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And in each fmiling countenance appears
Frefh-blooming health and univerfal joy.
Huntiman lead on; behind the cluft'ring pack
Submis attend, hear with refpect thy whip
Loud-clanging, and thy harfler voice obey.
Spare not the fraggling cur that wildly roves,
But let thy brifk aftant on his back
Im int the jett resentments; let each lash
Bite to the quik, til howling he returns,
And whin creep amid the trembling crowd.
Here on this verdant fpot, where Nature kind
With double bluffing crocas the farmer's hopes,
Where fowles ac umna,pring, and the rank mead
Affords the wand'ring hares a rich repaft,
Throw of thy cady pack. See where they spread,
And range around, and dath the ghtt'ring dew!
If foine 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 brakes, 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 vallies ring.
What artful labyrinths perplex their way!
Ah, there fic lics! how clofe!-the pants; fhe
If now the lives: fhe trembles as the fits, [doubts
With horror feiz'd. The wither'd grafs that
Around her head, of the fame ruffet hue, [clings
Almoft deceive 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 genty put her off; fee how direct [bring
To her known mew fhe flies! Here, huntfinan,
(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 fteam floofe
That glads their flutt'ring hearts. As winds let
From the dark caverns of the bluft'ring god
They burft away, and fweep the dewy lawn.
Hope gives them wings while the's purr'd on by
fear.
[woods,
The welkin rings; men, dors, 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 couriers, than the mountain's roc
More fleet, the verdant carpet skim! thick clouds ·
Saorting they breathe, their thining 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 brufh
The thorny-twining hedge; the riders bend
O'er their arch'd necks; with feady hands, by
Indulge their speed, or moderate their rage. [turns
Where are their forrows, disappointments, wrongs,
Vexations, ficknefs, cares? All, all are go
And with the panting winds lag for behind.
Huntsman, her gait cbferve; if in wide rings

She wheel her mazy way, in the fame round
Perfifting ftill, she'll foil the beaten track;
But if the fly, and with the fav'ring wind
Urge her bold courfe, lefs intricate thy task;
Puth on thy pack. Like fome poor exii'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 prev.
Hark! from yon covert, where thofe tow'ring
Above the humble copfe afpiring rift,
What glorious triumphs burft in cv'y gale
Upon our ravifh'd cars! The hunters fhout,
The clanging horns fwell their fweet winding

notes,

[oak

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'ring he flies, nor heeds his master's call,
The weary traveller forgets his read, [leaves
And climbs th'adjacent hill. The ploughman
Th'unfinish'd furrow; nor his bleating flocks
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 frenzy feiz'd,
Look how the pants! and o'er yon op'ning 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 the fkirts; behind them cautious creeps,
And in that very track fo lately ftain'd
By all the feaming crowd, feems to pursue
The foe the flies. Let cavillers deny
That brutes have reafon; fure'tis fomething more;
'Tis Heav'n directs, and stratagems infpires
Beyond the fhort extent of human thought.
But hold-I fee her from the covert break;
Sad on yon little eminence fhe fits;
Intent the liftens with one car erect,
Pond'ring, and doubtful what new course to take,
And how to 'fcape the fierce blood-thirty crew
That ftill 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 ftorm, her fears prevail,
And o'er the plain, and o'er the mountain's ridge,
Away the flies; nor fhips with wind and tide,
And all their canvas wings, feud half so fast.
Once more, ve jovial train, your courage try,
And each clean courfer's fpeed. We four along
In pleafing Lurry, and confusion tofs'd,
Oblivion to be with'd. The patient pack
Hang on the fcent unweary'd; up they climb,
And ardent we purfue: our lab'ring fteeds
We profs, we gore, till once the fummit gain'd,
Painfully paating: there we breathe a while;
Then, like a foaming torrent pouring down
Precipitant, we fmoke along the vale.
Happy the man who with unrivall'd speed
Can pafs his fellows, and with pleasure view
The ftruggling pack! how in the rapid course
Alternate they prefide, and jofiling push

