And all the brazen instruments of war, With mutual clamour, and united din, Fill the large concave: while, from camp to camp, They catch the varied sounds, floating in air. Round all the wide circumference, tigers fell Shrink at the noise; deep in his gloomy den, The lion starts, and morsels, yet unchew’d, Drop from his trembling jaws. Now, all at once, Onward they march, embattled, to the sound Of martial harmony; fifes, cornets, drums, That rouse the sleepy soul to arms, and bold Heroick deeds. In parties, here and there Detach’d, o’er hill and dale, the hunters range, Inquisitive; strong dogs, that match in fight The boldest brute, around their masters wait, A faithful guard. No haunt unsearch’d, they drive From every covert, and from every den, The lurking savages. Incessant shouts Re-echo through the woods, and kindling fires Gleam from the mountain tops; the forest seems One mingling blaze: like flocks of sheep, they fly Before the flaming brand: fierce lions, pards, Boars, tigers, bears, and wolves; a dreadful crew Of grim blood-thirsty foes! growling along, They stalk, indignant; but fierce vengeance still [Sidenote: BOOK II THE CHASE v. 413-437.] Hangs pealing on their rear, and pointed spears Present immediate death. Soon as the night, Wrapp’d in her sable veil, forbids the chase, They pitch their tents, in even ranks, around The circling camp: the guards are placed; and fires, At proper distances ascending, rise, And paint the horizon with their ruddy light. So, round some island’s shore of large extent, Amid the gloomy horrors of the night, The billows, breaking on the pointed rocks, Seem all one flame, and the bright circuit wide Appears a bulwark of surrounding fire. What dreadful howlings, and what hideous roar, Disturb those peaceful shades! where erst the bird, That glads the night, had cheer’d the listening groves With sweet complainings. Through the silent gloom Oft they the guards assail; as oft repell’d They fly reluctant, with hot boiling rage Stung to the quick, and mad with wild despair. Thus, day by day, they still the chase renew; At night encamp; till now, in straighter bounds, The circle lessens, and the beasts perceive The wall that hems them in on every side. And now their fury bursts, and knows no mean; From man they turn, and point their ill judged rage [Sidenote: BOOK II THE CHASE v. 438-462.]