26.12.2010, 13:26
THE ARROW-KING.
How shall I picture forth the eagle's flight ?
An arrow feather'd with two mighty vans,
That soars and stoops at will, and broadly scans
The woods and waters with a living sight !
A wondrous arrow ! wheeling round and round.
Before its prone descent upon the prey,
Descried far off upon the subject ground,
And with one stroke disabled for the fray ;
But lo ! there comes a small, unpennon'd thing,
And, from the rifle's throat directly sped,
Is potent to bring down this arrow-king,
With slacken'd wing and self-abandon'd head.
His nearest foe is yonder human eye.
With no assailant else in earth or sky !
How shall I picture forth the eagle's flight ?
An arrow feather'd with two mighty vans,
That soars and stoops at will, and broadly scans
The woods and waters with a living sight !
A wondrous arrow ! wheeling round and round.
Before its prone descent upon the prey,
Descried far off upon the subject ground,
And with one stroke disabled for the fray ;
But lo ! there comes a small, unpennon'd thing,
And, from the rifle's throat directly sped,
Is potent to bring down this arrow-king,
With slacken'd wing and self-abandon'd head.
His nearest foe is yonder human eye.
With no assailant else in earth or sky !