Τα

To guide the dubious fcent; how giddy youth
Oft blabb'ring errs, by wifer age reprov'd;
How, niggard of his ftrength, the wife old hound
Hangs in the fear, till fome important point
Route all his diligence, or till the Chace
Sinking he finds; then to the head he fprings,
With thirst of glory fir'd, and wins the prize.
Huntfinan, take heed! they ftop in full carcer:
You crowding flocks, that at a distance gaze,
Have haply foil'd the turf. See that old hound,
How bufily he works, but dares not truft
His doubtful fenfe! Draw yet a wider ring.
Hark! now again the chorus fills. As bells,
Sally'd a while, at once their peal renew,
And high in air the tuneful thunder rolls.
See how they tofs, with animated rage
Recov'ring all they loft!-That eager hafte
Some doubling wile forefhews.-Ah! yet once
[either hand
They're check'd-Hold back with speed-On
They flourish round--ev'n yet perfift--'Tis right;
Away they fpring; the ruling ftubbles 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
Her well-known haunts, where once the rang'd
fecure,

more

With love and plenty blefs'd. See! there fhe 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
See, fee! the flies; cach cager hound exerts
His utmoft fpeed, and ftretches ev'ry nerve.
How quick the turns, their gaping jaws eludes,
And yet a moment lives, till round enclos'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 eager they pursue, till panting, faint,
By noify multitudes o'erpower'd, he finks
To the relentless crowd a bleeding prey!

The huntfinan now, a deep incifion made,
Shakes out with hands impure, and dashes down
Her recking 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 checks full-blown they wind
Her folemn dirge, while the loud-op'ning pack
The concert fwell, and hills and dales return
The fadly-pleafing founds. Thus the poor hare,
A puny daftard animal! but vers'd

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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 pavillions proud,
Their filken ftreamers waving in the wind?
Why neighs the warrior horfe? From tent to tent
Why prefs in crowds the buzzing multitude?
Why thines the polish'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 wafte the provinces, nor glory fires
To rob and to deftroy, beneath the name
And fpecious guife of war. A nobler caufe
Calls Aurengzebe to arms. No cities fack'd,
No mother's tears, no helpless orphan's cries,
No violated leagues, with fharp remorfe
Shall fting the confcious victor; but mankind
Shall hail him good and juft; for 'tis on beafts
He draws his vengeful fword; on beafts of prey,
Full-fed with human gore. Sec, fee, he comes!
Imperial Delhi, op'ning wide her gates,
Pours out her thronging legions, bright in arms,
And all the pomp of war. Before them found
Clarions and trumpets, breathing martial airs
And bold defiance. High upon his throne,
Borne on the back of his proud elephant,
Sits the great chief of Tamur's glorious race;
Sublime he fits amid the radiant blaze
Of gems and gold. Omrahs about him crowd,
And rein th' Arabian fteed, and watch his nod,
And potent rajahs, who themselves prefide
O'er realms of wide extent; but here fubmifs
Their homage pay, alternate kings and flaves!
Next thefe, with prying eunuchs girt around,
The fair fultanas of his court; a troop
Of chofen beauties, but with care conceal'd
From each intrufive eye: one look is death.
Ah! cruel eaftern law (had kings a pow'r
But equal to their wild tyrannic will)
To rob us of the fun's all-cheering ray
Were lefs fevere. The vulgar close the march,
Slaves and artificers; and Delhi mourns
Her empty and depopulated streets.
Now at the camp arriv'd, with stern review
Thro' groves of fpears, from file to file he darts
His fharp experienc'd eye, their order marks,
Each in his ftation rang'd, exact and firm,
Till in the boundlefs line his fight is loft.
Not greater multitudes in arms appear'd
On thefe extended plains, when Ammon's fon
With mighty Porus in dread battle join'd,
The vaffal world the prize: nor was that hoft
More numerous of old, which the great king*
Pour'd out on Greece from all th'unpeopled eaft,
That bridg'd the Hellefpont from fhore to thore,
And drank the rivers dry. Meanwhile in troops
The bufy hunter-train mark out the ground,
A wide circumference, full many a league
Incompass round; woods, rivers, hills, and plains;

* Xerxes.

