Page:Shakespeare Collection of Poems.djvu/51

Like a milch Doe, whose swelling dugs do ake,
Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake.

By this she hears the Hounds are at a bay,
Whereat she starts, like one that spies an Adder,
Wreath'd up in fatal folds just in his way,
The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder:
Even so the timerous yelping of the Hounds,
Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds.

For now she knows it is no gentle chase,
But the blunt Boar, rough Bear, or Lion proud:
Because the cry remaineth in one place,
Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud:
Finding their enemy to be so curst,
They all strain curt'sie who shall cope him first.

This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear,
Through which it enters to surprize her heart:
Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear,
With cold pale weakness nums each feeling part:
Like Soldiers when their Captain once doth yield,
They basely fly, and dare not stay the field.

Thus stands she in a trembling extasie,
'Till chearing up her senses sore dismaid,
She tells them 'tis a causeless fantasie,
And childish error that they are afraid,
Bids them leave quaking, wills them fear no more:
And with that word she spied the hunted Boar:

Whose