Cynegetica : or, Essays on sporting: consisting of observations on hare hunting ... To which is added, The chase: a poem

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c r N E G E r I C A-^

O R,

ESSAYS ON SPORTING:

CONSISTING OF

OBSERVATIONS

O !^

HARE HUNTING:

CONTAINING,

An Account of the Hare Hunting; and Courfing of the Aictents, from
Xenophon and Arrian : — A Philofophical Enquiry into the Nature and
Properties of ihc Scent : — Remarks on the different Kinds of Huunds,
with the Manner of training them : — Dirfftioos for the Choice of a
Hunter: — The Qualifications requifite for aHunifman : — And other ge-
neral Rules to be obferved in every Contingency incident to the Chace.

Together with

An Account of the Vizier^s Manner of Hunting
in the Mogul Empire.

By WILLIAM B L A N E, Efq.
To which is added,

THE CHACE: A POEM.

By WILLIAM SOMERVILE, Efq.

A new Edition, embelliflied with ^n elegant Frontifpiece
and a Vignette.

^ Oi>Ttf St titi^a^i In TO ^Yi^iiv, uri «^EK oVk o J« uv l^uv IxviVofi.tvnt
tv^iaKo(*.i*ovt i/i>iTaQi6i/.itov, aAtaxc/xEvov Im^M^oir' an e^tu Ipuyi-

Xenoph. Cyneg.

My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind.

So flew'd, {o funded, and their heads are hung

Wiih ears that fiveep away the morning dew ;

Crook-knce'd, and dew-lap'd, like Theflalian bulls;

Slow in purfuit, but match'd in mouth like bells.

Each under each. A cry more tuneable

Was never halloo'd to, nor cheerM with horn.

Shakespeare's Midfumroer Night's Dream.

ERRATA.

Page 19, note, line the laft, for p. 14. read p. 76.
20, notej, for p. 112. read 16!.

1 26^ at the end of the note, add — and that they arc par-
ticularly fond of cropping the fhrubs Laburijuna
and Scorpion Sen^a.

T O

EDWARD LOVEDEN LOVEDEN, Efq.

THESE ESSAYS,

ON A FAVOURITE DIVERSION.

WHICH HAVE OFTEN AMUSED HIM IK

MANUSCRIPT,

ARE, AS A TOKEN OF ESTEEM AND REGARD,

DEDICATED

BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND,

AND OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS.

INrRODUCTION — i

Greek Method of Hare Hunting-, from Xenophon 19

Ancient Msthod of Courfingy from Arrian 47

EJfays on Hunting.

Ohfervations on Hare Hunting — ■ 6$

Hounds — — 82

the Horfe — —-94

the Huntfman — 97

Six Letters upon Hare Hunting.

Letter I. 'The Art and Pleafure of Hunting 1 07

II, Concerning the Sorts of Harriers y

and Difference — 114

III. The Sorts and Difference of Hares 125

IV. Some Ferfe5lions of the Hare^ and

remarkable ^alities of other

Creatures 140

V, Of Trailing and Starting, with

Diretlions to the Huntfman 1^6

VL Of the Default, with fome Cau-
tions ; alfo of marvellous Tales
of Hares at Default 172

Account

CONTENTS.

Page
Account of the Hunting Excurfions of Jfoph Ul

Doulah — ' 185

the Chace : A Poem — — 203

Method of deflroying Hares by the Hare-Pipe 291

INTRO-

INTRODUCTION.

THE following EfTays were given
me, many years ago, by a Gentle-
man, equally converfant with the fludy of
Natural Hiflory and the Diverfions of the
Field, as a fmgular Curiolity, which had
accidentally fallen into his hands, and which
he had tranfcribed : the firft from a MS.
the other from a printed Pamphlet, but
which was very fcarce. Having fhewn
them to moft of my fpdrting Friends, I
found them very deiirous of having copies;
and imagining, as they give an account of
a very popular and manly amufement, . and.
invefligate its nature and principles, many
<3ther Lovers of the Chace may be pleafed.
B with

2 Introduction,

with them, I am induced to lay them be-
fore the Public in this manner.

I know the literary and fpeculative part
of Mankind are apt to cdrifider thefe kind of
country diverfions in a contemptible light i
and, perhaps, they may be inclined to de-
fpife any perfon who fhall devote his time
to the writing, or even the reading, of a
fingle page, on a fubje(^ which they may
think only deferving the attention of Grooms,
Counti-y 'Squires, and Dog-boys. But this
opinion is by no means founded on reafon.

A healthy frame of body is to the full as
necelTary for our happinefs as a found dif-
pofition of mind. The Roman Satiriil
joins them together in his prayer, and, in-
deed, the latter is never perfectly attainable
without the former. Now to gain this in a
compleat manner, more exercife is certainly

requifitc

IntroduSlion, **.

requilite than the talked hour of walking or
riding, which the Man of Literature or
Bulinefs with difficuhy perfuades himfelf
to fnatch from his favorite employments.
This may, indeed, juft fuffice to keep off
the dreadful confequences which muil in-
evitably attend an entirely fedentary life j
but will never give that ftate of robuil,'
and, if you will, of rude health, which na
one who ever enjoyed will ever affed: to
<iefpife.

Befides, though the Middle-aged and the
Phlegmatic may prevail on themfelves to
tak-e thefe regular airings, the Young and
the Sanguine mufl have fome a<5live enjoy-
ment to call them forth ; for they never
will quit the moft triiiing, or even vicious
purfuit, that engages their attention within
B % doors,

jf,' lntrGdu5iion,

doors, linlefs they have fome other equally
interefting to call them to the field.

But rural diverfions, when followed in a
liberal manner, (for I do not wifti to renew
the almoft extinguished breed of mere hunt-
ing 'Squires,) are particularly ufeful in this
iiland, where, from the nature of our Go-
vernment^ no man can be of confequencc
without fpending a large portion of his
time in the country, and every additional
inducement to this mode of life is an addi-
tional fecurity to our freedom and inde-
pendence. I much queftion whether our
morals, or even our manners, are greatly
improved by that ftyle of living, which
empties our country feats to fill the metro-
polis, or the large provincial towns ; and
whether the manly charader that once-

diflinguifhed

Inirodudlion^, J

4iiftinguifhed the Englishman has not fuf-r"
fared more on the fide of firmnefs and in-
tegrity, than it has gained on that of po-
Ktenefs and elegance, by facrificing the rough
j^orts of the Field to the fofter amufements
of the AiTembly and Card Table.
■ I know the laws which are in force to
preferve thofe Animals which are the ob-
jects of this diverfion, are feverely attacked
by the fentimental Novel Writers of the
prefent time : writers who, without in-
vention, humour, or real knowledge of
mankind, drefs up fome improbable tale
with affeded maxims of fine feeling, and
exquifite fenfibility, and endeavour to weaken
the hearts, enflame the paflions, and miflead
the underflandings of the rifing generation.
Thefe abound with horrid flories of the
JB 3 young

6 hi^rodudiion,

yQu'fig and Ingenuous 'P^eafant torn from hi^
weeping Parents, and his diftraded Bride,
and either hurried into a loathfome dungeon,
or baniflied to an unhealthy chmate, only
fer the murder of a Hare or a Partridge,
But I will venture to fay, there is hardly a
Day-laborer in the kingdom that may not,
in a ^eafonab^e 'manner, be indulged with
the uf?. of thefe animals by a proper appli-
cation; and if he is fond of the diverfioa
they afford, and chufes to be idly bufy ra-
thier tliaii,iudufi:fioullyfo,,-he rnay perfedly,
iajtisfy. hlmfelf by attending the Hounds or
Gr^ylio.uads qf the 'Squire, or alTifting the
Qame-keeper with his gun. But that Laws
ihoulcj be niade to prevent the man, whofe
family . depends entirely on his labor for
fiipport, from quitting his flail, his plough,

or

lntrodu6llon, j

or his fpade, to range the woods for the
deftrudlion of animals, which afford a noble
and manly diverfion to their Proprietor, I
can conceive no more inconfiftent with
juftice, than that he ihould be prevented
from entering the orchard or the hen-rooft.
As the beafts of the foreft and the fruits of
the foil are equally common in a ftate of
nature, fo I fee no reafon why they may
not be equally appropriated in a ftate of
civil fociety, And J appeal to any perfon
really converfant in thefe kind of fads, if
he knows a fmgle inftance of one of thofe
men, commonly called Poachers, whofei.
profeflion is a violation of the Game Laws,
3,nd againfl whom alone they are ever ex-
ecuted with any feverity, whofe character
and fufferings could entitle him to a tear,
^vcn froni that moil fentimental of all
B 4 fen-

8 Introdu^ion.

fentlmcntal Heroes*, T^he Man of Feeling
himfelf.

While I am thus defending the general
principle of our Game Laws, I do not
mean to Hand forth as their Champion in
every refped: • they want great alteration as
to the objects both of their penalties -f- and

exemptions,

■ • This gentleman, drawn as a pattern of peculiar milki-
nefs of difpofition, is betrayed once into the following bitter
imprecations :

" Curfes on his narrow heart, that could violate a right
fo facred ! Heaven blaft the wretch !

/* And from his derogate body never fpring
" A babe to honor him ! "

And what are the facred rights whofe cruel violation has
drawn fuch heavy curfes from fo mild a bofom ? Why the
'Squire of the parifh " pulled down an old cottage, that
** had been a fchool, to open his profpedl ;" and " plowed
*♦ up a green where the boys'ufedto play, becaufe they hurt
?* the fence on the other fide of it."

f That a man of one hundred pounds a year may dellroy
the Game with impunity on any one's land, and that a per-

fon

IntroduSlion, q

exemptions, and I truft the time is not far
diftant when they will receive it from the
wifdom and authority of Parliament.

But there are other perfons whofe fuf-
frages I am very defirous of obtaining, that
may be inclined to look with difdain on a
Work that treats chiefly of Hare-hunting,
and feex'iis to give it the preference to all the
diverlions of the fame kind. I mean the
noble fraternity of Fox-hunters. As a
Sportfman, I would carefully deprecate the
refentment of fo refpedable a body, nor
preiume to defend the i^uthor of the fol-
lowing Letters, in qucflioning the allowed
fuperiority of Fox-hunting over the humbler

fon of ninety-nine ftiall be liable to pay five pounds for
killing a hare on his own, is a folecifm too evident to need a
comment,

rports

f\j Introdu£lion^

^orts of the Hare-chace. But, as tlie Au^
dior of the firft of thefe Treatifes juftly oh^
ferves, in many inflanges the various kinds
of hunting are clofely connected, and what-
ever be the game purfued, every Huntfman
is equally interefted in the breeding and
education of the Hound, the nature of the
feent, and the general rules of the chace.
And, perhaps, both the Adive and the
Literary may pay fome deference to opinions
backed by the authority of fo refpedable a
name as that of Xenophon, who did not
difdain to write a Treatife on Hunting.
Though he confiders that exercife as a pro-
per fchool for forming the warrior, he evi-
dently gives the preference to Hare-hunting.
Speaking of the Hare, he avows his attach-
ment to the pleafure of hunting her in

thefe

JntroduBiofi, .Ti

thefe ftrong expreflions, wHich are yet
Uronger in the original * : ^his animal is
fo pleafmg, that whomever fees it, either
trailed, or found, or ptirfued, or taken, for-
gets every thifig elfe that he is moft attached
to,

I have been, indeed, aftonifhed in read-
ing the Cynegeticos of Xenophon, to find
the accurate knowledge that great man had
of the nature of the Hare, and the method
pf hunting her, and to obferve one of thof
^neft Writers, the braveft Soldiers, the
^iblejfl Politicians^, the wifefl Philofophers,

* See the Greek motto in the title-page. Mr. Somer-
ville bears the fame telHmony in favor of Hare-hunting,
\vhen he particularly applies the following lines to the en-
thufiafm of that fport :

" Where are their forrows, difappointments, wrongs,
*' Vexations, ficknefs, cares? All, all are gone,
" And with the panting winds lag far behind."

and

m

iZ Introdud^ion.

and the mofl: virtuous Citizens of antiquity,
fo intimately acquainted with all the niceties
and difficulties of purfuing this little animal,
-and defcribing them with a precifion that
would wiot difgrace the oldefl Sportfman of
Great Britain, who never had any other
idea interfere to perplex his refearches.

As I think no tranflation of Xenophon's
Treatife on Hunting has appeared in our
language, the Reader may not be difpleafed
to fee that part of it which bears an imme-
diate relation to the fubjed of thefe Effays.
I fhall, therefore, lay before him a De-
fcription of the Greek manner of Hare-
hunting * extracted from that Writer,
which I am the more induced to, as it will
confute the afTertion of Mr. Somerville, in

* Some quotations from Xenophon's Cynegeticos, the
Reader will find in the notes on the fubfequent Effays.

IntroduBioHi t-f

his Preface to the Chace, that the Antients

had no notion of purfuing wild beajis by the

fcent only. 1 readily agree with him, that

they had no idea of a regular and well-di'

Jciplined pack of Hounds-, but though, OS

* he and his learned Friend remark, Oppian

defcribes a particular fort of Dog> which he

calls I^vevrn^s^t as finding the Game onlyi

and following the fcent no farther than the

Hare's feat ; and fays, that after he has

ilarted her, fhe is purfued by the light;

yet this extrad: from Xenophon will fhew,

that, much earlier than the time of Oppian,

they not only -f- trailed to the Hare by the

fcent, but abfolutely depended on that

* See the Preface to Somervilk's Chace, at the end of
thefe Effays.

i Xenoplion particularly dlftinguifhes the trail of the
Hare from the fcent fhe leave* whsn running ; the firft he
calls sCtcix, the laft ^.'o^atiat.

alone

14' IntroduSiion,

alone to purfue her flight in cafe flie efcaped
the nets ; for the death of the Game being
the chief objedt of the chace in the woody
and mountainous regions of Greece, it muft
be acknowledged that Xenophon advifes
means to accomplifh that end, which would
fubjed: him to the appellation of Poacher
from the modern fair Sportfman. And, as
the evidence of * Arrian confirms this, and

* Arrian was a military Officer under the Emperor
Hadrian : being a follower of Epidletus, as Xenophon was
of Socrates, he was fond of comparing himfelf to the illu-
ftrious Athenian, writing on the fame fubjefts, and calling
himfelf, with no fmall degree of prefumption, the Second
Xenophon. He wrote a Treatife on Hunting, intended as a
fupplement to that of Xenophon, and which is, in faft, an
account of the method of courfmg ufed in his time, in which
he fays, " Xenophon, thefon of Gryllus, has given anac-
*• count of Hunting, particularly of Hare-hunting, and the
•' ufe of that exercife to the art of war ; but as he has taken
** no notice of Greyhounds, which were not then known in
*• Greece, I fhall fupply that deficiency."

proves

IntroduBion-. tg

proves that, in the time of Xenophon,
Greyhounds were not known in Greece,
I ihall tranflate fo much of him as fliews
the mode of couriing among the Antient
Gauls, which will be found nearly iimilar
to that prad:ifed at the prefent time.

