Charmed us to its ancient moods,

Tuned us to its sombre tone;

Whispered in the tangled deeps,

Showed us, in the twilight rays,

Secrets that the noonday keeps,

Wonders lost on homely ways.

Where the forest creatures led

Lay our path;—the fox that crept

Through the fern, or, overhead,

Squirrels that before us leapt,

These we followed, or perchance

Startled herds that past us flew,

Leaving but an antler’s glance

Through the tree trunks for a clue.

In their wildness something stirred

Eager passion of the chase,{26}

{26}

Made us foes of beast and bird,

Spoilers of the nesting-place;

Yet their wildness we could share,

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