Defies the noxious vapour, and confides
In this delightful exercife to raife

Hi dicoping head, and cheer his heart with joy.
Yevig'rous youths' by iming Fortune bleft
With large demeines, hereditary wealth,
Heap'd copious by your wife forefathers care,
Hear and attend! while I the means reveal
T'enjoy those pleasures, for the weak too strong,
Too coftly for the poor: to rein the fteed
Swift ftctching o'er the plain, to cheer the pack
Op'ning in concerts of harmonious joy,
But breathing death. What tho' the gripe fevere
Of brazen-fifted Time, and flow Difcafe
Creeping thro' ev'ry vein, and nerve unftrung,
Aflict my fhatter'd frame, undaunted still,

Fix'd as a mountain-afh, that braves the bolts
Of angry Jove, tho' blafted, yet unfallen;
Still can my
foul in Fancy's mirror view
Deeds glorious once, recal the joyous scene
In all its fplendours deck'd, o'er the full bowl
Recount my triumphs paft, urge others on
With hand and voice, and point the winding way;
Pleas'd with that focial fweet garrulity,
The poor disbanded veteran's fole delight.

First let the kennel be the huntfman's care,
Upon fome little eminence erect,
And fronting to the ruddy dawn; its courts
On either hand wide op'ning to receive
The fun's all-cheering beams, when mild he fhines,
And gilds the mountain tops: for much the
pack

(Rous'd from their dark alcoves) delight to ftretch, And bafk in his invigorating ray.

Warn'd by the ftreaming light and merry lark,
Forth ruth the jolly clan; with tuneful throats
They carol loud, and in grand chorus join'd
Salute the new-born day for not alone
The vegetable world, but men and brutes
Own his reviving influence, and joy

At his approach. Fountain of Light! if chance
Some envious cloud veil thy refulgent brow,
In vain the Mufes aid; untouch'd, unftrung,
Lies my mute harp, and thy defponding bard
Sits darkly mufing o'er th`unfinith'd lay.

Let no Corinthian pillars prop the dome;
A vain expence, on charitable deeds
Better difpos'd, to clothe the tatter'd wretch
Who fhrinks beneath the blaft, to feed the poor
Pinch'd with afflictive want. For ufe, not state,
Gracefully plain, let each apartment rise.
O'er all let cleanlinefs prefide, no fcraps
Beftrew the pavement, and no half-pick'd bones
To kindie fierce debate, or to difguft
That nicer fenfe on which the fportfinan's hope
And all its future triumphs muit depend.
Soon as the growling pack with cager joy
Have lapp'd their fincking viands, morn or eve,
From the full ciftern lead the ductile ftreams,
To wath thy court well pav'd, nor fpare thy pains;
For much to health will cleanlinefs avail.
Seek 'ft thou for hounds to climb the rocky fteep,
And bruth th' entangled covert, whofe nice fcent
O'er greaty fallows and frequented roads
Can pick the dubious way? Banith far off
Each noisome ftench, let no offensive finell

Invade thy wide inclosure, but admit
The nitrous air and purifying breeze.

Water and fhade no leis demand thy care.
In a large fquare th' adjacent field inclofe;
There plant in equal ranks the spreading elm,
Or fragrant lime; moft happy thy defign,
If at the bottom of thy fpacious court

A large canal, fed by the cryftal brook,
From its tranfparent bosom shall reflect
Thy downward structure and inverted grove.
Here when the fun's too potent gleams annoy
The crowded kennel; and the drooping pack,
Reftlefs and faint, loll their unmoiften'd tangucs,
And drop their feeble tails; to cooler fhades
Lead forth the panting tribe: foon fhalt thou find
The cordial breeze their fainting hearts revive:
Tumultuous foon they plunge into the stream,
There lave their reeking fides; with greedy joy
Gulp down the flying wave; this way and that
From fhore to fhore they fwim, while clamour loud
And wild uproar, torments the troubled flood:
Then on the funny bank they roll and stretch
Their dripping limbs, or elfe in wanton rings
Courfing around, pursuing and purfued,
The merry multitude difporting play.