In regard to my tranllation, I muft
beg leave to diifent from the Critical Re-
view of this Work on its firil publicatioru
J am there cenfured for adopting the techni-
cal Hunting Language of the prefent day ;
but, befides the curiofity of perceiving that
the hunting phrafes, and even the hollows,
of the Antient Greek fportfman, exadlly
refembled thofe of the modern Englifh one>
it will be found impoffible to render the
original at all intelligible in a tranflation by
any other means. I think the notes on the
following pages will fully (hew, that it is
very difficult for a general Greek fcholar to

translate

l6' tnirodu^ion.

tranflate a Treatife on any particular Art,
without being in fome degree verfed in that
Art himfelf. There is, however, perhaps,
no nicer point in the purfuits of Literature*
than to difcriminate nicely between adopt-
ing or rejediing modern phrafes in tranf-
lations from the Antieht Writers. It is
what we can hardly lay down rules for,
though perhaps we may feel the diftinition.
To draw inftances from the Military Art.
No tranilator would give modern names to
the divifions and officers of the Roman ar-
mies; he w^ould not call Legions and Co-
horts, Brigades and Regiments, or Tribunes
and Centurions, Colonels and Captains -, but
he would certainly, in defcribing a battle*
make ufe of all generally appropriated mi-
litary words, as front, rear, march, halt,
inftcad of the words ufually applied to the
purpofes of ordinary life.

ON

0 N

HARE HUNTING:

FROM

X E N O P H O N.

flumpe moras : vocat Ingenti clanlore Cithseron,"
Taygetique canes, domitrixque Epidaurus equorum*
Et vox affenfu nemorum ingeminata remugit.

Virgil^

[ 19 ]

Greek Method (^/'HareHunting,
from XENOPHOisf.

' I ^ H E trail of tlie Hare is long during
the winter, on account of the length
of the nights, and in the fummer, fhort,
for the contrary reafon. In the winter there
is no fcent early in the morning, when there
is either a hoar-froft, or ice ; for the hoar-
froft by its proper force colle6ling the warm
particles, contains them in itfelf, and the
ice condenfes them.

When thefe happen *, the dogs with the
moil delicate nofes cannot touch before the

* A? Kvnc, (Aix.>.nKiu<Tt3n tk? ^rvfls? XT- >.. " The dogs vvhofe
<■' nofes are tender." The common interpretation "that the
♦' doo-s cannot fmell atfuch times nn account of the tendernefs
*' of their nofes," is abfolute nonfenfe* How fhould a
hoar-froft hurt a hound's nofe fo as to hinder his fmelling, or
the tendernefs of the nofe hinder the accuracy of the fenfe ?
My interpretation is warranted by the original, and is ex-
actly the cafe. Seethe Eflays, p. 14.

C 2 fun

20 ilafe iluntingy

fun difpel them, or the day is advanced,'
Then the dogs can fmell, and the trail yields '
a fcent as it evaporates.

The trail is alfo fpoiled by the falling oi?
much dew, and by fhowers that happen*
after a long interval, which, drawing our
imells from the earth, fpoil thie fcent till
the ground is dry again. The South winds
alfo hurt it by fpreading moiffcure *; but
north winds, if not too ' fevere, ftrengthen '
and preferve ito

Rains and drizzling mlfts drown it. The
moon alio dellroys it by the -f* heat, efpe-
cially at the full ; the trail is alfo then moil
irregular J, for, delighting in the light,
they play together, and ■ throwing them-
felves, they make long intervals. And it'
becomes alfo perplexed when Foxes have
pafled over it before.

In the fpring, on account of the mild
temperature of the air, the trail would be
very ilrong, if the earth, being full of
flowers, did not puzzle the dogs, by mix>-

• It is exadlly the reverfe in this climate.
-)■ This;,- I believe, will not be admitted^
\ See the Effaysj- p. 112^

ing:

from Xenophon, 21

■}vig with it the odour of the bloilbms. la
.the fummer it is (light and imperfe<fl j for
.the earth being hot, it ^deftroys the warn>
particles it contains ; and the fcent itfelf is
not only flight, ,but the dogs alfo fmell lefs,
on account of the relaxation of their bodies.
In the autumn it is pure ; for, of the pro-
dudtions of the earth, the cultivated part Is
.carried. off, and the weeds are withered, fo
it is not a.t all injured by the fcent of the
fruits of the earth.

In the winter, the autumn^ and the fum-
mer, the trail is for the moft part fhraight,
but in the fpring it is more perplexed 3 for,
though thefe anirnals copulate at all times,
they do it chiefly at that feafon, and their
neceffary wandering gn that account in
fearch of each other occafions it.

The fcent of the Hare going to her form
lafls longer than that of her courfe when
purfued. When fh,e goes to her form flie
goes flowly, often flopping, but her courfe
when purfued is performed running j; there-.,
fore the ground is faturated with one, and
not filled with the other. The fcent is al-
C 3 _ fq

22 Hare Hunting,

fo ftronger in woody places than in open
ones, for there, fometimes running, and
ibmetimes fitting, flie is touched by many
things.

She makes her feat under, upon, or with-
in, every thing the earth bears on its fur-
face, near or diliant, fometimes continuing
a lon?y time, fometimes a ihort time, fome-
times between both ; fometimes throwing
hcrfelf as far as flie is able into the fea, or
other water, if any thing ftands above it,
or grows out of it.

* The trail of the Hare is the path iTie
takes going to her feat, which,' in cold
weather, will generally be in flieltered places,
and, in hot, in fliady places. But her

* It is impoffible to tranflate this pafTage more literally,
as Xenophoii explains one Greek word by another. He
had before ufed the word ivvaXoi; to exprefs a Hare going to
her feat, in contradllHnftion to her running when purfued ;
and which he now explains h ^iv Qv ivvaioq h voiovj/.ivo(; evvw.
The Latin tranflator, by not attending ^o this, has made
jionfenfe of this paffage. " Lepus cubans eft qui cubile fibi
*' ftruit." ♦• A Hare is faid to be lying when fhe is making
'' her form."

courfe

from Xenophorty 23

^ courfe when purfued is not fo, flie being
frightened by the dogs.

When flie fits, the lower parts of her
joints are covered by her belly. Her fore
legs are moil commonly clofe together, and
extended, refting her chin on the extremity
pf her feet j her ears are extended over her
flioulders, and flie particularly covers her
tender parts ; her hair is well adapted for a
covering, being thick and foft.

When (he wakes flie winks her eyelids,
but when flie fleeps flie keeps them conti-
nually open without motion, having her
eyes fixed j fhe moves her jioftrils frequently
when fleeping, but lefs often when awake.

When the earth begins to vegetate, fhe
is found oftener in cultivated places than
among mountains ^ but wherever flie fits

* t^ej^yipuoc,. The words lytoAoc, and ogo\f.aAoc, relate to the
Hare herfelf in this paragraph, and not to her courfe ; but
it was impoffible to render 5 ivioaqc, in this fentence without
anticipating the definition given in the latter part of it, we
having no technical word to exprefs a Hare making her trail,
which is the cafe of the Greek word EJnaw when oppofed to
J^ofAaro?, and appropriated to this adtion of the animal.
The giving the general inftead of the appropriated fenfe
occafioned the abfurdity of the Latin tranilation.

C 4 OiQ

^4 Hare Huntbig^

file continues even while they are trailing
to her, unlefs fhe has been much alarmed
in the night, in which cafe fhe will move.

She is fo prolific, that at * the fame time
fhe will have young ones, be bringing forth
others, and have newly conceived. The
fcent of young Hares is ilronger than that
of full grown ones ; for, their limbs being
tender, their whole body drags on the
ground,

Thofe which are too young the •f' fair
Sportfman will fpare. Thofe of a year old
will run the firfl: ring very fwiftly, but not
at all afterwards, being very acflive, but
weak.

To take the trail of the Hare the dogs
fhquld be drawn J from the cultivated fields
upwards; (i, e, towards the mountains 3)
but thofe who do not come into cultivated
places niuft be tried for in meadows, marflies,

* Oppian apd Pliny make the fame remark. Sir Tho-
mas Brown, in his Treatife on Vulgar Errors, afferts it from
his own obfervation. Fol. Ed. p. 1 18.

i" Ot (pi'hax.vvYiyira.i a(pnx<r* t>j &iu-

X As we now try to hit the Hare from where fhe has been
at fsed into heaths, covers, &c,

by

from Xempho7t» 25

by ftreams, on rocks, or in woods. When
the Hare is moved there fhould be no hol-
lowing, left the dogs, being made * too
eager, lliould be hardly brought to find the
fcent.

When they are found and purfued, they
will crofs ftreams, or double, or hide them-
felves in deep vallies, and roll themfelves
up ', for they are not only afraid of dogs,
but of eagles, for they will fometimes carry
off Hares under a year old as they pafs
over -f- high and expofed places; but larger
ones are only taken by the purfuit of dogs.

The mountain Hares are fwiftefl:, thofe
bred in a plain country lefs fo, but the
marfli Hares are the llowefl of any. Thofe
who wander in all places are the mofl: dif-
ficult to purfue, for they know the neareft
ways. They generally run up hill, J or

* "'En(pe^ovt<;yiyvoyi.ivt)i, Literally ** becoming mad." This
diredlion is one of the canons of modern Hare Hunting.

-j- Tec crif**. J

X The hind legs are formed remarkably long, and fur-
piilied with ftroiig mufcles ; their length gives the Hare a
fmgu|ar advantage over its enernies in afcendingfteep places,
and fo fenfible is the animal of this advantage, as always to
make towards the rifmg ground when i\di.ned..—Pifinant's
Brilijh Zoology,

on

26 Hare Huntings

on level ground ; if they find any uneven
ground they run over it in an irregular man-
ner, but very feldom run down hill.

When they are purfued they are moft
confpicuous as they go over plowed land,
if they have any red about them, and
through ftubbles, on account of their re-
ceding the rays of light : they are alfb
confpicuous in paths and highways, if they
happen to be level ; for then whatever is
bright about them appears. They are leaft
vifible when they fly to rocks, mountains,
rough places, and thick woods, on account
of the famenefs of the color.

If they perceive the dogs firfl they ftop,
and, fitting on their breech, raife them-
felves up, and liften if they can hear any
noife or opening of the dogs near them,
and then turn from the place where they
hear it.

But if they hear nothing, then of their
own accord they will return by the * fame

* Wxox TO. xvrx, oix Twv ccvri^v. Ariian has borrowed this
exprefiion to defcribe the method of beating for a Hare

ill coarilng.

way

fro?7t Xenophon, 27

way they came, leaping all the way, and
keeping in the fame track.

* Thofe that are found in open places
run the longeft on account of their being
more ufed to the light ; thofe in woody
places fliortefl, being hindered by the
darknefs.

There are two kinds of them, one large,
mottled with black, and with a great deal
of white on the forehead ; the other lefs,
of a yellowiih color, and having little
white.

The tail of one is variegated on every
fide, that of the other is -f- more confpicuous
from being whiter. The eyes of one fort
are yellowifli, of the other greyifh, and
the black at the tip of the ears is large in
the one and fmall in the other.

The fmaller fort are chiefly found in
iflai:wis, as well thofe inhabited as uninha-
bited, where Hares are in greater plenty

* The truth of this fa£t Is known to every Sportfman, but
it certainly does not arife from the caufe affigned by Xe-
nophon .

f Tlci^a.a-Yi^ov. I can find no fuch word in any Lexicon.
Leunclave renders it, " Albedine infignis longiore fpatio ;"
another commentator, "terfa:" perhaps we fhould read

than

2§ Hare Hunting,

than on the Continent ; for in moil of then^
there are no Foxes, who deftroy both them
and their young, neither eagles, who infefl
large mountains rather than fmall ones, and
the ifland mountains are generally fmall.

And Hunters feldom frequent the unin-
habited illands, and the inhabitants of the
others are few, and in general not lovers of
Hunting, and it is not permitted to carry
dogs into the facred iflands i few Hares,
therefore, being destroyed, and others con-
tinually bred, there muft neceffarily be
abundance of them.

Their eyefight is by no means fharp ; for
their eyes project, and their eyelids arefhort,
and not fufficient to protedt the ball, on
which account their eyefight is weak and
indiflind:.

Add to this, that the quantity of fleep
this animal takes is by no means beneficial
to the fight, and the fwiftnefs of its pace
contributes greatly to dazzle it, for flie
pafies fwiftly by every objed; before Ihe dif-
covers what it is.

When fhe is purfued, the fear of the
dogs and hunters takes av/ay her prefenceof

mind.

fro?n Xenophon, ^W

]ftiind, on which' account flie often runs un-
knowingly again ft many things, and fome-
times falls into the nets.

