Page:The Pleasures of Memory (Rogers).djvu/44

 But giant Gout had bound him in her chain, And his heart panted for the chase in vain.
 * Yet here Remembrance, sweetly-soothing power!

Wing'd with delight Confinement's lingering hour. The fox's brush still emulous to wear, He scour'd the county in his elbow-chair; And, with view-halloo, rous'd the dreaming hound, That, rung, by starts, his deep-ton'd music round.
 * Long by the paddock's humble pale confin'd,

His aged hunters cours'd the viewless wind: And each, with glowing energy portray'd, The far-fam'd triumphs of the field display'd; Usurp'd the canvas of the crowded hall, And chas'd a line of heroes from the wall. There slept the horn each jocund echo knew, And many a smile and many a story drew! High o'er the hearth his forest-trophies hung, And their fantastic branches wildly flung. How would he dwell on the vast antlers there! These dash'd the wave, those fann'd the mountain-air. All, as they frown'd, unwritten records bore, Of gallant feats and festivals of yore.
 * But why the tale prolong?—His only child,

His darling on the stranger smiled. Her little arts a fretful sire to please, Her gentle gaiety, and native ease Had won his soul; and rapturous Fancy shed Her golden lights and tints of rosy red: But ah! few days had pass'd, ere the bright vision fled!
 * When evening ting'd the lake's ethereal blue,

And her deep shades irregularly threw; Their shifting sail dropt gently from the cove, Down by St. Herbert's consecrated grove; d Whence erst the chanted hymn, the taper'd rite Amused the fisher's solitary night: