'Pity,' she cries, some favour—some Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse. 44 But lo, from forth a copse that neighbours by, A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, Adonis' trampling courser doth espy, 11 And forth she rushes, snorts, and neighs aloud: The strong-neck'd steed, being tied unto a tree, Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 45 Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, And now his woven girths he breaks asunder ; thunder; The iron bit he crushes 'tween his teeth, 46 His ears up prick'd; his braided hanging mane 47 Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps, With gentle majesty, and modest pride; Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps, 2 As who should say, lo! thus my strength is tried; And this I do to captivate the eye Of the fair breeder that is standing by. 'Remorse:' tenderness.-2 Mane:' used as a plural noun.-Compassed:' arched. 48 What recketh he his rider's angry stir, His flattering 'Holla,' or his 'Stand, I say?' 49 Look, when a painter would surpass the life, 50 Round-hoof'd, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, 51 Sometime he scuds far off, and there he stares; To bid the wind a base1 he now prepares, And whe'r2 he run, or fly, they knew not whether; For through his mane and tail the high wind sings, Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather'd wings. 52 He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her; 16 To bid the wind a base :' to challenge to the game of base, prison-base, or prison-bars, in which one runs and another pursues.-2 • Whe'r : whether. Spurns at his love, and scorns the heat he Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 53 Then like a melancholy malecontent, He vails1 his tail, that, like a falling plume, He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume: 54 His testy master goeth about to take him; When lo, the unback'd breeder, full of fear, Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 55 All swoll'n with chasing, down Adonis sits, 56 An oven that is stopp'd, or river stay'd, Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage; mute, The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 1 Vails:' lowers.-2 Heart's attorney:' the tongue. 57 He sees her coming, and begins to glow, (Even as a dying coal revives with wind), For all askance he holds her in his eye. 58 Oh what a sight it was, wistly to view How she came stealing to the wayward boy! How white and red each other did destroy! 59 Now was she just before him as he sat, And like a lowly lover down she kneels ; Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 60 Oh what a war of looks was then between them! His eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen them; plain With tears which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain. 61 Full gently now she takes him by the hand, A lily prison'd in a gaol of snow, Or ivory in an alabaster band; So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 1. His:' its. This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, 62 Once more the engine of her thoughts began: 'Oh fairest mover on this mortal round! Would thou wert as I am, and I a man, My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound; For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee.' 1 63 'Give me my hand,' saith he,' why dost thou feel it?' And being steel'd, soft sighs can never grave 64 For shame,' he cries, 'let go, and let me go ; I pray you hence, and leave me here alone : 65 Thus she replies: "Thy palfrey, as he should, Else, suffer'd, it will set the heart on fire: 66 'How like a jade he stood, tied to the tree, Servilely master'd with a leathern rein : 1Thy heart my wound:' thy heart wounded as mine is. it : |