But here with watchful and obfervant eye
Attend their frolics, which too often end
In bloody broils and death. High o'er thy head
Wave thy refounding whip, and with a voice
Fierce menacing o'er-rule the ftern debate,
And quench their kindling rage: for oft, in spart
Begun, combat enfues; growling they fnarl,
Then, on their haunches rear'd, rampant they feize
Each others throats; with teeth and claws in gore
Beimear'd,they wound, they tear,till on theground,
Panting, half dead, the conquer'd champion lies:
Then fudden all the bafe ignoble crowd,
Loud-clam'ring.feize thehelplefs,worried,wretch,
And, thirsting for his blood, drag different ways
His mangled carcafe on th' enfanguin'd plain.
O breasts of pity void! t'oppress the weak,
To point your vengeance at the friendless head,
And with one mutual cry infult the fallen!
Emblem too juft of man's degenerate race.

Others apart, by native inftinct led,
Knowing inftructor! 'mong the ranker grafs
Cull each falubrious plant, with bitter juice
Concoctive stor'd, and potent to allay
Each vicious ferment. Thus the hand divine
Of Providence, beneficent and kind

To all his creatures, for the brutes prescribes
A ready remedy, and is himfelf
Their great Phyfician. Now grown ftiff with age,
And many a painful chace, the wife old hound,
Regardless of the frolic pack, attends
His mafter's fide, or flumbers at his cafe
Beneath the bending fhade; there many a ring
Runs o'er in dreams; now on the doubtful foil -
Puzzles perplex'd, or doubles intricate,
Cautious unfolds, then wing'd with all his speed
Bounds o'er the lawn to feize his panting prey,
And in imperfect whimp'rings fpeaks his joy.

A diffrent hound for ev'ry diff'rent chace Select with judgment; nor the tim'rous hare O'match'd deftroy, but leave that vile offence

To the mean, murd'rous, coursing crew, intent
On blood and fpoil. O blast their hopes, just Heaven!
And all their painful drudgeries repay
With difappointment and fevere remorfe;
But hufband thou thy pleasures, and give scope
To all her fubtle play. By Nature led,
A thousand shifts fhe tries: t'unravel these
Th' induftrious beagle twifts his waving tail,
Thro' all her labyrinths purfues, and rings
Her doleful knell. See there with count'nance
blithe,

And with a courtly grin, the fawning hound
Salutes thee cow'ring; his wide op'ning nofe
Upward he curls, and his large floe-black eyes
Melt in foft blandifhments and humble joy :
His gloffy fkin, or yellow pied, or blue,
In lights or fhades by Nature's pencil drawn,
Reflects the various tints; his ears and legs,
Fleck'd here and there, in gay enamell'd pride
Rival the fpeckled pard; his ruth-grown tail
O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch:
On fhoulders clean upright and firm he ftands:
His round cat-foot, ftraight hams, and wide-fpread
thighs,

And his low-dropping cheft, confefs his speed,
His ftrength, his wind, or on the steepy hill
Or far-extended plain; in ev'ry part
So well-proportion'd, that the nicer skill
Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice:
Of fuch compofe thy pack. But here a mean
Obferve, nor the large hound prefer, of size
Gigantic; he in the thick-woven covert
Painfully tugs, or in the thorny brake
Torn and embarrass'd bleeds: but if too small,
The pigmy brood in ev'ry furrow swims;
Moil'd in the clogging clay, panting they lag
Behind inglorious; or else shiv'ring creep,
Benumb'd and faint, beneath the fheltering thorn:
For hounds of middle size, active and strong,
Will better anfwer all thy various ends,
And crown thy pleafing labours with fuccefs.

