Page:The ascent of man by Blind, Mathilde.djvu/23

 To seize coy females in the fray, Or hotly hunted hunt for prey.

And amorously urged them on
 * In wood or wild to court their mate,

Proudly displaying in the sun
 * With antics strange and looks elate,

The vigour of their mighty thews Or charm of million-coloured hues.

There crouching 'mid the scarlet bloom,
 * Voluptuously the leopard lies,

And through the tropic forest gldom
 * The flaming of his feline eyes

Stirs with intoxicating stress The pulses of the leopardess. Or two swart bulls of self-same age
 * Meet furiously with thunderous roar,

And lash together, blind with rage,
 * And clanging horns that fain would gore