Large

Large provinces; enough to gratify
Ambition's highest aim, could reafon bound
Man's erring will. Now fit in clofe divan
The mighty chiefs of this prodigious hoft;
He from the throne high-eminent prefides,
Gives out his mandates proud, laws of the Chace,
From ancient records drawn. With rev'rence low,
And proftrate at his feet, the chiefs receive
His irreversible decrees, from which
To vary is to die. Then his brave bands
Each to his station leads, encamping round
Till the wide circle is completely form'd.
Where decent order reigns, what thefe command
Those execute with speed and punctual care,
In all the stricteft difcipline of war,
As if fome watchful foe, with bold infult
Hung lowring o'er their camp. The high refolve
That flies on wings thro' all th'encircling line
Each motion fteers, and animates the whole.
So, by the fun's attractive pow'r controll'd,
The planets in their spheres roll round his orb;
On all he shines, and rules the great machine.

Ere yet the morn difpels the fleeting mists, The fignal giv'n by the loud trumpet's voice, Now high in air th'imperial ftandard waves, Emblazon'd rich with gold and glitt'ring gems, And like a fheet of fire, thro' the dun gloom Streaming meteorous. The foldiers fhouts,

And all the brazen inftruments of war,
With mutual clamour, and united din
Fill the large concave, while from camp to camp
They catch the varied founds, floating in air.
Round all the wide circumference tigers fell
Shrink at the noise; deep in his gloomy den
The lion starts, and morfels yet unchew'd
Drop from his trembling jaws. Now all at once
Onward they march embattled, to the found
Of martial harmony; fifes, cornets, drums,
That roufe the fleepy foul to arms, and bold
Heroic deeds. In partics here and there,
Detach'd o'er hill and dale, the hunters range
Inquifitive; ftrong dogs that match in fight
The boldeft brute, around their mafters wait,
Afaithful guard. No haunt unfearch'd, they drive
From ev'ry covert, and from ev'ry den,
The lurking favages. Inceffant fhouts
Re-echo thro' the woods, and kindling fires
Gleam from the mountain tops: the foreft seems
One mingling blaze: like flocks of fheep they fly
Before the flaming brand: fierce lions, pards,
Boars, tigers, bears, and wolves; a dreadful crew
Of grim blood-thirfty foes! Growling along
They ftalk indignant, but fierce vengeance still
Hangs pealing in their rear, and pointed fpears
Prefent immediate death. Soon as the Night,
Wrapp'd in her fable veil, forbids the Chace,
They pitch their tents in even ranks around
The circling camp. The guards are plac'd, and
At proper diftances afcending rife, [fires
And paint th'horizon with their ruddy light.
So round fome ifland's fhore of large extent,
Amid the gloomy horrors of the night,
The billows breaking on the pointed rocks
Seem all one flame, and the bright circuit wide
Appears a bulwark of surrounding fire.

What dreadful howlings and what hideous roar
Disturb thofe peaceful fhades! where erft the bird
That glads the night had cheer'd the lift'ning
groves

With fweet complainings. Thro' the filent gloom
Oft they the guards affail; as oft repell'd
They fly reluctant, with hot-boiling rage
Stung to the quick, and mad with wild defpair.
Thus, day by day, they ftill the Chace renew,
At night encamp; till now in ftraiter bounds
The circle leffens, and the beafts perceive
The wall that hems them in on ev'ry fide.
And now their fury burfts, and knows no mean;
From man they turn, and point their ill-judg'drage
Against their fellow brutes. With teeth and claws
The civil war begins; grappling they tear,
Lions on tigers prey, and bears on wolves;
Horrible difcord! till the crowd behind
Shouting purfuc, and part the bloody fray.
At once their wrath fubfides; tame as the lamb
The lion hangs his head, the furious pard,
Cow'd and fubdu'd, flies from the face of man,
Nor bears one glance of his commanding eye.
So abject is a tyrant in diftrefs!