If fhe ran ftraigh't forward thefe things
would feldom happen to her ; but running
a ring, and loving the places where fhe was
bred and has fed, fhe is taken ; for Hares,
when followed by the foot, are not often
taught by the fpeed of the dogs, but they
are taken, contrary to the nature of the
animal, by accident ; for no animal of the
fame iize equals the Hare for fwiftnefs, her
f)bdy being conftrudled in this manner :

The head is light, fmall, inclining down-
Wards, and narrow in front. The neck
lender, round, no! rigid, and of a conve-
nient length. The fhoulder-blades upright.,
and not joined at top, and the legs, which
are under them, light and compad:. The
breaft not too deeply extended. The ribs
Kght and well proportioned. The loin's
Found, holk)w, and flefhy. The flanks
firpple, and fufficiently k)ofe. The hips
found, entirely full, and divided properly at
top. The thighs long and compadl,- ex-
tended on the outfidc, but the infide not

turgid*

3© Hare Huntings

turgid. The lower parts fmall, and firm,^
The fore feet very fupple, narrow, and up-
right. The hind feet firm, and broad, nei-
ther of them Uable to injury by treading on
any thing however hard; the hinder legs
are much larger than the fore legs, and in-
cline a little outwards. The hair fhort
and light.

It is impoffible, therefore, being fo con-
flruded, but that flie muft be ftrong, agile,
and very light. As a proof that ihe is very
light, v/hen flie goes along without being
frightened fhe always leaps, (for a hare
walking no one ever faw, or ever well fee,)
throwing the hinder feet beyond the fore
feety and fhe runs in that manner*.

The

* Here follow the words Vri'Kdi ^i t5to \» %^or, which
have puzzled all the commentators, who have moft of them
left them unexplained. Leunclave, however, propofes IrjK^v
3'e Tare h %gsi«, which he boldly inferts in the texts, and fays,
*' Senfum autem eft quantum lepus ultra pedes priores in
*' curfu pofteriores cbllocet in neccjjitate confpici, quum ea
*' premitur," But this fenfe, as he calls it, is abfolutel/
nonfenfe, for Xenophon exprefsly fays fhe goes in this man-
ner when Ihe is not frightened, oVav uT^c(ji.a, hcctro^ivr,tui, and
furely the fafter fhe goes the lefs opportunity there is of ob-
ferving her manner of going. I would prbpofe a reading;

not

from Xenophon, 31

^e tail is inconvenient for running, be^
mg not proper to guide the body on account
of its lliortnefs : but flie does that with either
of her ears 3 and when fhe is near being taken
by the dogs, flie lays down one of her ears
and ftretches it out toward the fide in which
fhe thinks fhe fliall fuffer hurt, by which
means fhe turns inftantly, throwing the dogs
that are dafhing at her a great way behind.

This animal is fo pleafing, that whoever
fees it either trailed, or found, or purfued,
or taken *, forgets every thing elfe that he
is moft attached to.

In hunting in cultivated places the
Sportfman fliould abftain from damaging
the fruits of the earth that are in leafon, and
fliould kave -f fountains and ftreams unex-

not much more different from the text, viz. ^rMv ^\ tZto U
pjiw, i. e. " this difpofition of the feet is manifeft in the
•• fnow." And this, becaufe it is the only mean by which
it can be obferved, and becaufe Xenophon muft have been
particuhirly attentive to this circumllance, he having an en-
tire chapter 6n" Tracing .

* Where are their forrows, difappbintments, wrongs.
Vexations, ficknefj, cares ? AH, all are gone.
And with the panting winds lag all behind/

Somerville's Chace.

f ilifppofe as being deemed ficred.

plored.

^i Hare Hunting,

plored, as it is both unbecoming and im-
pious, and beiides a violation of the laws in
thofe who do it. And when no game is
found*, all the hunting apparatus iliould
be entirely taken away.

The accoutrements of the dogs confifl
in a -f- collar, a leather leading thong, and a
furcingle to • guard the body. The collar
ihould be foft and broad that it may not rub
off the dogs hair 3 the leading thong fhould
have a knot for the hand to hold by, and
nothing more ^ neither do thofe lead their
dogs well who make part of the thong ferve
for a collar; the furcingle fhould have
broad thongs that they may not gall the bel-
ly of the dog:}:, and fharp points are fewed
on it to preferve the breed.

Dogs

* A^a^o£ll/ ^^ri To, wegi JtCvsiyicrtov •neina,. Meaning, I fup-
pofe, that none of the nets fhould be fufFered to remain on the
ground for another day ; which Ihews, that though the Greeks
ufed nets and dogs together, contrary to the pradlice of the
modern fair fportfman j yet it was not allowable to have
fnares fet, except during the chace,

■f At^aia, l^dtTii; r£^f*avat«

X This fpecies of policy, fot which we have no name in
our language, but which the French call Tinfibulation, from

the

from Xenophon, ^^

Dogs (hould never be taken out to hunt
unlefs they eat their food heartily, for if they
do not, it is a fign that they are not healthy 3
neither if there is a high wiftd, for it diffi-
pates the fcent and prevents their hunting,
neither can the toils or nets ftand.

When neither of thefe things hinder, they
fhould be taken out every third day. They
fhould never be fufFered to hunt Foxes, as
that does them the greatefl damage, and
* they never are fleady when it is neCeflary.

The places of Hunting fliould frequently
be changed, that the dogs maybe thoroughly
acquainted v/ith the nature of hunting, and
the Hunter himfelf with the country. And
it is neceffary to go out early in the morning
that the trail may not be gone. Thofe who
go out late deprive the dogs of the chance
of finding a Hare, and themfelves of the
fport i neither will the fcent, by reafon of

the Latin word infibulo, was not confined to dogs only, but
cfed by the ancients to preferve the chaftity of the youth of
both fexes.

* 'Evtw ^fovT* bVote 7r»e6ij-iv, literally, when it is neceffary^
they never are ready.

D the

34 Hare Htm tings

the delicacy of its nature, continue in all

weather.

******

The *f* Huntfman ihould go out in a light
caiy drefs, with fandals on, and a pole in
his hand, the man who carries the nets fol-
lowing him ', and ihould proceed with
filence left the Hare being near ihould hear
him and fteal off from her feat.

The dogs being brought to the wood fo
tied, each feparately, that they may ealily
Be let flip, and the nets being pitched, and
a man placed at them to watch, the Huntf-
man himfelf, taking the dogs with him,
goes in fearch of the game,

J And vowing a part of his fpoils to
Apollo and Diana the Huntrefs, he fhould

****** I omit what immediatdy follows, as It only
relates to the manner of pitching the toils.

f 'O )tvyYiytTYj(;. The word in the original exaftly cor-
refponds with the Modern Huntfman.

X The great attention of Xenophon to the fonns of Re-
(igton is evident in all his works o

let

from Xcnophon. 35

let loofe that of his dogs which has the
fineft nofe ; if in the winter about fun-
rifing, if in the fummer before day-breakj
and between thofe times in the other
feafons.

If the dog picks the trail out * flraight
forward from the works the Hare has been
making, he fliould flip another ; and, as
thefe perfift in the trail, he fhould loofe the
teft one after the other without great inter-
vals, and fhould follow himfelf, but not
too clofely, encouraging the dogs by their
names, but not vehemently, left they fhould
be too eager before the proper time.

They keep running on with joy and fpirit,
inveftigating the trail through every turn,-
now in circles, now ftraight forward, now
obliquely, through thick and thin, places
known and unknown, pafhng each other
by turns, moving their tails^^ throwing
back their ears, and their eyes darting fire,

when they are near the Hare, they dif-
cover it to the Iluntfman by fhaking vio-
lently not only their tails but their whole

* ''Og6w» Ik run KTrij}^Ky(MW*r

D 2 bodies.

^6 Hare Huntitigy

bodies, by ruiliing on in a warlike manner,
by trying to furpafs each other in fpeed,
by running eagerly together, by now crowd-
ing clofe, and then difperfing, and then
again rufhing on, till at length they come to
the feat of the Hare, and run in upon her.

She immediately jumps up and flies, the
dogs purfuing * her in full cry, thofe who
follow crying out, -^ Halloo, Dogs ! Halloo
Rogues ! that's good. Dogs ! that's right,
Dogs^ and the Huntfman, wrapping his
coat round his hand, and holding his pole,
fliould follow the dogs, taking care to keep
behind the Hare, and not to head her,
which is X unfportfmanlike.

The Hare running off, and foon being
out of fight, generally comes back again to
the place where fhe was found -, the Huntf-
man calling to the § perfon at the nets. To

* E^ cctiToi vhoi,yfMv TTolijaEi tui/ kvvuv, x^ >c?Myy^v ^Bvyuy
"f la xwe;* In) xaKcti'

§ This is the only fenfe I can make of the words dvotQooii
^\x.imv, as Leunclave reads. The common reading is
xo»»o», i. e. the whole field calling out : but then we muft
fuppiy fome word to exprefs *' to the man at the nets,"
to make any fenfe at all of the paffages.

him.

from Xemphon. ^j

liim. Boy! To him, Boy! Now, Boy!
Now, Boy ! and he lignifies whether ihe is
taken or not. And, if flie is taken in the
iirft ring, the dogs are called oft, and they
try for another J but, if not, they follow
the dogs as fwiftly as poffible *, and do not
give her up, but perfevere diligently.

And, if he meets them again while they
are purfuing her, the Huntfman fhould cry
out. Well done. Dogs ! Forward, Dogs !
But, if the dogs are got very forward, fo
that he is not able to keep up, but is -f-
thrown out, and can neither perceive them
near him, nor hear their cry, nor fee them
hunting by the fcent, he fliould continue
running on, and call out to every one he

* This, with the fucceeding account, is a full confu-
tation of the notion that the Ancients only ufed fcenting
dogs to find the Hare, but never purfued her by the fcent
after fhe was ftarted. Neither would Mr. Somerville's
friend have made this miftake, had he been as converfant
with this accurate defcription of the Attic Xenophon, as
he was with the defultory account of Oppian, one of
thofe

quos Graecia non fuos alumnos

Agnovit, in pejus ruentis sevi.

P 3 happens

38 Hare Huntlngy

happens to come near, and enquire if they
have feen the dogs.

And, when he finds where they are, if
they are fliill on the fcent, he fhould come
up to them and encourage them, calUng
each dog by his name as often as poflible,
and changing the tone of his voice to harfh,
or foft, loud, or low, according to the cir-
cumflance. And, if the Hare has made her
courfe among the mountains, he fhould
alfo encourage them by faying, * That'§
good. Dogs ! That's good. Dogs ! but, if
they have loft their fcent, he fhould call
them back, crying, ^ Halloo back, Dogs !

When they are brought back to the fcent,
he fliould draw them round, m.aking many
rings. But, if the fcent is quite lofh, he
j(hould draw the dogs along by % the nets,

and

* Es xv^K) E» vKuHi;. Juft as we do when a dog hits the
Hare over a .hard highway, or any other place, unfit to re-
tain the fcent, as was mod probably the cafe with the rocky
pnountains of Attica. Mr. Beckford juflly obferves, it is
as difficult to pen a hollow as a whifper.

f Ov Tra'xiv « Tra'Xiv u xiIve-, or, as Leunclave reads,
•r «f(.7r«Aii'.

X J/if/.eioi' 6sVSai rpip^o" iccvru' STor;vot;, in the hunting
language of Greece, Signified a rarge of nets by which the

woods

from Xenophon, ' 39

and fpeak to them, and encourage them,
till they hit it off again.

When the fcent is very ftrong, they rufh
upon it leaping, crowding together, and
{looping down, and, fignifying it in this
manner by well-known figns, they purfue
very fwiftly : but while they thus perfifl in
the fcent clofe to each other, the Huntfman
muft reflrain himfelf, and not follow the
dogs too near, left, through emulation,
they fliould over-run the fcent.

When they come near the Hare, and
difcover it plainly to the Huntfman, he
/liould be very careful, that, through fear
of tlie dogs, fhe does not ileal off before he
comes up j while they, fhaking their tails,
joftling one againfl the other, fpringing up
often, doubling their tongues, and lifting
up their heads towards the Huntfman, dif-
cover that they themfelves are certain of the

woods were furrounded ; therefore, the trying them round
was to find through what mews the Hare had efcaped, or
whether fhe had made a fhort turn back, jull as we now try
jound the hedge of an enclofed ground.

D 4 fcent.

4P Hare Hunting,

jCcent, and at laft * ftart the Hare, and
purfue her in full cry.

The perfoji Vv'ho flands at the nets gives
a particular hollow, to fignify whether fhe
runs into them, or efcapes by going beyon4
them, or turning fliort. If ilie is taken,
they try for another -, if not, they continue
to purfue her, following the inftrudiions al-
ready given.

But, when the dogs are tired with running,
and it begins to be late in the day, it will
be neceflliry for the Huntfman himfelf to
look for the Hare, flie being nearly run
down; and he muft leave nothing unex-
plored that the earth produces, left he ihould
mifs of her, for the animal will lie \cry
clofe, and not get up, both from fear and
fatigue. And he £hould bring the dogs
forward, encouraging the timid ones much,
the eager ones little, and thofe between
thefe extremes moderately, till they kill her
by overtaking her, or drive her into the
j^.ets.

* This is from her quat.

After

from Xenophon. 41

After this, taking down the nets and toils,
^nd calHng off the dogs, he {liould give
over the fport, jftaying fomewhere, i^' ?! is
the heat of the day in fummer, left the feet
of the dogs fhould be fcorched by the
way.

The beft time for breeding dogs Is In the
winter, when the labors of the chace are
Qver, the quiet of that feafon, and the ap-
proach of fpring, being moft likely to con-
tribute to form a generous race, for that
time of the year agrees beft with the growth
of dogs. The time the bitch is fit to admit
the male lafts a fortnight; they fhould then
be fluit up with the beft dogs, and in a
quiet manner, that they may conceive the
fooner : and, while they are with whelp,
they ftiould not be frequently taken out,
but be often left at home, left the exertion
fhould injure them. They go fixty days
with their young.

