Through deep, dark forest,

Ever down and down;

Fording the streams, whose moon-bright waters flowed,

In eddies of delicious, aching cool,

About our weary thighs.

And, once, when in mid-torrent,

That swirled, girth-high about the plunging beasts,

A startled otter, glancing

Before their very hoofs,

Affrighted them; and, rearing,