A Reading of Life, Other Poems by George Meredith
page 45 of 71 (63%)
page 45 of 71 (63%)
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Rang forth of merry dingles round the tors;
And deftest hand was he from foreign wars, But soon he hailed the home-bred yeoman mate. XX. Before the blackbird pecked the turf they woke; At dawn the deer's wet nostrils blew their last. To forest, haunt of runs and prime repast, With paying blows, the yokel strained his yoke. XXI. The city urchin mooned on forest air, On grassy sweeps and flying arrows, thick As swallows o'er smooth streams, and sighed him sick For thinking that his dearer home was there. XXII. Familiar, still unseized, the forest sprang An old-world echo, like no mortal thing. The hunter's horn might wind a jocund ring, But held in ear it had a chilly clang. XXIII. Some shadow lurked aloof of ancient time; Some warning haunted any sound prolonged, As though the leagues of woodland held them wronged |
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