Carry me, ye four,
With cushions here and cushions there,
To see the world once more.
‘To stable and to kennel go;
Bring what is there to bring;
Lead my Lollard to and fro,
Or gently in a ring.
‘put the chair upon the grass:
Bring Rody and his hounds,
That I may contented pass
From these earthly bounds.’
His eyelids droop, his head falls low,
His old eyes cloud with dreams;
The sun upon all things that grow
Falls in sleepy streams.
Brown Lollard treads upon the lawn,
And to the armchair goes,
And now the old man’s dreams are gone,
He smooths the long brown nose.
And now moves many a pleasant tongue
Upon his wasted hands,
For leading aged hounds and young
The huntsman near him stands.
‘Huntsman Rody, blow the horn,
Make the hills reply.’
The huntsman loosens on the morn
A gay wandering cry.
Fire is in the old man’s eyes,
His fingers move and sway,
And when the wandering music dies
They hear him feebly say,
‘Huntsman Rody, blow the horn,
Make the hills reply.’
‘I cannot blow upon my horn,
I can but weep and sigh.’
Setvants round his cushioned place
Are with new sorrow wrung;
Hounds are gazing on his face,
Aged hounds and young.
One blind hound only lies apart
On the sun-smitten grass;
He holds deep commune with his heart:
The moments pass and pass;
The blind hound with a mournful din
Lifts slow his wintry head;
The servants bear the body in;
The hounds wail for the dead.
Poem Analysis:
William Butler Yeats, the renowned Irish poet, is celebrated for his mastery of lyrical and contemplative poetry. "The Ballad of the Foxhunter" is a poignant example of his work. This ballad, composed in a time when Yeats himself was growing old and contemplating his own mortality, encapsulates the themes of time, memory, and the inevitable passage of life. Through vivid imagery, Yeats takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of an aging foxhunter, offering a meditation on the fleeting nature of existence.
- A Reflection on Mortality: The poem opens with an old foxhunter's plea to be carried in a cushioned chair to witness the world once more. It is clear from the outset that the protagonist is in the twilight of his life, seeking one last glimpse of the world he once knew. The repetition of "cushions here and cushions there" emphasizes his desire for comfort and nostalgia. This introduces the central theme of the poem: the desire to revisit the past and the inevitability of mortality.
- The Hunter's World: As the poem unfolds, the foxhunter instructs his servants to prepare for his departure from this world. He requests the company of his faithful hound, Lollard, and the hunt, represented by Rody and his hounds. The presence of these figures from his past life highlights the hunter's desire for continuity and connection to the world he loves.
- The Setting: Yeats carefully sets the scene, placing the chair on the grass where the hunter can feel the natural world beneath him. The sun's rays "fall in sleepy streams," adding a dreamlike quality to the narrative. The description of Brown Lollard treading upon the lawn and the huntsman's presence brings life and vibrancy to the hunter's fading existence.
- The Inevitability of Time: Despite the vivid imagery and the hunter's yearning for one last hunt, Yeats reminds us of the relentless march of time. The hunter's dreams are fleeting, and his old eyes are clouded, symbolizing the fading of his memories and vitality. This contrast between the hunter's desires and the harsh reality of aging underscores the poem's underlying message.
- The Waning Horn: The climax of the poem occurs when the huntsman is instructed to blow his horn. The imagery of the horn's sound and the echo through the hills represents the hunter's yearning for the thrill of the hunt and the echoes of his past. However, the huntsman's response that he can only "weep and sigh" emphasizes the inescapable limitations imposed by time and aging.
- The Final Passage: As the poem concludes, the servants, overcome with sorrow, bear the hunter's body away. The hounds, both young and old, wail in lamentation. Only one blind hound lies apart, communing with his own heart, a poignant symbol of the enduring spirit of the hunter.
"The Ballad of the Foxhunter" by W.B. Yeats is a profound exploration of the human condition, mortality, and the inexorable passage of time. Through vivid imagery and emotional resonance, Yeats encapsulates the universal experience of growing old and the yearning to relive past moments. The poem reminds us that, even in the face of mortality, there is a deep connection to life, memory, and the world that endures beyond the physical body. Yeats' ballad serves as a timeless reflection on the human experience and the longing for immortality through memory and legacy.