Scarce the ascent
Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,
And covered with a speckled skin, appeared,
Nor when it saw me, vanished, rather strove
To check my onward going; that ofttimes
With purpose to retrace my steps I turned.
He had scarcely recovered from the shock, and driven this peril from his path, when
... a new dread succeeded, for in view
A lion came, ’gainst me, as it appeared,
With his head held aloft and hunger-mad.