The puppies when they are whelped
fliould be left with the mother, and not put
to another bitch j for the care of others Is
pQt fo good for their growth i the milk and

even

42 Hare Hunting ^

even the breath of the mother is better for
them, and her carefles more endearing.

When the puppies can run about, they
/hould have milk for the firft year (which
is a proper food for them at all feafons),
and nothing elfe, for the filling them with
too heavy food will diftort their legs, fill
their bodies with difeafes, and hurt their
infide.

Their names fhould be /hort, that they
may eafily know them, fuch as, * Pfyche,
Thymus, Porpax, Styrax, Louche, Phrura,
Phylax, Taxis, Xiphon, Phonex, Phlegon,
Alec, Teuchon, Hyleus, Medas, Porthon,
Sperehon, Orge, Bremon, Hybris, Thallon,
Rhome, Antheus, Hebe, Geneus, Chara,
Leufon, Augo, Polys, Bia, Stichon, Spude,
Bryas, CEnas, Sterros, Grange, i^ther,
Adlis, Alcme, Noes, Gnorne, Stribon,
Orme.

The bitch puppies fhould be firfl taken
out to hunt at eight n^onths old, and the

* Thefe names are all di/Tyllables, which is generally the
cafe with our prefent names, which they greatly refemble.
What is Thymus, but Fury, Hyleus, Dafhwood, Antheus,
BJoffom, CEnas, Tipler, Grange, P.atler ?

dogs

\

from Xenophon, 43

dogs at ten;, but do not let them loofe du-
ring the trail, but, keeping them tied in
long leather flips, fuiFer them to follow the
dogs that are trailing, letting them alfo go
over the fcent.

And, when the Hare is found, if the
puppies promife to have much foot, they
ihould not be let flip immediately, but,
when the Hare is got fo far as to be out of
fight, then they may be let go. For, if
thofe, who are high-mettled and fwift of
foot, are let go while the Hare is near, and
catch a view, being very eager, they will
be apt to flrain themfelves before their hmbs
have fufficient ftrength 3 therefore the Huntf-
man fhould be very cautious of this. But,
if they are flow of foot, nothing hinders
their being let flip diredly; for, having no
hopes of catching their game, they will not
be fo eager, but they may be permitted to
follow the courfe the Hare takes, by the
foot, till flie is fl:arted again, and if flie is
taken they fliould be permitted to * tear her.

* ** I think it but reafonable to give the hounds a Hare
*' fometimes. I always gave mine the laft they killed, if I
" thought they dcferved her."— Beckford's Thoughts on
Hunting.

When

44 Hare Huntings from Xenophon.

When they will not keep by the nets,
but run ftraggling about, they fliould be
called back till they are taught to run up
and find the Hare j left, being ufed to hunt
without order, they become * fkirters,
which is a bad thing to learn.

When they '\ find any thing while they
are young, it fhould be given them to eat near
the nets, that if by reafon of their carelefsnefs
they Ihould ftray during the chace, they may
return thither, and not be loft ; but this
may be omitted when, becoming more eager
in purfuing the game, they prefer that to
their food. And when they want their food,
the Huntfman himfelf ftiould feed them,
for they will not regard the perfon who feeds
them when they are in no great need of
food, but will diligently follow him who
gives it them when they are very hungry.

■f For oTa» avaigwKTa*, Leunclave reads Qtax iv^ua-i n.

O N

O N

O U R S I N G

FROM

A R R I A R

— — Canis In vacuo leporem qui Gallicus arvo
Vidit ; et hie prsdam pedibus petit ille falutem s
Alter inhaefuro fimiTis, jamjamque tenere
Sperat, et extento ftringit veftigia roftro :
Alter ia ambiguo ell, an fit deprenfus, et ipfis
Morfibus eripitur j tangentiaque ora relinquit.

Ovid

47

7^^ Ancient Method ^Coursing.
from Arrian.

' I ^ H E advantages that arife to mankind
from Hunting, and how dear to the
Gods, and honourable throughout Greece^
thofe were efleemed who were inftrudted in
this Art by Chiron, has been related by Xe-
nophon, thefon of Gryllus. He has alfo
declared how much this Art conduces to
military knowledge^ and what time of
life, conflitution, and underftanding, are
moft proper for entering on it. He has
written alfo concerning Hares, their manner
of feeding, and feating themfelves, and how
they are to be looked after. He has, be-
lides, written about dogs, defcribing which
were good for inveftigating the fcent, and
which were bad, and how they were to be
diftinguifhed both by their fhape and their
adions. What he has omitted does not

appear

4B Coiirjing]

appear to have been occafioned by negli-
gence, but from his ignorance of * grey-
hounds and of the ufe of Scythian and
Libyan horfes. Thefe things I iliall treat
of, being of the fame -f- name and country,
and from my youth addided to the fame
purfuits of War, Hunting, and Philofophy;
jufl: as he, when he thought proper to
write concerning thofe matters relating to
Horfemaniliip, v/hich were omitted by
Simo, did not do it by way of entering int6
a competition with X Simo, but that his
Treatife might be ufeful to mankind.

* Courfing being firfl: ufed by the Gauls, a Greyhound
was called Kvuv KihtiKo;, and in Latin Canis Gallicus.

■f Arrian was a military officer under the Emperor Ha-
drian. He was a native of Nicomedia, in Bithynia; but,
being admitted to the freedom of Athens, being a foldier
alfo, and a difciple of Epiftetus, as Xenophon was of So-
crates, he was fond of imitating him in his ftyle and manner
of writing, as well as in the fubjefts he wrote on, calling
himfelf s,tvo(pm h ^ivrt^o^. The Second Xenophon.

X Xenophon, fpeaking of Simo, fays, •* Wherever I
*' think with him, I {hall not leave it out of my own
" Treatife, but the more readily communicate it to my
" friends, thinking they will efteem my fentiments more
*' worthy of credit for coinciding with thofe of fo fkilful a
*' Horfeman. But what he has omitted I Ihall endeavour to
" fupply."

That

from Arriiin. 49

That he was ignorant of the ufe of grey*
hounds flands, I think, in need of no
proof. For the inhabitants of that part of
Europe, where they were bred, were un-
known, except chofe places in Italy which
the Greeks poflefTed, and thofe with whom
they had an intercourfe by means of their
maritime commerce ; and that he knew no
dogs equal in fwiftnefs to greyhounds is evi-
dent from thefe words : * ** Thofe Hares
** that are caught by the dogs are taken,
** contrary to the nature of the animal, by
** accident." But, if he had known the
ufe of greyhounds, he would rather have
faid this of the dogs, viz. ** That, when
** they let a Hare efcape, it happened, con-
** trary to the nature of the animal, by ac*
" cident." For a Hare never can efcape
from thofe that are well formed, and of a
generous fpirit, unlefs it happens, through
the difficulties of the country, either by
hiding in woods, or by concealing herfelf
in the hollows and caves of the ground, or

•" See page 29 of Xenophon's Treatife on Hunting.

E. bv

50 CourJJng,

by i^iinrilng ibwn ditches. On this account,
I fuppofe, Xenophon dwells fo long on the
mode of driving the Hare into the nets, and
in directing, if fhe avoids them, how to
follow and find her again by the fcent, till
fhe is taken by being run down and tired.
But he never fays, that, to thofe who have
good dogs, there is no occafion either for
nets, or to try for a Hare again after ef-
caping : but he only teaches the mode of
Hunting pra(5tifed by the Carians and
Cretans;

Thbfe Gauls, who only courfe for tlie
fport, and not to live by what they catchy
never ufe nets. They have alfo a breed of
dogs, not lefs excellent in running by the
fcent than the Carian and Cretan breed, but
of a difagreeable and favage form ; and they
give their tongues, and open on the fcent,
in the fame manner with the Carians ; but
they afe more vehement when they find the
fcent. They are too eager on the trail, and
fo noify^ that I mufi: condemn them, giving
their tongues as freely on the trail as after
the Hare is found ; but in following and
finding again after llie is flarted, they are

no

from Arrian. 51

no way Inferior> except in ipeed, to the

Carian and Cretan dogs \ fo that, in the

winter, it is very well if they * kill one

Hare, as they require fo long a time to reft,

unlefs fhe is taken by being aftoniflied at

the noife they make. Thele are called

•f- Segufii, from a part of Gallia, where I

fuppofe they are bred, and held in efteem.

As for thefe, every thing that can be faid

concerning them has already been faid by

% Xenophon ; for they have nothing peculiar

or different in their manner of hunting or

finding, unlefs we were to fpeak of their

form, which is hardly worth while, except

* In the text of Blancard's Arrian it Is xaTaxJ^-oitv, " if
•* they move ;" but he adds in a note, Lege cum libro
fcripto xaraxatvoisv. I have preferred the MS. though there
is a difficulty in both readings. ** Unlefs Ihe is taken,"
s\ f^Yi d'/Jv, can only refer to the laft word ; but the making
it not unufual for thefe finders, who are allowed to be flower
than Xenophon's hounds, to kill one Hare a day, feems ex-
traordinary, after what he has faid before. ;

f In the text of Blancard's Edition, it is lyt'ir'iui, Egufiir,
But he fays, in a note. Sic quoque codex nofter, fed legen-
dum Segufii. Segufia -is a town of Piedmont, now called
Sufe. H. Stephens propofen Accufii, the antient name for
Grenoble being Accufiorum Colonia.

E 2 merely

52 Conrfingy

merely to fay that they are very ihaggy and
ugly, and thofe moil fo that are the beft
bred ; therefore, it is a common thing in
Galhaj to compare thofe who beg by the
highway fide to thefe dogs, for their voice
is mournful and plaintive, and they do not
open on the fcent as if they were eager and
angry with the game, but in a whining and
miferable voice, and of thefe nothing has
been written worthy of notice. But the
fwifter dogs of the Gauls are called, in the
Celtic language *, Ver tragi, not from any
particular country, as the Cretan, theCarian,
or the "f* Laconian, but, as among the

* by'sT^ayok, Vetragi. I fuppofe the omiffion of the
firft § muft be a miftake, as both Blancard and Hen.
Stephens write it Vertragi. Martial mentions a fort of dog,
called Vertagus, which brought the Harfe' to his mailer
without tearing it, which many greyhounds will do. Grotius
calls it VertraKus ; Ainfworth renders it a tumbler, (i. e. a
fort of "dog fo called,) from the Latin word verto, to turn.
But Arrian puts the matter beyond difpute, by faying it is
derived from a Celtic word, denoting fwiftnefs ; and he
takes particular pains to evplain this by the analogy of
Greek derivations. There can be no doubt of its being a
greyhound.

t The Spartan dogs were in particular eileem. ^o
Shakefpear :

" My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind," ^z< '■

Cretan

from Arrlan, 53

Cretan dogs, fome are called * DIaponi,
from their love of labor, fome -f- Itami,
from their eagernefs, and fome % MicSti,
from being a mixture of both, fo thefe are
named for their fwiftnefs. TJie figures of
fuch of thelfe as are of the befl breed, arp
very fine, as well with regard to their eyes
as to their fhape, their hair, and their
color : thofe that are fpotted are moft beaur
tifully variegated, and thofe that are of one
color are very fmooth and fliining, fo as to
afford a mofl pleafing appearance to the
Sportfman.

The moft opulent and luxurious among
the Gauls courfe in this manner. They
fend out good Hare-finders early in the
morning, to thofe places where it is likely
to find Hares fitting, who fend back word
if they have found any, and what number;
then they go out themfelves, and put them

* AtaTTovat. f It«/ic«N

X MtxTfitj, i. e. Mongrels. Both Xenophon and Arrian,
■when they fpeak of dogs in general, ufually give a feiriinine
ferj^iination.

E 3 ^p^

54 . Conrfmg,

up, and lay in the dogs, themfelves fol-
lowing on horfeback.

Whoever has good greyhounds fhould
never lay them in too near the Hare, nor
run more than two at a time. For, though
the animal is very fwifr, and will oftentimes
beat the dogs, yet, when ihe is firil ftarted,
£he is fo terrified by the hollowing, and by
the dogs being very clofe, that her heart
is overcome by fear, and, in the confufion^
veiy often the beft fporting Hares are killed
without Ihewing any diverfion , She fhould,
therefore, be fuffered to run fome distance
from her form and recoiled: her fpirits,
;and then, if flie is a good fporting Hare,
ihe will lift up her ears, and ilretch out
with long rates from her feat, the dogs di-
reding their courfe after her with great ac-
tivity of limbs, as if they were leaping, af^.
'fording a fpedacle worthy the trouble that
inuil: neceilarily be employed in properly
breeding and training thefe dogs,

Thofe are the beft Hares that ar« found
in open and expofed places, for, being bold,
they do not hide themfelves, but feem as it

were

from Arrian. 55

were to challenge the dogs ; and thefe,
when they are followed, do not immedi-
ately try to avoid the danger, by running to
woods and brakes, though they ihould hap-
pen to be near, but take over the open
country -, and, when they are contending
in fwiftnefs with the greyhounds, if the
dogs that purfue them are opt fleet, they
moderate their own fpeed according as they
are prefled. Bi^t, if they are very fleet,
they then run as faft as they can ; and, when
running in an open country, if they find
themfelves fo prefTed by a good dog, that
they perceive his iliadow, they try to throw
him beyond them by frequent turns, making
for the woods, or the nearefl fhelter they
know of; and this is a fure flgn that the
Hare is overmatched by the dog. The
true Sportfman does not take out his dogs
to deftroy the Hares, but for the fake of
the courfe, and the contefl between the
dogs and the Hare, and is glad if the Hare
efcapes j and, if flie flies to fome brake that
is top thin tp hide her, and tries to conceal
herfelf, and feems to decline the contetl:, h(?
will ciill oiF the dogs, efpecially if ll;e has
E 4 ^un

1 6 Courfmg,

run ivell. I myfelf often, when I have fol-
lowed the courfe on horfeback, and have
come up time enough to fave the Hare alive,
have taken her from the dogs, and tied them
up, and let her go : and fometimes, when
I have come up too late to fave her, I have
not been able to avoid flriking the dogs oa
the head for killing fo good an antagonift.
In this alone I cannot agree with * Xe-
nophon. I wdll allow, indeed, that who-
ever fees this animal either found, or run-
ning, or purfued, may forget any thing
elfe he is moft attached to ; but to fee it
taken, is neither g pleafing, nor a ftriking
fight, but rather difgufting, and by no
means likely to produce the forgetfulnefs of
any thing elfe one is fond of. But is it ex-
cufable for Xenophon, who was ignorant
of the ufe of fwift dogs, to think the taking
the Hare ai fo an agreeable fight. I know
alfo, that it i§ impoifible for thofe who fee
d courfe, to avoid hollowing, without any
^dvjce being given for it, fince it would al-

* T<y l(i,at-TC ofcwvyfAW. See Xenophon's Trcatife on
Hunting, p. 3 1 .

mofl

from Arrian, ^^

moft make a dumb perfon fpeak, as is re-
lated of the fon of Croefus.

It is proper fometimes to fpeak to the
dogs, for they rejoice to hear the voice of
their mafter, and it is a kind of encourage-
ment to them to know that he is prelent,
and- a witnefs of the excellence of their
running. In the firft courfe, there is no
objedtion to fpeaking to them as often as
we chufe ; but, in the fecond or third
courfe, when they will probably be weak-
ened, I do not think it right to call them
too often by name, left, through too eager
a defire to pleafe their mafter, they ihould
exert themfelves beyond their flrength, and
hurt their infide, which has been the de-
ftruiftion of many a good dog ; but they
iiiould be permitted to ruji as they pleale,
for there is no greater conteft than that be-
tween the Hare and the dog. This flies
where fhe chufes, and the other purfues :
this run§ iirfl, tqrning her cqurfe, and
throwing out the dog j the other, if thrown
out, is fo far out of his way, and is obliged
to follow with greater fpeed to recover the
ground he has loft. The difficulties of the

country

58 . Coiirfmg,

country alfo are more advantageous to thf
Hare than the dog, fuch as rough and
^{lony ground, and -f- fieep or uneven places,
]x)th becaufe fhe is light, and becaufe her
feet, on account of the fur, is not hurt by
the roughnefs of the ground ; befide, the
l^eing running for her life takes away all
fenfe of difficulty.

If the % dog has caught the Hare, or
otherwife behaved well, you il:iould dif-
inount and encourage hiirij, and pat him,
flroking his head, and putting back his
ears, and calling him by his name, as.
Well dqne, Cyrrah \ Well done, Bonna I
There's a good Orme ! and fo each by his
name, for they love to be praifed, as well
as men of a generous fpirit, If the dogs,
through fatigue, let the Hare efcape, they
will neverthelefs approach with pleafure
and carcfs their mailer. It is then good

* <t£XXiM»£,-. <I>=xXek. So the Athenians call rocky places^
that are ftony at bottom, with a very thin covering of earth

at top.— —Su I DAS.

•f T» erift*. The word is ufcd in this fenfe by Xeno-
phon. See p. 25, note f .

1 Arriqndid not always follow this rule. Seep. 56.

for

from Arrlan, ^g

for them to roll on the ground, as we fee
horfes do ; for, by that means, they will
not feem tired, and, at the fame time, will
recover their fatigue,

Thofe who have not good Hare- finders,
go commonly out, a number in company,
on horfeback ; and, coming to a likely
place, when they happen to ftart a Hare,
let the greyhounds loofe after her. But
thofe, who are more diligent after the fport,
go out on foot ; and, if any one accom-
panies them oa horfeback, it is his bulinefs
to follow the dogs when they run, ^ They

beat

irai ecvTx ^ix Tuv avrvi. Of which Blancard gives the follow-
ing extraordinary interpretation : * ' Circumeunt autem
*♦ fronte fibi invicem obverfi ; dein refta ad juftum aliquod
*' fpatiunj progreffi, rurfus per eadem loca, eodeijique tra-»
♦' mite, iter fleftunt." ** They go round, being drawn up
*' oppofiteeach other; and, proceeding ftraight forwards tq
♦* a certain fpace, return to the fame place, by the fame
*' way they came," I believe this manoeuvre would be very
difficult to execute. To draw up, or march, lir). lAtrunn,
was a military expreffion, exaftly equivalent with our
faying, in battalion ; that is, with an extended front ; or,
in Dr. Hutchinfon's words, *' Exercitum refta fronte et
♦^ bene compofita ducere.'* For the pieaning of imr^B-

6o Coming,

beat about, being drawn up in a regular
rank ; and, having proceeded in a dired:
line to a certain point, wheeling round,
they turn about together towards the place
from whence they fet out by the fame way
they came, leaving, as far as pofTible, no
likely place unexplored. If many dogs are
taken out, they ihould not be ftationed
promifcuoufly j for, when the Hare is
ftarted, no one will refrain from (lipping
his own dog, each being defirous of feeing
his own dog run, and the Hare, confufed
and terrified by the noife and number of the
dogs, will be taken without fliewing any
fport, and the diverfion, which is the chief

^I'flVTj-:, I will take the words of Blanc^rd hlmfelf, in his
tranflation of the Tadlica of this author, and in the fame
volume : '• K>Vk eil motus qui fit a viris fmgulis ; 'Eirir^otpn
" autem eft cum fyntagma totum condenfatum, velut unius
•' viri corpus, in haftam vel in clypeum inclinamus." In
modern military language the one is a turn, or face^ the
other a wheel. The reafon of the wheel is obvious, viz.
tliat in returning the way they came, Tra^a r» avrd., ^la tu¥
ecvruv, (a fentence copied from Xenophon, fee p. 26,) they
might not exaftly beat the fame traft, but take frefli
ground. I need not add, that this is exaftly the way of
beating for a Hare in courfmg, both on foot and on horfe-
back.

objedt.

from Arrian. 6 1

object, will be ipoiledi A perfon, there-
fore, ihould be appointed to take the com-
mand of the fport, arid the greyhounds
being in flips, two together, he fhould give
thefe orders, ** If the Hare takes this way,
" you loofe yours, and no one elfe ; if that
'* way, you yours;" and thefe orders
fhould be punctually obeyed.

The Gauls, fometimes, when courfing,
mix their finders with the greyhounds;
and, while thefe try, the others are led by
the hand at a little diftance, taking care to
lead the good dogs where the Hare is moft
likely to come, that they may be let gO
when fhe runs off, and here the greyhounds
fupply the ufe of Xenophon's netSk. But^
by this method, the courfe is irregular, and
the Hare^ however flout fhe may be, is fo
much alarmed by the cry of the dogs, that,
if fhe is not a confiderable way before, fhe
is fo confufed, that fhe will eafily be caught j
therefore, whoever lets flip a good dog,
fhould not do it while flie is aflonifhed, but
let her make her firfl ring before he loofes
him, unlefs he means to fpoil the diverfion.

It is not right to loofe the greyhounds at

a young

6^ Courfmgy &'C.

a youn^ Hare, which, according to the
adviceof * Xenophon, fliould be fpared, and
the finders, if poflible, fliould be called off,
which is very difficult, as they are not
under good command, being eager through
hunger -, and Co defirous are they of eating
up what they catch, that it is hard to get
them off even by beating them with fticks.

* T« if^M optowlftjj. Sec Xenophon, p. 24, note f .

ESSAYS

ESSAYS

O K

HUNTING.

[ 6; ]

Observations on Hare Hunting.

ABOVE all things the fcent has ever
been my admiration. The bulk, fize,
figure, and other accidents or qualities of
thefe parts or portions of matter that dif-
charge themfelves from the bodies of thefe
Beads of Game, are fabjed:s much fitter for
the experiments and learned defcants of a
Philofopher, than a fimple Huntfman.
Whether they are to be coniidered as an
extraneous ftock or treafure of odoriferous
particles given them by Divine Wifdom,
for the very purpofe of hunting ? Whether
they are proper identical parts of the ani-
mal's body, that continually ferment and
perfpire from it ? Whether thefe exhalations
are from the breath of her lungs, or through
the fkin of her whole body ? are queftlons
alfo that deferve the fubtlety of a Virtuofo.
But fuch obfervations as long experience has

F fuggeiled

66 Obfervatiom on

fuggefted fo me, I fhall, in the plalneft man--
ner I am able, lay before my readers.

That thefe particles are inconceivably fmall,
is, I think, manifeii from their vaft num-
bers. I have taken hundreds of Hares, af-
ter a chace of two, three, four, or ivi^ hours,
and could never perceive the leaft difference
in bulk or weight, from thofe I have feized
or fnapt in their forms : nor could I ever
learn from Gentlemen, who have hunted
bafket Mares, that they could difcover any
vifible wafte in their bodies, any farther than
may be fuppofed to be the efFedt of difehar-
ging their groiTer excrements.

But fuppofing an abatement of two or
three grains, or drams, after fo long a fa-
tigue ; yet how minute and almofl infinite
muft be the divifion of fo fmall a quantity
6f matter, when it affords a fhare to fo
many couple of Dogs, for eight, ten, or
twelve miles fucceffively : dedudiing, at
the fame time, the much greater numbers of
thefe particles that are loft in the ground,
diffipated in the air, extinguifhed and ob-
fcured by the foetid perfpirations of the

Dogs, and other animals, or by the very

fumes

Bare Hunting, 67

fumes and exhalations of the eafth itfelf*
That thefd particles are fubjecft to fuch
diffipatiotl Or corruption ^ every Sportfman
knows ; for as none of them will retaiil
their odour after a certain proportionable
time, fo it is daily evident, that this time of
their duration is very obnoxious to the vi-
ciffitudes of the weather i that the fcent of
the animal (as well as her more folid flefh) .
will lofe its fweetnefs, fooner or later, ac-^
cording to the difpofition of the ambient
air. I have frequently heard the good
Houfewives complain, that, againfl rain or
thunder, their milk will turn, and their
larders taint; and I have as often perceived,
that, a ftorm approaching, the fcent will,
in a moment, change and vanifh. Nor is
the fuddennefs of fuch alteration the leafl
wonder, if we take into confideration the
fmallnefs of the particles. The fame effi-
cient caufe may penetrate and corrupt thefe
minute corpufcles in the twinkling of an
eye, which requires an hour or a day to
operate on bodies of greater bulk and fub-
ftance; as the fame fire, or aqua-fortis, will
diffolve the filings of fteel in an inflant^
F 2 though

68 Objervationi on.

though a pound lump of that fame metal is fa

long able to relift their violence. That thefe

particles offcent are ofan equal (exactly equal)

fpecificgravity with the particles of the air, is

demonftrated by the falling and rifmg of them

in juft proportion to it. I have often fmiled

at haily Huntfmen, to hear them rating and

curiing their dogs (thatyefterday were the beft

in England) for galloping and flaring, with

their nofes in the air, as if their game was

flown ; for often does it happen that it is in

vain for them to feek after the fcent in any

other place, the increafing weight of that

fluid element having wafted it over their

heads. Though, even at fuch a feafon, after

the firfl: mettle and fury of the cry is fome-

thing abated, the more fteady Beagles may

make a fhift to pick it out by the particles

left by the brufli of her feet, efpecially if

there be not a ftrong, drying, exhaling wind

to hurry thefe away after the reft. This

often happens in a calm, gentle, fteady froft,

when, as I conceive, the purity, coldnefs,

or, perhaps, the nitre of the air, ferves to

fix and preferve the i^w remaining particles,

that they do not eafily corrupt. At ano-

tlier

Uare Hunting'. 69

ther feafon, when the air is light, or grow-
ing lighter, the fcent mufl proportionably
be falling or finking, and then every Dog,
though, in the height of his courage, he
pufhes forwards, yet is forced to come
back again and again, and cannot make any
fure advances, but with his nofe in the
ground. When circumftances are thus, (if
there be not a ftorm of thunder impending
to corrupt the fcent, as I faid before,) you
may expe6l the moil curious and lafling
fport ; Pufs having then a fair opportunity
to fliew her wiles, and every old or flow
Dog to come in for his fliare, to difplay his
experience, the fubtilty of his judgment,
and the tendernefs of his noflrils. The moft
terrible day for the Hare is, when the air is
in its mean gravity, or equilibrio, tolerable
moift, but inclining to grow drier, and fan-
ned with the gentle breezes of the zephyrs :
the moderate gravity buoys up the fcent as
high as the Dog's breafl ; the veficles of
moifture ferve as fo many canals, or ve-
hicles, to carry the effluvia into their nofes ;
and the gentle fannings help, in fuch wife,
to fpread and difTipate them, that every
F 3 Hound,

f0 Ohfervatiom on

Jiound, even at eight or ten paces diilant^
efpecially on the windy fide, may have his
portion,

I adviie all Gentlemen who delight in
hunting, to provide themfelves with a ba*-
rometer, or weather ^-glafs. I am forry to
fay, that this inilrviment, though a fine in-r
vention, is flill imperfectly underftood by
the Philofopher as well as the Farmer; ^nd
the index generally aqnexed to it, of rain,
fair, fettled fair, &;;c, are impertinent and
delulive. If the gravity of the air is the
caufe of drought, the latter fhould he in
proportionate degrees with the former ; and
yet we fee the fudden, or extraordinary ri-
fing of the mercury a fure prognoflick of
^n approaching change ; we fee it often
continue to fall after the rain is over, and
we rpay generally obferve the mofl fettled
fair^ and the greateffc rains, both happen
when it is in a moderate height, By the
accounts I have kept, the mercury is com.,
monly at the highefl marks in dull cloudy
weather, yet does it often fall a great deal
fafl:er before a few drops or a dry mifl:, than
^n impetuous rain -, and even continue to do

fo

Hare Hunting, *^t

(o after a hard rain Is over : and what Is more
common than to fee it defcend many days
together, to ]the terror of the Hufbandman,
in hay or corn harveft ; when the confe-
quence, at laft, is only a few drops, weighty
enough to defcend, though the air was in its
utmoft degree of gravity, and the mercury
at thirty-one inches. The vulgar folutions
of thefe difficulties are infufficient and puz-
zling, and veiy inconfifhent with avowed
principles : and, in my humbly opinion,
there will never appear a certain and fatis-
fadiory account of thefe perplexing phaenor-
mena, till fome fage Naturaliil fhall give
himfelf the trouble of a more full and com-
plete Diary, than as yet has been published ;
where, together with the degrees of the ba-
rometer, thermpmeter, and hygrometer, fhall
be taken in, in diilincS columns, the time
of the year, the length of the days, the age
of the moon, th^ fituation of the wind,
with, its degrees of roughnefs, the colours
of the clouds at fun rifing and fetting, the
manner of flying, chattering, or flocking of
birds, and divers other concurring tokens
^nd fymptoms, which may be of great ufe,
F 4 in

'fl Obfervations on

in conjundiion with the faid inftruments, to
fettle and confirm our prognoftication .. In
the mean time it muft be confefTed, that
this ingenious machine is of great ufe to
the obfervant Huntfman ; and when he rifes-
in the morning, and finds the air molft and
temperate, the quickfilver in his glafs mo-
derately high, or gently convex, he has a
fair invitation to prepare for his exercife.
I know it is a cuftom with our juvenile
Sportfmeii to fix the time two or three days
before hand to meet a friend, or to-, hunt
in fdch or fuch a quarter. But appointed
matches of this kind are my averfion and
abhorrence: he that will enjoy the pleafures
of the chace, mull afk leave of the Heavens.
Hunting is a trade that is not to be forced,
nor can the beft Cry that ever was coupled,
make any thing of it, unlefs the air be in
tune.

The earthialfo hath no fmall influence on
this delicious paftime ; for, though it fome-
times happens (according to the obfer-
vation above) that the fcent is floating, fo
that you may run down a Hare through water
and mire, efpecially if you keep pretty clofe

after

Hare Hunting] y^

after her, without the trouble of ftjopingj
yet, at fuch a feafon, the firft fault is the
lofs of your Game ; the perfpirations of her
body being wafted over head by the gravity
of the air, and thofe of her feet being left on
elements that abforb or confound them.
This laft cafe very often happens at the
going off of a froft; the mercury is then
commonly falling, and by confequence the
fcent finking to the ground. The earth is
naturally on fach occafion fermenting, dif-
folving, {linking, exhaling, and very po-
rous, fo that it is impoffible but moft of the
particles mufl: then be corrupted, buried,
or overcome by ilronger vapours. It is
common to hear the vulgar fay, fhe carries
dirt in her heels ; but that is not all, it being
very plain, by what has been obferved, that
it is not only by the fcent of the foot fhe is
fo eagerly purfued. The mention of froft
puts me in mind of a particular obfervatiorx
of my own making, that may be ufeful or
diverting to my Brethren of the Chace :
You all make it a great part of your plea-
fure to hunt out the walk of a Hare to her
feat, and doubtlefs you have often been fur-

prizingly

^74 Ohferi}atiom on

prizingly difappolnted on fuch occafions.
You have many times been able to hunt the
fame walk in one part of the fields and not
in another ; you have hunted the fame walk
at ten or eleven, which gave the leafl fcent
2t {even in the morning ; and, which is moft
provoking and perplexing of all, you have
often been able to hunt it only at the wrong
end, or backwards : after many hours won-
der and expectation, cherifliing your Dogs,
and curfing your fortune, you are in truth
never fo far from your Game as when your
hunt is warmeft. All thefe accidents are
only the effed: of the hoar-froft, or very
grofs dew, (for they never happen other^
wife,) and from thence mufl the miracle be
accounted for *.

I have already proved that a thaw tends
to corrupt the particles, and have as good

* " In the winter there is no fcent early in the morning-
»* when there is either an hoar-frofl or a hard froft ; the hoar-
'* froil, by its force, contracts and contains all the wariii,
■*« particles in itfelf, and the harder froft congeals them.
^f In thefe cafes, the Dogs with the moft tender nofes cannot
** touch before the fun difpels them, and the day is ad-
"" vanced ; then the Dogs can fmell, and the trail yields a
f^ fcent as it evaporate? ." Xenqphon*

reafon

Hare Hunting. y§

reafon to maintain that the froft fixes, covers,
and preferves them. Whether this is done
by intercepting their afcent, and precipitating
them to the ground by the grofs particles
of frozen dew, or whether by flieathmg
them and protetfting them from the pene-
trating air, (as the good Wives preferve
their potted meats and pickles,) I leave to
the Learned ^ but the fac^s are certain, and
confirmed by experience. We have, there^
fore, only to take notice, by the way, that
the hoar-froft is very often of fhort conti-
nuance, changeable, and uncertain, both as
to its time and place of failing i and hence
all thefe difficulties are eafily refolved. Let
the Huntfman, as foon as he is out of bed,
^xaminQ but the glafs windows, which
commonly difcover whether any hoar-frofl
has fallen, what time it came, and in what
condition of continuance, or going off, it
is for the prcfent. If it appears to have
fallen at two, three, or four in the morn-
ing, (fuppofe in the month of October,
and other times of the year mufl be judged
of by proportion,) and to be going off
about break of day, it may then be expected

tha^

7 6 Ohfervations on

that there will be a great difficulty, or im-
poffibility, of trailing to her feat, becaufe
her morning retreat being on the top of the
frozen dew, the fcent is either dilfolved, or
corrupted, or diffipated, and exhaled. It is
true, after fuch a night, the Dogs will find
work in every field, and often hunt in full
cry, but it will be generally backward, and
always in vain ; her midnight ramblings,
which were covered by the froft, being now
open, frefh, and fragrant. If the faid froft
begins later in the morning, after Pufs is
ieated, there is nothing to be done till that
is gone off, and this is the reafon that we
often fee the whole pack picking out a walk
at nine or ten in the fame path where Sweet-
lips herfelf could not touch at feven. Again,
if the froft began early enough, and con-
tinues fteadily till you are gotten into the
fields, you may then make it good to her
feat, as well as at other times on naked
ground, though you muft exped: to run a
good rifque at the going off of the frolf,
according to the obfervations already laid
down.

It is alfo to be remembered, that there

is

Hare Hunting. jj

is no fmall accidental difference in the very
particles of fcent ; I mean that they are
Wronger, fweeter, or more diftinguifhable
at one time than at another^ and that this
difference is found not only in divers, but
often in the fame individual creature, ac-
cording to the changes of the air, or the
ibil, as vv^ell as of her own motions or con-
ditions. That there is a different fcent in
other animals of the fame fpecies, is evi-
dent from the draught Hounds, which were
formerly made ufe of for tracing and pur-
fuing Thieves and Deer- Healers, or rather
from any common Cur or Spaniel, which
will hunt out their mafter, or their mailer's
horfe diflind:ly from all others : and that it
is the fame with the Hare is no lefs vifible
from the old Beagles, which will not rea-
dily change for a freih one, unlefs fhe (tarts
in view, or unlefs a fault happens that puts
them in confuiion, and inclines them \n
defpair to take up with the next they can
come by.

That the fame Hare will, at divers times,
emit iiner or groHer particles, is equally
manifeft to cverv one who fhall obferve the

frequent

^8 Ohfer-^afiGHs on

fre(}uent changes in one fingle chace, ttie
alterations that enfue on any different motion^
and on her degrees of finking. The courfing
of a Cur Dog, or the fright from an obvious
pafTenger, is often the occalion of an unex-
pected fault i and, after fuch an accident,
the Dogs muft be cherifhed, and be put
upon it again and again, before they will
take it and acknowledge it for their game.
The reafon is, as I conceive, the change of
the motion caufes a change in the perfpiring
particles, and as the fpirits of the Dogs are
all engaged and attached to particles of luch
or fuch a figure, it is with difficulty they
come to be fenfible of, or attentive to, thole
of a different relifh. You will pardon the
expreffion, if I compare old Jouler> in this
cafe, to a Mathematician, who is fo intent
on the long perplexing ambages of the
problem before him, that he hears not the
clock or bell that fummons him to a new
employment. The alterations in a yielding
Hare are lefs frequently the occafion of
faults, becaufe they are more gradual, and,
like the fame rope, infenfibly tapering and
growing fmaller. But that alterations there

are

Hare Huntings J'gf

are every Dog- boy knows by the old Hounds,
which ftill purfue with greater earneftnefs,,
as fhe is nearer her end^ **"

I take motion to be the chief caufe of
fhedding or difcharging thefe fcenting par-
ticles, becaufe fhe is very feldom perceived
whilfl: quiet in her form, though the Dogs
are never fo near, though they leap over
her, or, as I have often feen, even tread
upon her. Indeed, it fometimes happens
that fhe is, as we fay, winded where fhe
fits. But this may be the effedt of that
train of fcent fhe left behind her in going to
her chair, or more probably the confequencs
of her own curioiity, in moving, and fifing
up, (as I have alfo feen,) to peep after and
Watch the proceedings of her adverfaries*
However, we mufl grant that thefe particles
of fcent, though the effecft of motion, are
not more grofs and copious in proportion to
the increafmg fwiftnefs of the animal, any
more than in a watering-pot, which the
fwifter it pafles, the lefs of the falling
water it beflows on tlie lubjacent plants.

It is very plain, the flower the Hare
moves, the ftronger and groffer, ceteris pa^

ribus^

So Ohfervations on

rlbus, are thefe particles fhe leaves behind
her, which I take to be one reafon (befides
the cloathing and Shielding of them from
the penetrating air by the defcending froil
or dew) that the morning walk will give
fcent * fo much longer than the flight in
hunting. However, it is as remarkable,
that theie odorous particles gradually decay
and end with her life "f-, becaufe it requires
the moil: curious nofes to lead the cry when
fhe is near her laft i becaufe flie is fo often
entirely loffc at the laft fquat, and becaufe,
if you knock her on the head before them,
there is hardly one in the Pack that will
ftop or take any notice of her.

The greateft art and curioHty is difco-
vered in hunting the foil, efpecially if fhe
immediately fteal back behind the Dogs the

* '* The fcent of the trail of the Hare going to her feat
** lafts longer than that of her courfe when purfued : when
** (he goes to her feat Ihe goes flowly, often ftanding flill ;
*' but her courfe, when purfued, is performed running ;
" therefore the ground is faturated with one, and not filled
•* with the other." Xenophon.

f This obfervation, which my own experience convinces
me is juft, the Reader will find direftly contradifted in the
fubfecjuent letters. See Letter VI.

fame

Mare Hunting. 8 1

fame path flie came \ for it muft require
the utmoft fkill to diftinguifli well the new
fcent from the old, when both are mixed,
obfcured^ and confounded with the ftrong
perfpirations of fo many Dogs and Horfes,
Yet this we have often feen performed by
ready and expert Hunters. However, if
the Dogs be not mailers of their bufmefs, or
if the air be not in due balance, the diffi-
culty will be the greater.

The Reader will obferve, that the remarks
I have made are generally on the Hare,
which, I have faid, is of all others mofl
worthy of our fpeculation and enquiry.
By analogy the hunting the Deer or Fox
will be eafily underftood \ for, though the
fcent of thefe is generally higher, more ob-
vious to the nofes of the Dogs, and in greater
plenty whilfl the particles laft, yet, for that
very reafon (floating in the air), they are
fooner diffipated, and require a more vi-
gorous, though lefs fubtile, Huntfman, as
well as fwifter Beao^les,

G Hounds,'

[ S2 1

Hounds.

MY learned: Predeceflbrs have been Ca
full and copious in defcriptions of
theft Animals, in dire(5tions for mending
and improving the Breed,, in giving advice
for chuling, pairing,, kenneling, feeding,
phyficking, entering, governing, encou-
raging, and corre6ling the loud-tongued
Society, that there is little left for a new
Author, without repetition or impertinence.
Let me only admire and adore the goodnefs
of our bountiful Father, in furnifhing his
children with creatures fo innocently, as
well as healthfully, to divert them, in fup-
plying us with forces for fubduing and de-
flroying thofe beafts of rapine, which would
otherwife multiply, to the great dillurbance,
danger, and deftrudion of the reft of the
Creation.

It is a common pradice of our young
Students in Philofophy, (for ufe or for di-

verfion,)

Obfer'Datmts on Hounds, 83

verlion,) either for the love of knowledge,
or of mifchief, to fteal or lay hold of their
neighbours Dogs, in order to diffed: them.
We may hear them often difplaying their
fkill, with pert eloquence ; boafting of
their difcoveries In the circulation of the
blood, the contexture of the mufcles, the
progrefs of the nerves, veins, and arteries,
and learnedly difcanting on the glands or
ftrainers, the imperceptible duds of the
la(5teals, as well as the fpiral motion of the
bowels. To fuch I recommend a little
farther and more particular enquiry into the
fpecial formation of thefe creatures. Let
them employ their knives, their glafTes,
and their pens, to dcfcribe to us ignorant
Country 'Squires the organs of found, as
well as fcent, in this domeftic animal we
iid much delight in. I leave to thefe curious
Vfrtuoii to delineate the lamina of the
Beagles nofes, with thofe innumerable ol-
fa<5tory tubes and pores of all lizes and''
figures, that are fpread over or pafs through
them. Let them nicely invefllgate thofe
minute fibres which compofe their lunfs,
trachea, lips, and palate; thofe veiTels
G 2 which

§4 Obfervations on

which qualify them to emit a voice fo fweef
and cheerful, fo proper to give notice of
their difcoveries to their mafter, as well a?
to call together their ftraggling companions,-
to unite their forces.

But there is a queftion or two which have
been fometimes put me by my inquilitive'
Brethren, to which I think it incumbent
upon me in this place to give an anfwer.

Firfl, I have been alked, what or how
many different forts of thefe Animals of
Chace were originally created ? What were
thofe iirfl: kinds, out of which fo many
packs of innumerable fliapes, tongues, fizes,
and colours, may be fuppofed to be pro-
duced ?

