Life and Writings of Frank Forester (Henry William Herbert.) (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882. Excerpt: ... THE HAWKING PARTY. Dimly gray the dawn is stealing--Stealing up the eastern sky, Loud the red-cock's clarion peeling Tells the world that morn is nigh. Southerly the wind is sweeping, O'er the forests sad and sere--Heavily the dews are weeping, O'er the death of the woodland year. Faint and few, the stars are paling, Through the rents o' the rising mist--Though the fog-wreaths heavenward sailing Are not yet by the sunbeam kissed. All the things that love the day--All that feed or fly by night--Early greet the opening day--Early shun the approach of light. Homeward is the hill-fox bending Slyly through the darksome glen; From their nests the rooks are wending, Far and fast o'er field and fen. Swift the woodcock's wing is gliding Down the vale to his lonely brake--And the teal her brood is hiding In the reeds by the lilied lake. In the yellow stubbles feeding Calls the partridge sharp and shrill, While his hinds the stag is leading Toward his holt from the heathy hill, Lo the great sun skyward rushing Blithe as giant from his lair--'While the lavrock's chant outgushing Greets the lord of earth and air In their stalls the coursers stamping Chide their laggard grooms, this morn. They their bits should now be champing, Bounding now to the mellow horn. In their courts the pack is whining, Anxious, with erected ear--For the glorious rally pining, For the jolly hunter's cheer. 'Wake then, wake, each peerless maiden. Wake, each gallant cavalier, Lo the gale with moisture laden, And the month the best o' the year Blithe September's days are over, Brown October's suns are past, Sere is now the seeding clover, And the leaves are falling fast. Southern wind and cloudy sky--Not a dew-drop on the thorn--Splendidly the scent will he--'Tis a glorious hunting morn. Lo ...