Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
floating upon the breathings of the wood, just reaching the ear, now
heard and now lost, as a maid calling to her lover. Amid such
excellence, the excellence of a primeval age, before man and the seasons
had marred earth’s face, Erix and Zella hunted.
SECTION VI.
The two moved on, like gods, hastening to outrun the growing light, and
to make their sport before high noon should steal its freshness from
their path. So, long after, but less large, less strong, less fleet, and
less beautiful, did the twin creations of pure intellect, Apollo and his
mate, pursue the boar in Tempe; while the herdsman who sat afar off,
upon some high rock, watching his wealth, veiled his face in wonder and
in fear.
Thus were three full leagues passed over, through the windings of the
wood; he, crushing the flowers beneath his feet, she, just bending their
drooping heads, when Erix descried a noble stag standing upon the bank
of a sweet pool, of narrow round, which, embosomed in the forest, slept
peaceful, and mirrored in its face the moving foliage and the blue sky
above. With head depressed, the deer had caught his own image in the
water, and stood threatening with mimic war his shadowy antagonist,
returning thrust for thrust. Poor beast! Now strain the nerve and put
forth thy utmost speed, for no shadows threaten at thy back, but death,
with feet swifter than the wind. With one loud shout the forest rang,
and then, clear as the notes of bugle or of flute, played to the
listening morn, burst forth the hunter’s song; for not yet had the gin
and pit, and stealth cowardly creeping upon its prey, debased the chase,
and dishonored with cheat and trick man’s highest sport; but room was
given and a chance for life, to the course before the flood.
SECTION VII.
See, the east is glowing with golden-tinted light, and the morn calls to
us with the breath of youth.
See, the incense rises from every dewy leaf; and the morn calls to us
with the breath of youth.
The air floats, balmy, o’er hill, and wood, and lake; and the morn calls
to us with the breath of youth.
The spear stands, impatient, by the wall; the bow, unstrung, lies
mourning at the door; while the morn calls to us with the breath of
youth.
Hark! The horn winds joy, and the echoes laugh, and leap, and
dance—trr, trr, trr, trr, trrwhroo, trrwhroo—in circles of mad
delight.
Awake, then, awake; for the horn winds joy, and the echoes laugh, and
leap, and dance—trr, trr, trr, trr, trrwhroo, trrwhroo—in circles of
mad delight; and the morn calls to us with the breath of youth.
Now press the foot, and watchful be the eye, for the spear is in the
hand, and the arrow on the string, and the horn winds joy, and the
echoes laugh, and leap, and dance—trr, trr, trr, trr, trrwhroo,
trrwhroo—in circles of mad delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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