My anfwer is fhort and plain, yet fome-=
thing fuller than the queftions require :
That, in my opinion, not only all Hounds
or Beagles, but all Dogs whatfoever, even
from the terrible Boar Dog to the little
Flora, are all one in the firft Creation ; that
every virtue and faculty, fize or fliape,
which we find or improve in every Dog
upon earth, were originally comprehended
in the iirlt parents of the fpecies; and that

^ all

Hounds, S§

al! this variety we behold in them. Is either
the natural produ(5t of the climate, or the
accidental effed: of foil, food, or fituation,
or very frequently the ilTue of human care,
curiofity, or caprice. Every Huntfman
knows that a vaft alteration may be made in
his breed, as to tongue, heels, or colour,
by induftricufly improving the fame blood
for twenty or thirty years ; and what nature
can do, (which wifely tends jto render every
kind of creature fit for the pountry where
it is to inhabiit, or be employed,) is ma-
nifeft by this : that a couple of right
Southern Hounds, removed to the Nprth,
and fuffered to propagate, without art or
mixture, in a hilly mountainous country,
where the air is light and thin, will, by fen-
iible degrees, decline and degenerate into
lighter bodies, and fliriller voices, if not
rougher coats. The like alterations may
be obferved in the breeds of fl^eep, horfes,
and other cattle, and indeed in every other
fpecies fubjed to the art and inrerefl: of man,
and employed to generate at his choice and
humour. Even in thofe animals that are
feckoned ,am.ong the fera natiira, every
G 3 traveller

86 Ohjervations on

traveller bears witnefs of a rcniarkable dif-
ference, and I hope the Reader will pardon
the comparifon if I affirm the fame of man
himfelf.

That we are all, of every nation and lan-
guage, the fons of Adam, we have the tef-
t«mony of God, which to honell: Hunters
(who are generally of the orthodox party)
is of fufficient authority. As to Doubters
and Sceptics, I refer them to the ancient
Poets, Hiflorians, and Geographers, who
will foon fupply them with innumerable
arguments and obfervations which unan-
fwerably demonflrate thg novelty of the
world, the migration of colonies, the gra-
dual peopling of the earth, and the pro-
pagating and fpreading of the human fpecies
from one and the fame original ; and yet
what an incredible and monftrous variety
is rifen among us, in humour and con-
ftitution, as well as fhape and colour ?
Who could imagine the thick-lipped Ethio-
pian, wool-pated Negroe, the blink-eyed
Chinefe, the ftately Spaniard, and the dap-
per Frenchman, tq be of the fame pa-
rentage ? Or, tQ go no farther thp.n our own

natioi^

Hounds, ^y

nation and dimate, how Improbable may it
feem that the fafhionable Nymph, who is
not able to make a vifit of thirty yards with-
out a chair or eoach, a 'Squire to lead her,
or a cane to fupport her, fhould be caft in
the fame mo^.ild with the Farmer's Daughter ?
Or that the flurdy Champions of Queen
Befs's days, ihould be but the great grand-
fathers of that puny race, which is to be
feen fwarming in all modern public Affem*
blies, unlefs it be at Church ?

But is there not a more fubftantial dif-
tindion between Curs and Greyhoiinds,
Turnfpits and Beagles ? I can hardly grant
it ; or, if there be, it will be ealily ac-
counted for by the confiderations above, by
giving jufl allowance for food and climate,
by remembering that thefe animals are fre-
quent breeders, that they generate at the
choice and difcretion of their mafters, that
the fancy or curiolity of the fbns of men
have been five thoufand years mixing and
altering, improving or fpoiling them. Th^
Butcher fends for the famous Dog with the
filver collar to couple with his favourite,
and rears up the whelp with blood and
G 4 garbage.

88 Ohferisatlom on

garbage, to increafe the valour and flrength
of this progeny. The Huntfman nourifhes
his clofe-begotten Utter with ilieeps trotters,
to Invigorate their heels, and Belinda gives
her little Oronoko brandy, to make him
good for nothing but to look on, to con-
trad his growth into a petit epitome of her
tres beau Philander.

But, notwithflanding the effeds of hu-^
man induftry and contrivance are thus great
and numerous, yet they are not infinite j;
there is flill a ne plus to which they are
llinted, nor can all our devices add one new
fpecies to the works of the Creation. Na-
ture is flill uniform as to the main ^ the Al-
mighty Creator is not to be imitated by
fhort-handed mortals : in fpite of art our
mules will all be barren -, nor can the mofl
cunning projector produce one amphigeneous
animal that will increafe and multiply.
There appears a difcind; fpeciiic diiference
in all living creatures ; the Horfe, the Dog,
the Bear, the Goat, however diverfified by
art or accident in fize. or figure, will ever
difcover fomething that appropriates to them
thofe names or characters j and, above all

other

Hounds, S9

other things, the peculiar appetites and
powers of generation will prompt them to
own and indicate their relation. This, I
conceive, is the moft undeniable argument
that all Dogs are of one original fpecies,
iince every body knows that no deformity,
difproportion, or diflimilitude, can hinder
any one of that name from courting, fol-
lowing, or accepting the other, nor their
mongrel offspring from enjoying the com-
mon nature and faculties of the fpecies.

But, admitting the diftlndlions of Hounds,
Beagles, &c. as they commonly ftand, I
have been alfo confulted what particular
forts I would recommend for each particular
Game in this illand, For the Deer, the
Fox, the Otter, &c. every Sportfman knows
the breed that is moil proper j but as each
o^ them, with a little application, will joy-
fully follow the fweet fcented Hare, the
query is, what kind is preferable for that
delightful e:?cerci.ie ?

The moil fatisfadory reply to every Hunter
is, that his own kind is bed i but fuch as
are fetting up a new cry, I would advlfe to
begin to breed on the mlddle-fize Dogs.,

betwixt

90 Ohfervatiom on

betwixt the Southern Hound and the North-
ern Beagle. It is true, the finefl: and moil
curious fport is generally with the former.
Whether it be the particular formation of
their long trunks, or the extraordinary
moifture that alv/ays cleaves to the nofes
and lips of thefe fort of Dogs, I need not
enquire in this place, but certain it is that
thev are endued with the moil accurate fenfc
of fmelling, and can often take and diilin-
guilh the fcent an hour after the lighter
Beagles can make nothing of it. Their
flownefs alfo better difpofes them to receive
the commands and dirediions of the Huntf-
man, and their much phlegm, (for there
feems to be a difference in the coniliitutions
of other animals as well as man,) I fay,
their phlegm gives them patience to pro-
ceed with caution and regularity, to make
fure of every ilep as they go, carefully to
defcribe every indenture, to unravel each
puzzling trick or figure. But thefe grave
fort of Dogs are however fitteft for mafiers
of the fame temper : as they are able to hunt
in cold fcent, they are too apt to make it
fo, by their want of fpeed and vigour to pufh

forwards^

Hounds, 91

fbrward, and keep it warm; their exadtnefs
often renders them trifling and tedious; and
they are like feme nice Dames, who fland
picking out every duft and mote, whilft they
might drefs the meat. By this means, though
the hunt be finer, yet the prey (which is by
feme thought necelTary to complete the
fport) very often efcapes, the length of the
chace takes up the time, and expofes them to
numerous hazards of loling.

The North Country Beagle is nimble and
■vigorous, and does his bufinefs as furioufly
as Jehu himfelf can wifh him : he purfues
Pufs with the moil impetuous eagernefs,
gives her no time to breathe or double, and,
if the fcent lies high, will ealily demolish
a lealh, or two brace, before dinner *. But

f All other kind of Hounds are now entirely laid aUdc
by thofe who afFeft to hunt in ftyle, though Somerville gives
his teftimony againft this pradtice in the following animated
lines :

** A different Hound for every different chace
" Seledl with judgment, nor the timorous Hare
•* O'er-match'd deflroy, but leave that vile offence
" To the mean, murderous, courling crew, intent
** On blood and fpoil ; O blafl their hopes, jufl Heaven '. '*

SomervilLe's Chace,

this

92 OhfervaftoriiWr

this is too much, too fhort, and violent^
nor is fuch fuccefs often to be expedted.
For though this kind of Dogs are much in
requeft among our younger Gentry, who take
out-running and out-riding their neighbours
to be the heft part of the fport ; yet it would
make one lick to be out with them in a
crofs morning, when the walk lies back-
ward, or the fcent low or falling. The
Huntfman rates, the Groom rides, the
^Squire fwears, the whips crack; war-wing,
war-counter, war-{heep, p — take ye, the
d— 1 had ye, is the burden of their mufick.
Their high mettle makes them impatient
to drive the nail as it will go, rather than
flay to creep or Hoop, they pufh forward, at
every fume they catch, they crofs it, over-
run it, hunt backward, or hunt any thing
to force a trade : in fhort, in my opinion, it
is impolTible to make a good pack of thefe,
without the conflant difcipline of the whip,
without perpetually hunting them, and
hunting them down to tame their fury, and
quench their fire.

There is yet another fort in great favour
with fmall Gentry, becaufe they eat but

little :

lIoun<is, ■^J

little : tKefe, as their nofes are very tender
and not far from the ground, I have often
feen to make tolerable fport; but without
great care they are flirting ahd maggotty,
and very apt to chaunt and chatter on any
or no occalion : a rabbit, moufe, or weefel,
will pleafe them inftead of lawful game;
and, in truth, it is feldom they underftand
(if I may ufe thatexpreflion) their bufinefs,
or perform their office with judgment or
difcretion.

The mixture of all, or any of thefe, I

fhould judge to be better, efpecially if a dif-

tinguifhable portion of Southern blood be

remaining in their veins. The managing

the litters I muft leave to the difcretion of

the 'Squire and his man. But I know by

experience a race may be produced, that, by

running with lefs fpeed, will furer and

fooner arrive at the. end j a race that carry

with them a good fhare of the nofe and ilea-

dinefs of the deep curtails, the vigour and

activity of the chackling Beagle; the

itrength and toughnefs of the right Buck

Hound, and the tuneful voices that are a

compound of all ; but enough of this.

The

[ 94 J

The Horse.

TH E Horfe I take to be very neceiTary
furniture towards the pleafure of
Hunting; for though I have heard of won-
derful performances among boafting Foot-
men, I could never yet fee any creature on
two legs keep in with the Dogs. But as
every Groom, and moft Gentlemen, arc
well acquainted with the ufe, properties,
excellencies, and management of this noble
beaft, I fhall offer very little on this beaten
fubje(3: ; only let it be obferved, that not eve-
ry good and fleet Horfe is always a good
Hunter : for he may have ftrength and vi-
gour for a long journey, and yet not be able
to bear the fhocks and trainings of a chace;
another may be fwift enough to win a plate
on a fmooth turf, which yet will be crippled
or heart-broken by one Hare in February.
The right Hunter ought to have ftrength
without weight, courage without fire, fpeed

without

Ohfervations on Horfes. 95

without labour, a free breath, a ftrong
walk, a nimble, lights but a large gallop,
and a fweet trot, to give change and eafe to
the more fpeedy mufcles. The marks moft
likely to difcover a Horfe of thefe proper-
ties are, a vigorous, fanguine, and healthy
colour, a head and neck as light as poffible,
whether handfome or not, a quick moving
eye and ear, clean wide jaws and nofl:rils>
large thin fhoulders, and high withers,
deep cheft, and fhort back, large ribs, and
wide pinbones, tail high and ftiff, gafkins
well fpread, and buttocks lean and hard :
above all, let his joints be ftrong and firm,
and his legs and pafterns ihort; for I be-
lieve there was never yet a long limber-
legged Horfe that was able to gallop down
iieep hills, and take bold leaps with a
weight upon his back, without finking or
foundering.

As to all matters of feeding, phyficking,
airing, &c. I refer you to the more expert
Grooms, or the learned Dod:ors of the
Hammer and Pincers. But, as my way in
ordering my fteeds is to confult ufe rather
than ornament, I always keep them in the

open

^6 OBJervations on Horfes^

open air, unlefs the night after a hard chacC t
I allow them two or three acres of pafture
to cool their bellies, and ftretch their limbs,
with a warm hovel to flielter them from a
ftorm, a rack, and manger, with proper
provilions to keep them in heart, and a frefh
fjpring of water in the fame iield, to quench
their thiril. I have known a gelding, with
this regimen, to be found, frefh, and in
full vigour, after ten years the hardefl: hunt-
ing ; and I dare promife him that fhall try<
to find fuch a one as far beyond the fine-
cloathed, thin-fkinned Courfer, cateris
paribus, as a rough Plowman is fitter for
bufinefs than a foft-handed Beau.

Huntsman,

t 97 3

Huntsman*

IT IS common enough with our youtlg
'Squires to take the firft wide-throatfed
Attendant that offers his fervice, and make
him his Huntfman, imagining the green
coat will qualify him for the ojEhce^ as fome
fet themfelves for Dodlors, with no othef
recommendation but large eye-brows, and
a fet of loud-founding polyfyllabIes»

But, as every wood will not make a Mer-
cury, much lefs is he fit for a Huntfmaii
who is not born with a natural caft and rea«
dinefs of mind, and has not improved thoie
talents by long fludy, obfervation, and ex-
perience.

I once had the pleafure of a long con-
verfation with a very ingenious learned Gen-
tleman, then feventy years old. Having
himfelf hunted with all forts of Dogs, and
in moll: of the counties in England, he en-
tertained me with a moft delightful difcourfe
H on

gS Obfervatkm on

on that fubje£l, and, upon my making hirct
a compliment on his perfect knowledge in^
the art, " Oh, Sir," (fays he,) '' the life
" of man is too fhort." This fage decla-
ration was received as a jeft by fome of the
company, but I have lince found it a ferious
truth. I am an old man myfelf, the wiles-
of the Hare have been all along the fludy of
my leifure hours, and yet I am puzzled and-
outwitted by the fubtil creature. When I
think myfelf fure, fhe often puts fome un-
expefted trick upon me, and hardly do I
ever lofe her in tolerable fcenting weather^
but, like a General after the lofs of a battle,
I can afterwards difcern that it was the ef-
fect of fome overlight, or want of pro-
vilion for fuch or fuch a contingency. For
the conqueft of a Hare, like that of an
cnemy^, does not depend on vigorous attacks
or purfuits, but there are a hundred acci-
dents to which the fuccefs of the field is ob-
noxious, and v/hich ought always to be in
the head of the Huntfman, if he would
come oiF with glory.

