He staggers at every footstep's planting;

The hot blood races through his brain;

His every breath is a twinge of pain;

Black shadows dance before his eyes;

The echoes mock his agony-cries.

They have hunted him to the open field;

He is falling upon their worn-out mercies.

They loudly call to him to yield;

He hoarsely pays them back in curses.

His blood-shot eye is wildly roaming;