A {Wounded} Deer－leaps highest－ 1
I've heard the Hunter tell－
'Tis but the Extasy of {death}－
And then the Brake is still!
The {Smitten} Rock that gushes! 5
The {trampled} Steel that springs!
A Cheek is always redder
Just where the Hectic stings!
Mirth is the Mail of Anguish 9
In which it Cautious Arm,
Lest anybody spy the blood
And "you're hurt" exclaim!
I've heard the Hunter tell－
'Tis but the Extasy of {death}－
And then the Brake is still!
The {Smitten} Rock that gushes! 5
The {trampled} Steel that springs!
A Cheek is always redder
Just where the Hectic stings!
Mirth is the Mail of Anguish 9
In which it Cautious Arm,
Lest anybody spy the blood
And "you're hurt" exclaim!
(F.181/J.165)
[1] Wounded Deer:: in the beginning of the novel, hunters were searching a wounded deer.
[2] Hunter:: Leather-Stocking, a character in The Pioneers (1823) by James Fenimore Cooper.
[10] spy the blood:: In the novel, the Judge and Leather-Stocking argued who killed the deer, and after a while Oliver Edwards told the Judge to count his shots.
"with how many shot did you load your gun?"
"With five, sir," said the Judge, a little struck with the other's manner; "are they not enough to slay a buck like this?"
"One would do it; but," moving to the tree from behind which he had appeared, "you know, sir, you fired in this direction－here are four of the bullets in the tree."
The Judge examined the fresh marks in the bark of the pine, and shaking his head, said, with a laugh－
"You are making out the case against yourself, my young advocate－where is the fifth?"
"Here," said the youth, throwing aside the rough overcoat that he wore, and exhibiting a hole in his under garment, through which large drops of blood were oozing.
"Good God!" exclaimed the Judge, with horror; ─ The Pioneers (1853)