Book III.
THE CHACE.
77
The brittle Boughs, and greedily devours
The Fruit delicious. Ah! too dearly bought;
The Price is Life. For now the treach'rous Turf
Trembling gives way; and the unweildy Beast 285
Self-sinking, drops into the dark Profound.
So when dilated Vapours, struggling heave
Th' incumbent Earth; if Chance the cavern'd Ground,
Shrinking subside, and the thin Surface yield,
Down sinks at once the pond'rous Dome, ingulph'd
With all its Tow'rs. Subtle, delusive Man!
How various are thy Wiles! artful to kill
Thy savage Foes, a dull unthinking Race!
Fierce from his Lair, springs forth the speckled Pard,
Thirsting for Blood, and eager to destroy; 295
The Huntsman flies, but to his Flight alone
Confides not: At convenient Distance fix'd,
A polish'd Mirrour, stops in full Career
The Fruit delicious. Ah! too dearly bought;
The Price is Life. For now the treach'rous Turf
Trembling gives way; and the unweildy Beast 285
Self-sinking, drops into the dark Profound.
So when dilated Vapours, struggling heave
Th' incumbent Earth; if Chance the cavern'd Ground,
Shrinking subside, and the thin Surface yield,
Down sinks at once the pond'rous Dome, ingulph'd
With all its Tow'rs. Subtle, delusive Man!
How various are thy Wiles! artful to kill
Thy savage Foes, a dull unthinking Race!
Fierce from his Lair, springs forth the speckled Pard,
Thirsting for Blood, and eager to destroy; 295
The Huntsman flies, but to his Flight alone
Confides not: At convenient Distance fix'd,
A polish'd Mirrour, stops in full Career
The
