Gayly through the mountain glen The hunter's horn did ring, As the milk-white doe Escaped his bow, Down by the haunted spring. In vain his silver horn he wound, 'Twas echo answered back; For neither groom nor baying hound Was on the hunter's track. In vain he sought the milk-white doe That made him stray, and 'scaped his bow; For, save himself, no living thing Was by the silent, haunted spring. The purple heath-bells, blooming fair, Their fragrance round did fling, As the hunter lay At close of day Down by the haunted spring. A lady fair, in robe of white, To greet the hunter came; She kissed a cup with jewels bright, And pledged him by his name. Oh, lady fair," the hunter cried, Be thou my love, my blooming bride- A bride that well may grace a king, Fail lady of the haunted spring." In the fountain clear she stooped, And forth she drew a ring; And that loved knight His faith did plight Down by the haunted spring. But since that day his chase did stray, The hunter ne'er was seen; And legends tell he now doth dwell Within the hills so green; But still the milk-white doe appears And wakes the peasants' evening fears, While distant bugles faintly ring Around the lonely haunted spring. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLASS SONG (WHICH WILL BE SUNG ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY) by GEORGE SANTAYANA WASHING-DAY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD EXILE OF ERIN by THOMAS CAMPBELL WERE I BUT HIS OWN WIFE by ELLEN MARY PATRICK DOWNING WINTER SONG by LUDWIG HENRICH CHRISTOPH HOLTY FOR DECORATION DAY: 1861-1865 by RUPERT HUGHES |