As fome brave captain, curious and exact,
By his fix'd ftandard forins in equal ranks
His gay battalion, as one man they move
Step after step, their fize the fame, their arms
Far-gleaming dart the fame united blaze;
Reviewing generals his merit own;
How regular! how juft! and all his cares
Are well repaid if mighty George approve :
So model thou thy pack, if honour touch
Thy gen'rous foul, and the world's just applause.
But above all take heed, nor mix thy hounds
Of diffrent kinds; difcordant founds fhall grate
Thy ears offended, and a lagging line
Of babbling curs difgrace thy broken pack.
But if th' amphibious otter be thy chace,
Or ftately ftag that o'er the woodland reigns;
Or if th'harmonious thunder of the field
Delight thy ravish'd cars; the deep-flew'd hound
Breed up with care, ftrong, heavy, flow, but fure;
Whofe ears down-hanging from his thick round

head

Shall fweep the morning dew, whofe clanging voice

Awake the mountain Echo in her cell,
And thake the forefts: the bold talbot kind
Of these the prime, as white as Alpine fnows,
And great their use of old. Upon the banks
Of Tweed, flow winding thro' the vale, the feat
Of war and rapine once, ere Britons knew
The fweets of peace, or Anna's dread commands
To lafting leagues the haughty rivals aw'd,
There dwelt a pilting race, well train'd and skill'd
In all the mysteries of theft, the spoil
Their only fubftance, feuds and war their fport;
Not more expert in ev'ry fraudful art
Th' arch felon was of cld, who by the tail
Drew back his lowing prize: in vain his wiles,
In vain the fhelter of the cov'ring rock,
In vain the footy cloud and ruddy flames
That iffued from his mouth: for foon he paid
His fortcit life; a debt how justly due
To wrong'd Alcides and avenging Heaven!
Veil'd in the fhades of night they ford the ftream,
Then prowling far and near, whate'er they feize
Becomes their prey; nor flocks nor herds are fafe,
Nor ftalls protect the steer, nor ftrong-bair'd doors
Secure the fav'rite horfe. Scon as the morn
Reveals his wrongs, with ghaftly vifage wan
The plunder'd owner ftands, and from his lips
A thoufand thronging curfes burt their way:
He calls his ftout allies, and in a line
His faithful hound he leads, then with a voice
That utters loud his rage, attentive cheers:
Soon the fagacious brute, his curling tail
Flourish'd in air, low bending plies around
His bufy nofe, the fteaming vapour fnuffs
Inquifitive, nor leaves one turf untried,
Till, confcious of the recent ftains, his heart
Beats quick; his fnuffing nofe, his active tail,
Atteft his joy; then with deep-opening mouth,
That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims
Th' audacious felon: foot by foot he marks
His winding way, while all the lift'ning crowd
Applaud his reas'nings. O'er the wat`ry ford,
Dry fandy heaths, and ftony barren hills,
O'er beaten paths with men and beasts diftain'd,
Unerring he purfues, till at the cot
Arriv`d, and feizing by his guilty throať
The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey :
So exquifitely delicate his fenfe!

Should fomemore curiousfportfimanhere enquire
Whence this fagacity, this wondrous pow'r
Of tracing ftep by step or man or brute ?
What guide invifible points out their way
O'er the dank marth, bleak hill, and fandy plain?
The courteous Mufe fhall the dark caufe reveal.
The blood that from the heart inceffant rolls
In many a crimfon tide, then here and there
In fimaller rills difparted, as it flows
Propell'd, the ferous particles evade
Thro' th' open pores, and with the ambient air
Entangling mix. As fuming vapours rife,
And hang upon the gently-purling brook,
There by th' incumbent atmosphere comprefs'd,
The panting chace grows warmer as he flies,
And thro' the net-work of the skin perfpires,

Leaves a long-ftreaming trail behind, which by
The cooler air condens'd, remains, unlets
By fome rude ftorm difpers'd, or rarified
By the meridian fun's intenfer heat.
To ev'ry fhrub the warm effluvia cling,
Hang on the grafs, impregnate earth and skies.
With noftrils op 'ning wide, o'er hill, o'er dale,
The vigious hounds purfue, with ev'ry breath
Inhale the grateful fteam, quick pleasures sting
Their tingling nerves, while they their thanks re-

pay,

And in triumphant melody confefs
The titillating joy. Thus on the air
Depend the hunter's hopes. When ruddy ftreaks
At eve forebode a bluft'ring ftormy day,
Or low'ring clouds blacken the mountain's brow;
When nipping frofts, and the keen biting blafts
Of the dry-parching eait, menace the trees,
With tender bloffoms teeming; kindly spare
Thy fleeping pack, in their warm beds of straw
Low-finking at their cafe! liftlefs, they fhrink
Into fome dark recefs, nor hear thy voice,
Tho' oft invok'd; or haply if thy call
Roufe up
the flumb'ring tribe, with heavy eyes,
Glaz'd, lifelefs, dull, downward they drop their

