92
THE CHACE.
Book III.
That covers well his Rear, his Front presents
An Host of Foes. O! shun, ye noble Train,
The rude Encounter, and believe your Lives
Your Country's Due alone. As now aloof
They wing around, he finds his Soul uprais'd, 540
To dare some great Exploit; he charges home
Upon the broken Pack, that on each Side
Fly diverse; then as o'er the Turf he strains,
He vents the cooling Stream, and up the Breeze
Urges his Course with eager Violence: 544
Then takes the Soil, and plunges in the Flood
Precipitant; down the Mid-Stream he wafts
Along, 'till (like a Ship distress'd, that runs
Into some winding Creek) close to the Verge
Of a small Island, for his weary Feet 550
Sure Anchorage he finds, there skulks immers'd.
His Nose alone above the Wave, draws in
The vital Air; all else beneath the Flood
An Host of Foes. O! shun, ye noble Train,
The rude Encounter, and believe your Lives
Your Country's Due alone. As now aloof
They wing around, he finds his Soul uprais'd, 540
To dare some great Exploit; he charges home
Upon the broken Pack, that on each Side
Fly diverse; then as o'er the Turf he strains,
He vents the cooling Stream, and up the Breeze
Urges his Course with eager Violence: 544
Then takes the Soil, and plunges in the Flood
Precipitant; down the Mid-Stream he wafts
Along, 'till (like a Ship distress'd, that runs
Into some winding Creek) close to the Verge
Of a small Island, for his weary Feet 550
Sure Anchorage he finds, there skulks immers'd.
His Nose alone above the Wave, draws in
The vital Air; all else beneath the Flood
Conceal'd,
