And roused the cavern, where 'tis told A giant made his den of old;" For ere that steep ascent was won, High in his path-way hung the sun, And many a gallant, stay'd per-force, Was fain to breathe his faultering horse; And of the trackers of the deer Scarce half the lessening pack was near; So shrewdly, on the mountain-side, Had the bold burst their mettle tried. V. The noble Stag was pausing now, Upon the mountain's southern brow, Where broad extended, far beneath, The varied realms of fair Menteith. With anxious eye he wander'd o'er Mountain and meadow, moss and moor, And ponder'd refuge from his toil, By far Lochard or Aberfoyle. But nearer was the copse-wood gray, And mingled with the pine-trees blue Fresh vigour with the hope return'd, And left behind the panting chase. VI. "Twere long to tell what steeds gave o'er, As swept the hunt through Cambus-more; What reins were tighten'd in despair, Who shunn'd to stem the flooded Teith,— And when the Brigg of Turk was won, The headmost Horseman rode alone. VII. one, but with unbated zea, That horseman plied the scourge and steel; For, jaded now, and spent with toil, Emboss'd with foam, and dark with soil, And all but won that desperate game; For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch, Vindictive toil'd the blood-hound staunch; Nor nearer might the dogs attain, Nor farther might the quarry strain. Thus up the margin of the lake, Between the precipice and brake, O'er stock and rock their race they take. VIII. The Hunter mark'd that mountain high, The lone lake's western boundary, And deem'd the Stag must turn to bay, Where that huge rampart barr'd the way; Already glorying in the prize, Measured his antlers with his eyes; For the death-wound, and death-halloo, In the deep Trosach's wildest nook His solitary refuge took. · There while, close couch'd, the thicket shed Cold dews and wild flowers on his head, He heard the baffled dogs in vain Rave through the hollow pass amain, Chiding the rocks that yell'd again. IX. Close on the hounds the hunter came, To cheer them on the vanish'd game; But, stumbling in the rugged dell, |