At laft, within the narrow plain confin'd,
A lifted field, mark'd out for bloody deeds,
An amphitheatre more glorious far [heaps,
Than ancient Rome could boaft, they crowd in
Difinay'd, and quite appall'd. In meet array
Sheath'd in refulgent arms, a noble band
Advance; great lords of high imperial blood,
Early refolv'd t'affert their royal race,
And prove by glorious deeds their valour's growth
Mature, ere yet the callow down has fpread
Its curling fhade. On bold Arabian steeds
With decent pride they fit, that fearless hear
The lion's dreadful roar; and down the rock
Swift shooting plunge, or o'er the mountain's ridge
Stretching along, the greedy tiger leave
Panting behind. On foot their faithful flaves
With jav❜lius arm'd attend; each watchful eye
Fix'd on his youthful care, for him alone
He fears, and to redeem his life, unmov'd,
Would lofe his own. The mighty Aurengzebe
From his high-elevated throne beholds
His blooming race, revolving in his mind
What once he was, in his gay fpring of life,
When vigour ftrung his nerves.
Parental joy
Melts in his eyes and flushes in his cheeks.
Now the loud trumpet founds a charge. The thouts
Of cager hofts thro' all the circling line,
And the wild howlings of the beafts within,
Rend with the welkin; flights of arrows, wing'd
With death, and jav'lins launch'd from ev'ry arm,
Gall fore the brutal bands, with many a wound
Gor'd thro' and thro'. Defpair at laft prevails,
When fainting nature fhrinks, and roufes all
Their drooping courage. Swell'd with furious

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Defiles the verdant plain. Nor idle stand
The truity flaves; with pointed fpears they pierce
Thro' their tough hides, or at their gaping mouths
An cafier patlage find. The king of brutes
In broken roarings breathes his laft; the bear
Grumbles in death; nor can his fpotted kin,
'Tho' fleck it thine, with varied beauties gay,
Save the proud pard from unrelenting fate.
The battle bleeds, grim Slaughter ftrides along,
Glutting her greedy jaws, grins o'er her prey.
Alen, horfes, dogs, fierce beafts of ev'ry kind,
Aftrange promifcuous carnage, drench'd in blood,
And heaps on heaps amals'd. What yet remain
Alive, with vain affault contend to break
Th'impeactrable line. Others, whom fear
Ifpires with felf-preferving wiles, beneath
The bodies of the flain for shelter creep,
Aghaft they fly, or hide their heads difpers'd.
And now perchance (had Heav'n but pleas'd)

the work

Of death had been complete, and Aurengzebe
By one dread frown extinguifh'd half their race;
When, lo! the bright fultanas of his court
Appear, and to his ravish'd eyes difplay
Thofe charms but rarely to the day reveal'd.

Lowly they bend, and humbly fue to fave
The vanquish'd hoft. What mortal can deny
When fuppliant beauty begs! At his command,
Op'ning to right and left, the well-train'd troops
Leave a large void for their retreating foes:
Away they fly, on wings of fear upborne,
To feek on diftant hills their late abodes.

Ye proud Oppretsfors! whofe vain hearts exult
In wantonnefs of pow'r 'gainft the brute race,
Fierce robbers like yourfelves, a guiltlef's war
Wage uncontroll'd; here quench your thirft of
blood;

But learn from Aurengzebe to fpare mankind.

$49. The Chace. SOMERVILLE.
BOOK III.

THE ARGUMENT.

Of British monarchs: each invader bold,
Dane and Norwegian, at a distance gaz'd,
And, difappointed, gnath'd his teeth in vain.
He fcour'd the feas, and to remoteft fheres
With fwelling fails the trembling corfair fled.
Rich commerce flourifh'd, and with bufy oars
Dath'd the refounding furge. Nor lefs at land
His royal cares; wife, potent, gracious prince!
His fubjects from their cruel focs he fav'd,
And from rapacious favages their fecks.
Cambria's proud kings (tho' with reluctance) paid
Their tributary wolves, head after head,
In full account, till the woods yicid no more,
And all the rav'nous race extinct is loft.
In fertile paftures more fecurely graz'd
The focial troops, and foon their large increase
With curling fleeces whiten'd all the plains.
But yet alas! the wily fox remain’d,
A fubtle, pilf'ring foe, prowling around
In midnight thades, and wakeful to destroy.
In the full fold the poor defencelefs lamb,
Seiz'd by his guileful arts, with fweet warm blood
Supplies a rich repaft. The mournful ewe,
Her dearest treafure loft, thro' the dun night
Wanders perplex'd, and darkling bleats in vain;
While in th'adjacent bufh poor Philomel
(Herfelf a parent once, till wanton churls
Defpoil'd her neft) joins in her loud laments
| With fweeter notes, and more melodious woe.
For thefe nocturnal thieves,huntfimen!
prepare
Thy fharpcft vengeance. Oh! how glorious 'tis
To right th'opprefs'd, and bring the felon vile
To juft difgrace! Ere yet the morning peep,
Or ftars retire from the firft blush of day,
With thy far-echoing voice alarm thy pack,
Aud roufe thy bold compeers; then to the copfe
Thick with entangling grafs or prickly furze,
With filence lead thy many-colour'd hounds,
In all their beauty's pride. See how they range
Difpers'd, how bufily this way and that
They crofs, examining with curious nofe
Each likely haunt. Hark! on the drag I hear
Their doubtful notes preluding to a cry
More nobly full, and fwell'd with ev'ry mouth.
As ftraggling armies at the trumpets voice
Prefs to their ftandard, hither all repair,
And hurry thro' the woods with hafty step,
Ruftling, and full or hope; now driv'n on heaps
They puth, they ftrive, while from his kennel

