THE WHITE-FOOTED DEER

But when the broad midsummer moon

Rose o'er that grassy lawn,

Beside the silver-footed deer

There grazed a spotted fawn.

The cottage dame forbade her son
To aim the rifle here;

"It were a sin," she said, " to harm
Or fright that friendly deer.

"This spot has been my pleasant home Ten peaceful years and more;

And, ever, when the moonlight shines,

She feeds before our door.

"The red-men say that here she walked
A thousand moons ago;

They never raise the war-whoop here,
And never twang the bow.

"I love to watch her as she feeds,
And think that all is well
While such a gentle creature haunts
The place in which we dwell."

The youth obeyed, and sought for game

In forests far away,

Where, deep in silence and in moss,

The ancient woodland lay.

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136

THE WHITE-FOOTED DEER

But once, in autumn's golden time

He ranged the wild in vain,
Nor roused the pheasant nor the deer,
And wandered home again.

The crescent moon and crimson eve
Shone with a mingling light;
The deer, upon the grassy mead,
Was feeding full in sight.

He raised the rifle to his eye,
And from the cliffs around
A sudden echo, shrill and sharp,
Gave back its deadly sound.

Away, into the neighboring wood,
The startled creature flew,
And crimson drops at morning lay
Amid the glimmering dew.

Next evening shone the waxing moon

As brightly as before;

The deer upon the grassy mead

Was seen again no more.

But ere that crescent moon was old,
By night the red-men came,
And burnt the cottage to the ground,
And slew the youth and dame.

THE WHITE-FOOTED DEER

137

Now woods have overgrown the mead,

And hid the cliffs from sight;

There shrieks the hovering hawk at noon,
And prowls the fox at night.

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.

MERCY

[From Merchant of Venice.]

THE quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed,It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the fear and dread of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy seasons justice.

SHAKESPEARE.

PUCK AND THE FAIRY QUEEN

[From Midsummer Night's Dream.]

OVER hill, over dale,

Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,

Thorough flood, thorough fire
I do wander everywhere.
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be:
In their gold coats spots you see;
These be rubies, fairy favors,
In those freckles live their savors:
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
SHAKESPEARE.