tails

Inverted; high on their bent backs erect
Their pointed briftles ftare, or 'mong the tufts
Of ranker weeds each fiemach-healing plant
Curious they crop, sick, ‘picitless, forlorn.
Thefe inaufpicious days on other cares
Employ thy precious hours; th improving friend
With open arms embrace, and from his lips
Glean fcience, feafon'd with good-natur'd wit:
But if th' inclement fkies and angry Jove
Forbid the pleafing intercourfe, thy books
Invite thy ready hand; each facred page
Rish with the wife remarks of heroes old.
Converfe familiar with th' illuftrious dead;
With great examples of old Greece or Rome
Enlarge thy free-born heart, and blefs kind Heaven
That Britain yet enjoys dear Liberty,

That balm of life, that sweetest blefling, cheap
Tho' purchas'd with our blood. Well-bred, polite,
Credit thy calling. See! how mean, how low,
The bocklefs faunt'ring youth, proud of the fkut
That dignifies his cap, his flourish'd belt,
And rufty couples jingling by his fide!

Be thou of other mould; and know that fuch
Tranfporting pleafures were by Heaven ordain'd
Wildom's relief, and Virtue's great reward.
BOOK II.

THE ARGUMENT.

Of the power of infli&t in brutes. Two remarkable inftances in the hunting of the roebuck, and in the Lare going to feat in the morning. Of the variety of feats or forms of the bare, according to the change of the feason, weather, or wind. Defcription of the bare-bunting in all its parts, interspersed with rules to be objerved by thofe who follow that chace. Trang tion to the Afiatic way of hunting, particularly the magnificent manner of the Great Mgul, and other

Tartarian princes, taken from Monfieur Bernier, and the Hiftory of Gengifkan the Great. Concludes with a short reproof of tyrants and of prefors of mankind.

NOR will it lefs delight th' attentive fage
T'obferve that inftinct which unerring guides
The brutal race, which mimics Reafon's lore,
And oft tranfcends. Heaven-taught, the roc-
buck fwift

Loiters at cafe before the driving pack,
And mocks their vain purfuit, nor far he flies;
But checks his ardour, till the steaming fcent
That freshens on the blade provokes their rage.
Urg'd to their speed, his weak deluded foes
Soon flag fatigued, ftrain'd to excefs, each nerve,
Each flacken'd finew, fails: they pant, they foam:
Then o'er the lawn he bounds, o'er the high hills
Stretches fecure, and leaves the fcatter'd crowd
To puzzle in the diftant vale below.

'Tis inftinct that directs the jealous hare
To choote her foft abode. With step revers'd
She forms the doubling maze; then, ere the morn
Peeps thro' the clouds, leaps to her clefe recefs.

As wand'ring fhepherds on th' Arabian plains No fettled refidence obferve, but shift Their moving camp; now on fome cooler hill, With cedars crown'd, court the refreshing breeze; And then below, where trickling ftreams diftil From fome penurious fource, their thirst allay, And feed their fainting flocks: fo the wife hares Oft quit their feats, left fome more curious eye Should mark their haunts, and by dark treache

rous wiles

Plot their deftruction; or perchance, in hopes
Of plenteous forage, near the ranker mead
Or matted blade wary and clofe they fit,
When fpring fhines forth, feafon of love and joy,
In the moist marth, 'mong beds of ruflies hid,
They cool their boiling blood. When fummer funs
Bake the cleft earth, to thick wide-waving fields
Of corn full grown they lead their helpless young;

But when autumnal torrents and fierce rains
Deluge the vale in the dry crumbling bank
Their forms they delve, and cautiously avoid
The dripping covert: yet when winter's cold
Their limbs benumbs, thither with fpeed return'd,
In the long grafs they fculk, or fhrinking creep
Among the wither'd leaves: thus changing ftill
As fancy prompts them, or as food invites.
But ev'ry feafon carefully obferv'd,
Th' inconftant winds, the fickle element,
The wife experienc'd huntfman foon may find
His fubtle, various game, nor wafte in vain
His tedious hours, till his impatient hounds,
With difappointment vex'd, each fpringing lak
Babbling purfuc, far fcatter'd o'er the helds.

Now golden Autumn from her open lap
Her fragrant bounties fhow'rs; the fields are fhorn:
Inwardly fmiling, the proud farmer views
The rifing pyramids that grace his yard,
And counts his large increafe: his barns are ftor'd,
And groaning ftaddles bend beneath their load.
All now is free as air, and the gay pack
In the rough briftly ftubbles range unblam'd.

No

No widow's tears o'erflow, no fecret curfe
Swells in the farmer's breast, which his pale lips
Trembling conceal, by his fierce landlord aw'd';
But courteous now he levels ev'ry fence,
Joins in the common cry, and halloos loud,
Charm'd with the rattling thunder of the field.
Oh bear me, fome kind pow'r invisible!
To that extended lawn, where the gay court
View the swift racers stretching to the goal;
Games more renown'd, and a far nobler train,
Than proud Elean fields could boast of old;
Oh were a Theban lyre not wanting here,
And Pindar's voice, to do their merit right!
Or to thofe fpacious plains where the ftrain'd eye,
In the wide prospect lost, beholds at last
Sarum's proud fpire, that o'er the hills afcends,
And pierces thro' the clouds; or to thy downs,
Fair Cotfwold! where the well-breath'd beagle
climbs,

With matchlefs fpeed, thy green-afpiring brow,
And leaves the lagging multitude behind.
Hail,gentle Dawn! mild blushing goddess, hail!
Rejoic'd I fee thy purple mantle fpread
O'er half the skies; gems pave thy radiant way,
And orient pearls from ev'ry fhrub depend.
Farewel, Cleora! here, deep funk in down,
Slumber secure, with happy dreams amus'd,
Till grateful steams fhall tempt thee to receive
Thy early meal; or thy officious maids,
The toilette plac'd, fhall urge thee to perform
Th' important work. Me other joys invite;
The horn fonorous calls, the pack awak'd
Their matins chaunt, nor brook my long delay;
My courfer hears their voice: fee there! with ears
And tail erect, neighing he paws the ground:
Fierce rapture kindles in his redd'ning eyes,
And boils in ev'ry vein. As captive boys,
Cow'd by the ruling rod and haughty frowns
Of pedagogues fevere, from their hard tasks
If once difmis'd, no limits can contain
The tumult rais'd within their little breafts,
But give a loose to all their frolic play;
So from their kennel rush the joyous pack;
A thousand wanton gaieties exprefs
Their inward ecftafy, their pleafing sport
Once more indulg'd, and liberty reftor'd.
The rifing fun, that o'er th' horizon peeps,
As many colours from their gloffy kins
Beaming reflects, as paint the various bow
When April thow'rs defcend. Delightful feene!
Where all around is gay-men, horses, dogs;
And in each smiling countenance appears
Froth-blooming health, and univerfal joy.
Huntsman! lead on: behind, the cluft'ring pack
Submifs attend, hear with respect thy whip
Loud-clanging, and thy harther voice obey.
Spare not the ftraggling cur that wildly roves,
But let thy brifk afliftant on his back
Imprint thy juft refentments; let each lash
Bite to the quick, till howling he return,
And whining creep amid the trembling crowd.
Here on this verdant spot, where Nature kind
With double blethings crowns the farmer's hopes,
Where flow'rs autumnal fpring, and the rankmead

Affords the wand'ring hares a rich repast, Throw off thy ready pack. See where they spread, And range around, and dash the glitt'ring dew! If fome ftaunch hound, with his authentic voice, Avow the recent trail, the joftling tribe Attend his call, then with one mutual cry The welcome news confirm, and echoing hills Repeat the pleafing tale. See how they thread The breaks, and up yon furrow drive along! But quick they back recoil, and wifely check Their eager hafte; then o'er the fallow'd ground How leifurely they work, and many a paufe Th' harmonious concert breaks; till, more affur'd, With joy redoubled the low valleys ring. What artful labyrinths perplex their way! Ah! there the lies! how clofe! the pants; the If now the lives: the trembles as the fits, [doubts With horror feiz'd. The wither'd grafs that clings Around her head, of the fame ruffet hue, Almoft deceiv'd my fight, had not her eyes With life full-beaming her vain wiles betray'd. At distance draw thy pack; let all be hufh'd; No clamour loud, no frantic joy, be heard; Left the wild hound run gadding o'er the plain Untractable, nor hear thy chiding voice. Now gently put her off; fee how direct [bring To her known mew the flies! Here, huntfman, (But without hurry) all thy jolly hounds, And calmly lay them in. How low they ftoop, And feem to plough the ground! then all at once With greedy noftrils fnuff the fuming steam That glads their flutt'ring hearts. As winds let From the dark caverns of the bluft'ring god,[loofe They burft away, and fweep the dewy lawn. Hope gives them wings while the's fpurr'd on by fear.

[woods,

The welkin rings; men, dogs, hills, rocks, and
In the full concert join. Now, my brave youths!
Stripp'd for the chace, give all your fouls to joy.
See how their courfers, than the mountain roe
More fleet, the verdant carpet fkim! thick clouds
Snorting they breathe, their fhining hoofs fcarce
The grafs unbruis'd; with emulation fir'd [print
They ftrain to lead the field, top the barr'd gate,
O'er the deep ditch exulting bound, and bruth
The thorny-twining hedge: the riders bend
O'er their arch'd necks; with fteady hands by
Indulge their fpeed, or moderate their rage. [turns
Where are their forrows, difappointments, wrongs,
Vexations, ficknefs, cares? All, all are gone!
And with the panting winds lag far behind.

Huntfinan! her gait obferve; if in wide rings
She wheel her mazy way, in the fame round
Perfifting ftill, fhe'll foil the beaten track;
But if the fly, and with the fav'ring wind.
Urge her bold courfe, lefs intricate thy taik;
Puth on thy pack. Like fome poor exil'd wretch
The frighted chace leaves her late dear abodes,
O'er plains remote fhe ftretches far away,
Ah, never to return! for greedy Death
Hov'ring exults, fecure to feize his prey. [oaks
Hark! from yon covert, where thofe tow'ring
Above the humble copse aspiring rife,
What glorious triumphs burk in ev'ry gale

Y 4

Upau

Upon our ravifh'd cars! The hunters shout,
The clanging horns fwell their fweet winding

notes,

The pack wide op'ning load the trembling air
With various melody; from tree to tree
The propagated cry redoubling bounds;
And winged zephyrs waft the floating joy
Thro' all the regions near. Afflictive birch
No more the school-boy dreads; his prifon broke,
Scamp' ing he dies, nor heeds his master's call.
The weary traveller forgets his road, [leaves
And clints th adjacent hill. The ploughman
Th'unfinish'd furrow; nor his bleating Rocks
Are now the fhepherd's joy. Men, boys, and girls,
Defert th' unpeopled village; and wild crowds
Spread o'er the plain, by the fweet phrenzy feiz'd.
Look how the pants! and o'er yon op'aing glade
Slips glancing by, while at the further end
The puzzling pack unravel wile by wile,
Maze within maze! The covert's utmost bound
Slily fhe kits; behind them cautious creeps;
And in that very track fo iately ftain'd
By all the teaming crowd. feems to purfue
The foe the flics. Let cavillers deny

That brutes have reason; fine 'tis fomething more,
'Tis Heaven directs, and ftratagems infpires
Beyond the fhort extent of human thought.
But hold-I fee her from the covert break;
Sad on yon little eminence the fits;
Intent the liftens with one car crect,
Pond'ring, and doubtful what new courfe to take,
And how to Icape the fierce blood-thi.fty crew
That fill urge on, and ftill in vollies loud
Infult her woes, and mock her fore diftrefs.
As now in louder peals the loaded winds
Bring on the gath'ring storm, her fears prevail,
And o'er the plain, and o'er the mountain's ridge,
Away fhe flics; nor fhips with wind and tide,
And all their canvas wings, feud half so fast.
Once more, ye jovial train your courage try,
And each clean courfer's fpeed. We fcour along
In pleating hurry and confufion tofs'd;
Oblivion to be with'd! The patient pack
Hang on the fcent unwearied; up they climb,
And ardent we pursue: our lab'ring steeds
We prefs, we gore; till, once the fummit gain'd,
Painfully panting, there we breathe awhile;
Then like a foaming torrent pouring down
Precipitant, we fmoke along the vale.
Happy the man who with unrivall'd speed
Can pais his fellows, and with pleasure view
The ttruggling pack! how in the rapid courfe
Alternate they prefide, and jostling puth
To guide the dubious feent; how giddy youth
Oft blabb'ring errs, by wifer age reprov'd;
How, niggard of his ftrength, the wife old hound
Hangs in the rear, till fome important point
Roufe all his diligence, or till the chace
Sinking he finds; then to the head he springs,
With thirft of glory fir'd, and wins the prize.
Huntsman take heed; they ftop in full career:
Yon crowding flocks, that at a distance gaze,
Have haply foil'd the turf. See that old hound,
How lufily he works, but dares not truft
His doubtful fenfe Draw yet a wider ring.

more

Hark! now again the chorus fills; as bells,
Sallied awhile, at once their peal renew,
And high in air the tuneful thunder rolls.
See how they tols, with animated rage
Recov'ring all they loft! That cager hafte
Some doubling wile forcfhews. Ah! yet once
[ther hand
They're check'd-hold back with speed-on ei-
They flourish round--ev'n yet perfift--'tis right:
Away they fpring; the rufiling stubbles bend
Beneath the driving ftorm. Now the poor chace
Begins to flag, to her laft fhifts reduc'd.
From brake to brake the flies, and visits all [cure,
Her well-known haunts, where once the rang`d fe-
With love and plenty bleft. See! there the goes;
She reels along, and by her gait betrays
Her inward weaknefs. See how black the looks!
The fweat that clogs th' obftructed pores fcarce
A languid fcent. And now in open view [leaves
Sce! fee! The flies; each eager hound exerts
His utmoft feed, and ftretches ev'ry nerve.
How quick the turns, their gaping jaws eludes,
And yet a moment lives, till round inclos'd
By all the greedy pack, with infant fcreams
She yields her breath, and there reluctant dies!
So when the furious Bacchanals affail'd
Threician Orpheus, poor ill-fated bard!
Loud was the cry; hills, woods, and Hebrus' banks
Return'd their clam'rous rage: diftrefs'd he flies,
Shifting from place to place, but flies in vain :
For cager they purfue; till panting, faint,
By noily multitudes o'erpower'd, he finks
To the relentless crowd a bleeding prey!

The huntíman now, a deep incition made,
Shakes out with hands impure, and dashes down,
Her reeking entrails and yet quiv'ring heart.
Thefe claim the pack, the bloody perquifite
For all their toils. Stretch'd on the ground the lies
A mangled corfe; in her dim-glaring eyes
Cold Death exults, and ftiffens ev'ry limb.
Aw'd by the threat'ning whip, the furious hounds
Around her bay, or at their mafter's foot
Each happy fav'rite courts his kind applaufe,
With humble adulation cow'ring low.

All now is joy. With cheeks full-blown they wind
Her folemn dirge, while the loud-opening pack
The concert fwell, and hills and dales return
The fadly-pleafing founds. Thus the poor hare,
A puny daftard animal! but vers'd

In fubtle wiles, diverts the youthful train.
But if thy proud afpiring foul difdains
So mean a prey, delighted with the pomp,
Magnificence, and grandeur, of the chace;
Hear what the Mufe from faithful record fings,

Why on the banks of Gemna, Indian stream,
Line within line, rife the pavilions proud,
Their filken ftreamers waving in the wind?
Why neighs the warrior horse? From tent to tent
Why prefs in crowds the buzzing multitude?
Why thines the polith'd helm and pointed lance,
This way and that far beaming o'er the plain?
Nor Vifapour nor Golconda rebel,

Nor the great Sophy, with his num'rous hoft,
Lays walte the provinces, nor glory fires
To rob and to deftroy, beneath the name

And