fneaks

Of king Edgar, and his impofing a tribute of wolves heads upon the kings of Wales: from hence a tranfition to fox-hunting, which is de. fribed in all its parts. Cenjure of an overnumerous pack. Of the feveral engines to deftroy foxes, and other wild beats. The feel-The confcious villain. See! he fculks along trap defcribed, and the manner of using it. Sleek at the thepherd's coft, and plump with meals Defcription of the pitfall for the lion, and another for the elephant. The ancient way of hunt-Tho' high his bruth he bears, tho' tipt with white ing the tiger with a mirror. The Arabian manIt gaily thine, yet ere the fun declin'd ner of hunting the wild boar. Description of the Recal the fhades of night, the pamper'd rogue roval flag Chace at Windfor Foreft. Concludes Shall rue his fate revers'd, and at his heels With an addrefs to his Majefty, and an eulogy His forfeit head, and thirfting for his blood. Behold the juft avenger, fwift to feize

upon mercy.

IN Albion's ifle when glorious Edgar reign'd,

He, wifely provident, from her white cliff's Launch'd half her forefts, andwith num'rous fleets Cover'd his wide domain; there proudly rode Lord of the deep, the great prerogative

Purloin'd: fo thrive the wicked here below.

Heav'ns! what melodious ftrains! how beat
our hearts,

Big with tumultuous joy! the loaded gales
Breathe harmony; and as the tempeft drives
From wood to wood, thro' ev'ry dark recefs
The foreft thunders, and the mountains thake.

The

The chorus fwells; lefs various and lefs fweet
The trilling notes when in thofe very groves
The feather'd chorifters falute the fpring,
And ev'ry bush in concert joins: or when
The mafter's hand, in modulated air,
Bids the loud organ breathe, and all the pow'rs
Of mufic in one inftrument combine
An univerfal minftrelfy. And now

In vain each earth he tries; the doors are barr'd
Impregnable; nor is the covert fafe:

He pants for purer air. Hark! what loud fhouts Re-echo thro' the groves! he breaks away: Shrill horns proclaim his flight. Each struggling hound

