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...OLD MEN ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN, MURRAY, KENTUCKY by JAMES GALVIN DESIRE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON NEW NEIGHBORHOOD by KAREN SWENSON MIDSUMMER NIGHT by SARA TEASDALE OLD MAN by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER |