HART-LEAP-WELL

HART-LEAPWELLTHEKnighthadriddendownfromWensleyMoorWiththeslowmotionofasummer'scloud,Andnow,asheapproachedavassal'sdoor,Bringforthanotherhorse!hecriedaloud.Anotherhorse!--ThatshoutthevassalheardAndsaddledhisbestSteed,acomelygrey;SirWaltermountedhim;hewasthethirdWhichhehadmountedonthatgloriousday.Joysparkledintheprancingcourser'seyes;Thehorseandhorsemanareahappypair;10But,thoughSirWalterlikeafalconflies,Thereisadolefulsilenceintheair.AroutthismorningleftSirWalter'sHall,Thatastheygallopedmadetheechoesroar;Buthorseandmanarevanished,oneandall;Suchrace,Ithink,wasneverseenbefore.SirWalter,restlessasaveeringwind,Callstothefewtireddogsthatyetremain:Blanch,Swift,andMusic,noblestoftheirkind,Follow,andupthewearymountainstrain.20TheKnighthallooed,hecheeredandchidthemonWithsuppliantgesturesandupbraidingsstern;Butbreathandeyesightfail;and,onebyone,Thedogsarestretchedamongthemountainfern.Whereisthethrong,thetumultoftherace?Thebuglesthatsojoyfullywereblown?--Thischaseitlooksnotlikeanearthlychase;SirWalterandtheHartareleftalone.ThepoorHarttoilsalongthemountainside;Iwillnotstoptotellhowfarhefled,30NorwillImentionbywhatdeathhedied;ButnowtheKnightbeholdshimlyingdead.Dismounting,then,heleanedagainstathorn;Hehadnofollower,dog,norman,norboy:Heneithercrackedhiswhip,norblewhishorn,Butgazeduponthespoilwithsilentjoy.ClosetothethornonwhichSirWalterleaned,Stoodhisdumbpartnerinthisgloriousfeat;Weakasalambthehourthatitisyeaned;Andwhitewithfoamasifwithcleavingsleet.40UponhissidetheHartwaslyingstretched:Hisnostriltouchedaspringbeneathahill,AndwiththelastdeepgroanhisbreathhadfetchedThewatersofthespringweretremblingstill.Andnow,toohappyforreposeorrest,(Neverhadlivingmansuchjoyfullot!)SirWalterwalkedallround,north,south,andwest,Andgazedandgazeduponthatdarlingspot.Andclimbingupthehill--(itwasatleastFourroodsofsheerascent)SirWalterfound50Threeseveralhoof-markswhichthehuntedBeastHadleftimprintedonthegrassyground.SirWalterwipedhisface,andcried,TillnowSuchsightwasneverseenbyhumaneyes:Threeleapshavebornehimfromthisloftybrow,Downtotheveryfountainwherehelies.I'llbuildapleasure-houseuponthisspot,Andasmallarbour,madeforruraljoy;'Twillbethetraveller'sshed,thepilgrim'scot,Aplaceoflovefordamselsthatarecoy.60AcunningartistwillIhavetoframeAbasinforthatfountaininthedell!Andtheywhodomakementionofthesame,Fromthisdayforth,shallcallitHART-LEAPWELL.And,gallantStag!tomakethypraisesknown,Anothermonumentshallhereberaised;Threeseveralpillars,eacharough-hewnstone,Andplantedwherethyhoofstheturfhavegrazed.And,inthesummer-timewhendaysarelong,IwillcomehitherwithmyParamour;70Andwiththedancersandtheminstrel'ssongWewillmakemerryinthatpleasantbower.TillthefoundationsofthemountainsfailMymansionwithitsarbourshallendure;--ThejoyofthemwhotillthefieldsofSwale,AndthemwhodwellamongthewoodsofUre!Thenhomehewent,andlefttheHart,stone-dead,Withbreathlessnostrilsstretchedabovethespring.--SoondidtheKnightperformwhathehadsaid;Andfarandwidethefamethereofdidring.80ErethricetheMoonintoherporthadsteered,Acupofstonereceivedthelivingwell;ThreepillarsofrudestoneSirWalterreared,Andbuiltahouseofpleasureinthedell.Andnearthefountain,flowersofstaturetallWithtrailingplantsandtreeswereintertwined,--Whichsooncomposedalittlesylvanhall,Aleafyshelterfromthesunandwind.Andthither,whenthesummerdayswerelong,SirWalterledhiswonderingParamour;90Andwiththedancersandtheminstrel'ssongMademerrimentwithinthatpleasantbower.TheKnight,SirWalter,diedincourseoftime,Andhisboneslieinhispaternalvale.--Butthereismatterforasecondrhyme,AndItothiswouldaddanothertale.PARTSECONDTHEmovingaccidentisnotmytrade;TofreezethebloodIhavenoreadyarts:'Tismydelight,aloneinsummershade,Topipeasimplesongforthinkinghearts.100AsIfromHawestoRichmonddidrepair,ItchancedthatIsawstandinginadellThreeaspensatthreecornersofasquare;Andone,notfouryardsdistant,nearawell.WhatthisimportedIcouldilldivine:And,pullingnowthereinmyhorsetostop,Isawthreepillarsstandinginaline,--Thelaststone-pillaronadarkhill-top.Thetreesweregrey,withneitherarmsnorhead;Halfwastedthesquaremoundoftawnygreen;120Sothatyoujustmightsay,asthenIsaid,Hereinoldtimethehandofmanhathbeen.Ilookeduponthehillbothfarandnear,Moredolefulplacedidnevereyesurvey;Itseemedasifthespring-timecamenothere,AndNatureherewerewillingtodecay.Istoodinvariousthoughtsandfancieslost,Whenone,whowasinshepherd'sgarbattired,Cameupthehollow:--himdidIaccost,AndwhatthisplacemightbeItheninquired.130TheShepherdstopped,andthatsamestorytoldWhichinmyformerrhymeIhaverehearsed.Ajollyplace,saidhe,intimesofold!Butsomethingailsitnow:thespotiscurst.Youseetheselifelessstumpsofaspenwood--Somesaythattheyarebeeches,otherselms--Thesewerethebower;andhereamansionstood,Thefinestpalaceofahundredrealms!Thearbourdoesitsownconditiontell;Youseethestones,thefountain,andthestream;140ButastothegreatLodge!youmightaswellHunthalfadayforaforgottendream.There'sneitherdognorheifer,horsenorsheep,Willwethislipswithinthatcupofstone;Andoftentimes,whenallarefastasleep,Thiswaterdothsendforthadolorousgroan.Somesaythathereamurderhasbeendone,Andbloodcriesoutforblood:but,fo