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Strains o'er the lawn to reach the diftant pack;
Tis triumph all and joy. Now, my brave youths!
Now give a loofe to the clean gen'rous fteed;
Flourish the whip, nor fpare the galling fpur;
But in the madnefs of delight forget
Your fears. Far o'er the rocky hills we range,
And dangerous our courfe; but in the brave
True courage never fails. In vain the stream
In foaming eddies whirls; in vain the ditch,
Wide-gaping, threatens death. The craggy fteep,
Where the poor dizzy fhepherd crawls with care,
And clings to ev'ry twig, gives us no pain,
But down we fweep, as ftoops the falcon bold
To pounce his prey. Then up th'opponent hill,
By the fwift motion flung, we mount aloft :
So fhips in winter-feas now fliding fink
Adown the steepy wave, then, tofs'd on high,
Ride on the billows, and defy the ftorm. [Chace
What lengths we pafs! where will the wand'ring
Lead us bewilder'd! fmooth as fwallows fkim
The new-fhorn mead, and far more fwift we fly.
See my brave pack! how to the head they prefs,
Joftling in clofe array, then more diffufe
Obliquely wheel, while from their op'ning mouths
The vollied thunder breaks. So when the cranes
Their annual voyage fteer, with wanton wing
Their figure oft they change, and their loud clang
From cloud to cloud rebounds. How far behind
The hunter crew, wide ftraggling o'er the plain!
The panting courfer now with trembling nerves
Begins to reel; urg'd by the goring fpur,
Makes many a faint effort: he fnorts, he foams;
The big rounddrops run trickling down his fides,
With fieat and blood diftain'd. Look back and
The ftrange confufion of the vale below, [view
Where fore vexation reigns: fee yon poor jade;
In vain th'impatient rider frets and wears,
With galling fpurs harrow his mangled fides;
He can no more: his ftiff unpliaut limbs
Rooted in earth, unmov'd and fix'd he stands,
For ev'ry cruel curfe returns a groan, [grief
And fobs, and faints, and dies! Who without
Can view that pamper'd fteed, his master's joy,
His minion and his daily care, well cloth'd,
Well fed with ev'ry nicer cate; no cost,
No labour fpar'd; who, when the flying Chace
Proke from the copfe, without a rival led
The num'rous train; now a fad fpectacle
Of pride brought low, and humbled infolence,
Drove like a pannier'd afs, and fcourg'd along!
While thefe,with loofen'd reins and dangling heels

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Torment th'abandon'd crew! Old Age laments
His vigour pent; the tal!, plump, brawny youth
Curfes his cumbrous bulk, and envies now
The fhort pygmean race he whilom keen'd
With proud infulting leer. A chofen few
Alone the fport enjoy, nor droop beneath [height
Their pleafing toils. Here, huntfman, from this
Obferve yon birds of prey; if I can judge,
'Tis there the villain lurks: they hover round,
And claim him as their own. Was I not right?
See there he creeps along; his brush he drags,
And fweeps the mire impure: from his wide jaws
His tongue unmoiften'd hangs, fymptoms too fure
Of fudden death. Ha! yet he flies, nor yields
To black defpair. But one loose more, and all
His wiles are vain. Hark! thro' yon village now
The rattling clamour rings. The barns, the cots,
And leaflets clms, return the joyous founds.
Thro' ev'ry homeftall, and thro' ev'ry yard,
His midnight walks, panting, forlorn, he flies;
Thro' ev'ry hole he fucaks, thro' ev'ry jakes
Plunging, he wades befinear'd, and fondly hopes
In a fuperior french to lofe his own:
But, faithful to the track, th'unerring hounds
With peals of echoing vengeance clofe purfue;
And now diftreft, no fhelt'ring covert near,
Into the hen-rooft creeps, whofe walls with gore
Diftain'd atteft his guilt. There, villain! there
Expect thy fate deferv'd. And foon from thence
The pack inquifitive, with clamour loud,
Drag out their trembling prize, and on his blood
With greedy transport feaft. In bolder notes
Each founding horn proclaims the felon dead,
Aad all th'affembled village shouts for joy.
The farmer, who beholds his mortal foe
Stretch'd at his feet, applauds the glorious deed,
And, grateful, calls us to a fhort repast:
In the full glafs the liquid amber finiles,
Our native product; and his good old mate
With choiceft viands heaps the lib'ral board,
To crown our triumphs and reward our toils.
Here must th'inftructive Mufe (but with refpect
Cenfure that num'rous pack, that crowd of flate,
With which the vain profufion of the great
Covers the lawn, and flakes the trembling copfe.
Pompous incumbrance! a magnificence
Ufelefs, vexatious! for the wily fox,
Safe in th'increafing number of his foes,
Kens well the great advantage; flinks behind,
And flily creeps thro' the fame beaten track,
And hunts them, step by step; then views, efcap'd,
With inward ecftafy, the panting throng
In their own footsteps puzzied, foil'd, and loft.
So when proud caftern kings fummon to arms
Their gaudy legions, from far distant climes
They flock in crowds, unpeopling half a world;
But when the day of battle calls them forth
To charge the well-train'd foe, a band compact,
Of chofen veterans, they prefs blindly on,
In heaps confus'd, by their own weapons fall,
A fimoking carnage fcatter'd o'er the plain."

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