White Hart’s Prey

[Verse 1]
My hunting hound runs quickly
Through the mountain’s forest side
And so my steed runs swiftly
In pursuit as on we ride
My gray hawk flies above
With wings spanned wide and strong
The prey we spy will come to die
Before the day grows long

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee
And I give chase with glee
And ever on I’ll ride upon
The scent of my quarry
For my hunting hound runs swiftly

[Verse 2]
The flash of white within the thickened wood
Catches my eye
Upon the wind I sound my horn
As through the woods we fly
The trees seem near alive
As if they’d bar my way
No branch nor weed would I pay heed
But followed fast my prey

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee
And I give chase with glee
And ever on I’ll ride upon
The scent of my quarry
For my hunting hound runs swiftly

[Verse 3]
The chase has led me and my prey
Unto the mountain’s side
The hart is trapped, he stands at bay
With nowhere left to hide
His coat is flecked with foam
His eyes are filled with fear
With bow arm strong, my arrow’s song
Rings jubilant and clear

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee
And I give chase with glee
And ever on I’ll ride upon
The scent of my quarry
For my hunting hound runs swiftly

[Verse 4]
But lo! When I set down my bow
My heart within me sank
Though true my aim, no wound I saw
On neither neck nor flank
I bent my bow again, but as I loosed my dart
Before my eyes, the promised prize
Was nevermore a hart

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee
And I give chase with glee
And ever on I’ll ride upon
The scent of my quarry
For my hunting hound runs swiftly

[Verse 5]
A beast no longer, now a man
With beard full to the ground
In robes of ivory white he stands
Stock still, without a sound
A staff coal black and branched
Like the antlers of a deer
Rises from the sage’s hand
And spellbound, I draw near

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet doth flee
And I give chase with glee
And ever on I’ll ride upon
The scent of my quarry
For my hunting hound runs swiftly

[Verse 6]
“Oh you who seek to earn a name
By stealing from the wood
A harmless beast of beauty
That you’d slay if e’er you could
No mercy do you bear
And kindness have you not
So you shall flee the bloodthirsty
And share your victim’s lot

[Chorus]
For the white hart fast and fleet did flee
And you gave chase with glee
Now evermore you’ll fly before
The bows of men like thee
For their hunting hounds run swiftly

[Chorus]
Now, I, the white hart, fast I flee
And you give chase with glee
But ‘ware you all of my downfall
Lest you become like me
For your hunting hounds run swiftly