THE CHASE.
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IThe Wildgrave[1] winds his bugle horn, To horse, to horse! halloo, halloo!His fiery courser snuffs the morn, And thronging serfs their lords pursue.
IIThe eager pack, from couples freed, Dash through the bush, the brier, the brake;While, answering hound, and horn, and steed, The mountain echoes startling wake.
IIIThe beams of God's own hallowed day Had painted yonder spire with gold,And, calling sinful man to pray, Loud, long, and deep, the bell had tolled:
IVBut still the Wildgrave onward rides; Halloo, halloo! and, hark again!When, spurring from opposing sides, Two Stranger Horsemen join the train,
VWho was each Stranger, left and right, Well may I guess, but dare not tell;The right-hand steed was silver white, The left, the swarthy hue of hell.
VIThe right-hand horseman, young and fair, His smile was like the morn of May;The left, from eye of tawny glare, Shot midnight lightning's lurid ray.
VIIHe waved his huntsman's cap on high, Cried, "Welcome, welcome, noble lord!What sport can earth, or sea, or sky, To match the princely chase afford?"—
VIII"Cease thy loud bugle's clanging knell." Cried the fair youth with silver voice;"And for Devotion's choral swell, Exchange the rude unhallowed noise.
IX"To-day, the ill-omened chase forbear, Yon bell yet summons to the fane;To-day the Warning Spirit hear, To-morrow thou mayst mourn in vain."—
- ↑ in the First Edition "Earl Walter" is the term applied throughout the ballad, instead of "the Wildgrave."
