And swims in radiant majesty along. O'er the whole homely scene, the cooing dove Flies thick in amorous chase, and wanton rolls The glancing eye, and turns the changeful neck. While thus the gentle tenants of the shade Indulge their purer loves, the rougher world Of brutes, below, rush furious into flame And fierce desire. Through all his lusty veins The bull, deep-scorch'd, the raging passion feels. Of pasture sick, and negligent of food, Scarce seen, he wades among the yellow broom, While o'er his ample sides the rambling sprays Luxuriant shoot; or through the mazy wood Dejected wanders, nor the enticing bud Crops, though it presses on his careless sense. And oft, in jealous maddening fancy wrapt, He seeks the fight; and, idly butting, feigns His rival gor'd in every knotty trunk. Him should he meet, the bellowing war begins: Their eyes flash fury; to the hollow'd earth, Whence the sand flies, they mutter bloody deeds, And groaning deep the impetuous battle mix; While the fair heifer, balmy-breathing, near, Stands kindling up their rage. The trembling steed, With this hot impulse seiz'd in every nerve, Nor heeds the rein, nor hears the sounding thong; Blows are not felt; but, tossing high his head, And by the well-known joy to distant plains Attracted strong, all wild he bursts away; O'er rocks, and woods, and craggy mountains flies; And, neighing, on the aerial summit takes The exciting gale; then, steep-descending, cleaves The headlong torrents foaming down the hills, Even where the madness of the straiten'd stream Turns in black eddies round--such is the force With which his frantic heart and sinews swell. [Illustration: On the aerial summit takes the gale]