milke-white steede, Whose armour shone like gold. 'Show me,' said he, 'whose men ye be, That hunt so boldly here, That, without my consent, do chase The first man that did answer make, Who sayd, 'We list not to declare, Yet we will spend our dearest blood, 'Ere thus I will out-bravèd be, I know thee well, an erle thou art; But trust me, Percy, pittye it were, Let thou and I the battell trye, Then stept a gallant squier forth, That ere my captaine fought on foote, Ile do the best that do I may, While I have power to stand: |