It is not enough, with good judgment,
to cliufe our forces, to raife their courage

v/ith.

Hunffmen, 99

with wholefome food and frequent exhorta-
tions, and to make them fubjed: to the
word of command by confcant difcipline
and exerclfe, but in time of aftion we
ought to be armed with calmnefs snd pre-
fence of mind, to obferve the various mo-
tions and flratagems made ufe of to defeat
us, and furnifhed with prudent forefight
and provifion for every new emergency to
which the fortune of the day is fubjeft.
We muft never forget that every Hare (as
we fay of Fencers) has her particular play;
that, however, that play is occaiioned or
changed according to the variation of wind
and weather, the weight of the air, the
nature of the ground, and the degrees of
eagernefs with which fhe is purfued. Nor
are we to be unmindful of the numerous ac-
cidents fne may meet with in her way, to
turn her out of her courfe, to cover her
flight, to quicken her fpeed, or to furnifh
her with an opportunity of new devices.
I fay, it is not enough to have a general
knowledo-e of thefe thino;s before the Game
is ftarted, but in the heat of adion, when
we are moll tempted to be in raptures with
H 2 the

100 Ohfervations on

the found of the horns *, the melody of the
cry, and the expecftation of fuccefs, we
mufl carry them in our heads ; every fiiep
we make we muft calmly obferve the al-
terations of foil, the pofition of the wind,
the time of the year, and no lefs take no-
tice with what fpeed fhe is driven, how far
fhe is before, to what place fhe tends ; whe-
ther ihe is likely to keep on forward, or to
turn fhort behind -, whether flie has not
been met by paffengers, frightened by curs,
intercepted by fheep j whether an approach-
ing florm, a riling wind, a fudden blaft of
the fun, the going off of the frofl, the re-
petition of foiled ground, the decay of her
own ftrength, or any other probable turn of
affairs, has not abated or altered the fcent.

There are other things flill no lefs ne-
ceflary to be remembered than the former ;
as the particular quality and charader of
each Dog ; whether the prefent Leaders are

* I am at a lofs to conceive why this noble appendage
toHuntiiig is entirely difufed in this age of expence. Per-
haps the French horn may be inconvenient in a Fox chace,
b«t furely would be a pleafmg addition to a good pack of

Harriers.

net

Huntfmen. loi

not apt to over-run it ; which are moft in-
clined to ftand upon the double ; which are
to be depended on in the highway, on the
ploughed ground, or a bare turf, in an
uncertain fcent, in the croffing of frefli
game, through a flock of ilieep, upon the
foil or ftole-back. The fize alfo and
iirength of the Hare will make a difference ;
nor mufl the Hounds themfelves be fol-
lowed fo clofely, or fo loudly cherifhed
when frefh and vigorous, as after they have
run oflf their fpeed and mettle, and begin
to be tired,

I would advife a young Huntfman, when
the fcent lies well, always to keep himfelf
pretty far behind. At fuch a time, efpe-
cially if it be againft the v/ind, it is impof-
lible for the poor Hare to hold it forward ;
nor has fhe any trick or refuge for her life,
but to flop fhort by the way, or path, and,
when all are paflr, to ileal immediately
back, which is often the occafion of an ir-
recoverable fault, in the midfl of the
warmefl fport and expectations, and is the
beil trick the poor Hare has for her life m,
fcenting weather -, whereas, if the Huntf-r
H ^ man

1012 Obfervations on

man were not too forward, he would have
the advantage of feeing her ileal off, and
turning her afide, or more probably the
pleafure of the Dogs returning and thrufting
her up in view.

It is very common for the fleet Dog to be
the great favourite, though it would be
much better if he was hanged, or exchanged.
Be a Dog in his own nature ever fo good,
yet he is not good in that pack that is too
flow for him. There is mofl: times work
enough for every one of the train, and
every one ought to bear his part; but this
is impoffible for the heavy ones to do, if
they are run out of breath by the unpropor-
tionable fpeed of a light-heeled leader. For
it is not enough that they are able to keep
up, which a true Hound will labour hard
for, but they mufl: be able to do it with
eafe, with retention of breath and fpirits,
and with their tongues at command. It
mufl: never be expeded that the indentures
of the Hare can be well covered, or her
doubles flruck off, (nor is the fport worth a
farthing,) if the Harriers run yelping in a
long firing, like Deer or Fox Hounds.

Another

Hunt [men, lo^

Another thing I would advlfe my friends,
is to hang up every liar and chanter, not
fparing even thofe that are filly and trifling,
w^ithout nofe or fagacity. It is common
enough in numerous kennels to keep fome
for their mufic or beauty, but this is per-
fe<flly wrong. It is a certain maxim that
every Dog which does no good, does a
great deal of hurt ; they ferve only to foil
the ground, and confound the fcent; to
fcamper before and interrupt their betters in
the moil difficult points. And I may ven-
ture to affirm, by long experience, that four
or five couple, all good and trujfly Hounds,
will do more execution than thirty or forty,
where a third of them are eager and head-
flrong, and, like coxcombs among men,
noify in doing nothing.

Above all I abhor joining with flrangers,
for this is the way to fpoil and debauch the
flanchefl Hounds, to turn the beft-mettled
into mad-headed gallopers, liars and chat-
terers, and to put them on nothing but out-
running their rivals, and over-running the
fcent. The emulation of leading (in Dogs
and their Mailers) has been the utmoft
ruin of many a good cry. Nor are flrangs
H 4 Huntf-

>e4 Obfervatms on Uunffmen,

Huntfmen of much better confequence than
ilrange companions; for as the ilvill and
excellence of thefe animals confifl: in ufe and
habit, they fhould always be accuftomed to
the fame voice, the fame notes, or hollow-
Ings, and the fame terms of chiding, che-
riihiag, preffing, or recalling ,* nor fhould
the country fellows be allowed, in their
tranfports, to extend their throats,

It will be taken ill if I iliould alfo fpeak
againft the change of game, becaufe mer^
'Squires would be at a great lofs to kill
fome of their time, had they nothing to
Jdll, when Hares are out of feafon. How-.
ever*, I am well fatisfied that the beft Har-r-
riers are thofe that know no other. Nor is
it advifeable to let them change for a frefli
Hare, as long as they can poffibly follow the
pld I nor to take oif their nofes from the
fcent they are upon, for the cutting fhorter
or gaining of ground. This laft is the
common trick with Pothunters ; but as it is
Vinfiir, and barbarous to the Hare, fo you will
feldom find it of advantage to the Hounds,

^ *^ They ftiould never be fufFered to hunt Foxes, which
**■ does them the greateft harm, and they are never ftanch
'f wlieii there is occafion for it. ' ' — X e n o p h o n .

SIX

SIX LETTERS

UPON

HARE-HUNTING

[ 107 1

LETTER I.

TZ^Art^/^^Pleasure^ Hunting.

TH E fblicitatlons I have received fo
frequently from your Lordfliip to
give my fentiments on Hare-hunting, hath
at laft induced me to put pen to paper -, but
I muft defire you will coniider, that, as little
can be faid on the fubjed: with pofitive
truth and certainty, great part of v/hat I
fhall advance mufl be deemed matter of
conjecture; yet fuch as bears ftrong features
or refemblance of reality, being founded
chiefly on oblervations, made in a long
courfe of years and experience.

Moft perfons, I may venture to fay all, at
one or other time of life, are fond of fome
peculiar amufement. Your Lord/hip can-
not forget, in our fre(juent debates on diver-

fions.

io8 Art a?jd Tleafiire

fions, I have often declared Hare-hunting
has been mine. What contributed to my
liking it were, the early impreffions I re-
ceived in favour of the fport from a grand-
father and father, v^ho made it their particular
delight. I confefs to your Lordfliip the being
prejudiced fo much in its favour flill, that I
eileem few diverfions equal nor any pre-*
ferabie to it. The Buck, Stag, Hind, or
Fox chace, no doubt have their delights j
but of fuch fort as cannot heartily be en-
joyed, except by perfons of ample fortune
and circumftance, like your Lordfliip ; and
fuch indeed do, or feem chiefly to delight
in thofe fports, though many that purfue
them, on examination of their hearts, I dare
fay will be confcious they do it more from a
motive of affectation than real love.

A lover of Hunting almoil: every man is,
or would be thought; but twenty in the
field after a Hare, my Lord, find more de-
light and fincere enjoyment than one jn
twenty in a Fox chace, the former confifting
of an endlefs variety of accidental delights,
the latter little more than hard riding, the
pleafure of clearing fome dangerous leap,

the

ofliunting, 109

the pride of ftriding the befl Nag, and
ihewing fomewhat of the bold Horfeman,
and (equal to any thing) of being firft in at
the death, after a chace frequently from
county to county, and perhaps above half the
way out of fight or hearing of the Hounds.
So that, but for the name of Fox-hunting,
a man might as well mount at his ftable-
dtDor, and determine to gallop twenty miles
an end into another county. I do not doubt
but at the conclufion of fuch an imaginary
chace, if he came to his inn fafe, he would
enjoy all that firft and chief fatisfadion fe-
veral Gentlemen do in their hearts after a
Fox chace, from the happinefs of having
cleared many double ditches, five-bar gates,
and dangerous floughs, without the misfor-
tune of one broken rib, notwithftanding
two or three confounded falls in taking fly-
ing leaps.

After a Hare thefe accidents are not ufu-
ally met with -, the diveriion is of another
fort. When Pufs is ftarted, fhe feldom fails
to run a ring ; the firft is generally the worfl
(for horfe or foot) that may happen in the

whole

110 Art and Pleafure

whole hunt. For the fences * once leaped,
or the gates once opened, makes a clear paf-
fage oftentimes for every turn fhe takes af-
terwards.

The cafe is otherwife with Stag, Buck,
or Fox ; when either is on foot, ten to one,
after a few turns, if he does not take end
ways, and lead the keen Sportfman into con-
tinued new unexperienced dangers. If he is
unhorfed, there lies the hero of the day, un-
diftinguiflied, unafTifted; if not, he has the
pleafure at the end of the chace of finding
himfelf a dozen miles perhaps from his own
home.

The former of thefe advantages made a
noble Peer turn off the finefl: kennel Eng-
land boafted. The bell: of Conforts to this
day deplores her Silurian Prince, who, by a .
broken rib, was cut off in the flower of his
age.

Obferve the nimble Harrier, my Lord,
continues the double, on foot or horfeback,
according as age, ability, or fortune im-

* The fences being leaped can be of no ufe to thofe that -
follow ; he ihould have faid, broken down.

powers

af Hunting, 1 1 1

powers him, enjoys every note of the har-
mony, clofely purfues his pack, is feldom
thrown out of light or hearing, and, above
all, enjoys a hunt delightful, but not dan-
gerous,, as the Fox chace, moderate, but
not fo laborious, in the courfe of which his
fatisfa(5lion is in no fmall degree heightened
(whether he purfues, crofTes, or guards the
foil,) by the frequent views of the Game.

How quick the blood circulates in the
vigorous youth, and, at the unexpected fight
of the Hare, how nimbly pants the heai^t
with furprifing tranfports, till then unfelt ?
How are the fpirits cheared, the long con-
gealed blood warmed of limping age, the
memorable exploits of twenty-fix brought
full into view, and feebly mimicked at
threefcore and ten ? How are both young
and old loft in delightful enchantments,
when Pufs has balked the Dogs, dropt the
Pack, and on fome rifing hillock plays in
fight her little tricks, leaps here, doubles
there, now fits an end, liftens, then crouched
(as if funk into the earth) deceives the un-
experienced eye, and creeps to a quat,
Thefe are raptures unenjoycd in Fox or

any

ti2 Art and Fkafuri

any other chaccj but Hare-hunting may
be as difagreeable to the Park-keeper, Fo-
reller, or Fox-hunter, as the contrary to
me, and each may, and no doubt hath, aS
much to advance in favour of his amufement
as I can poffibly fay of mine; therefore it
would be impudent to declaim againft other
people's diverfions, to enhance the fatis*
fadlion found in mine.

It is humour and inclination makes one
or other partake of any paflime or not ; and
the delight found in purfuing a poor harm-
lefs Hare, with a parcel of ugly roaring
Hounds, to a man of cold, flow circu-
lation, or a fribble of meek effeminate tem-
per, may appear, on confideration, inhu-
man and barbarous as bull-baiting.

The Buck or Blood hound has little to
do with the Hare ; the Otter and Fox
hound (the ftanch finder excepted) will
often join in the hunt, it being very dif-
ficult to have a complete kennel of either
fort, fo firmly flanch, but many will freely
hunt each other's quarry, notwithftanding
Gentlemen breed ever fo true, which in a
great meafure is owing to fome cafualty in

the

/

of Himflng* 1 1 J

the entrance of them, or in their entering
themfelves when at keeping. At trying
young Hounds, great regard fliould be had
to the quarry they are entered at, becaufe a
Dog generally prefers the game he was at
iirfl: ufed to, and blooded with. This few
Sportfmen attend to, but, on the contrary,
if they can bring their young Hounds to
floop and challenge a Cat, Coney, or Red-
herring dragged by a ftring, think them-
felves well off with a fine promifing breed.

The like may be obferved to fland good,
m ibme proportion, with refped; to the ii-
tuation. The Dogs that have been entered
in, and accuftomed to the Champain coun-
try, like hunting there, before the low-in-
clofed turf 5 fo low-land Hounds perform
better in woodlands and enclofures, than
the downs and fandy heaths.

The time for entering young Dogs * takes
place according to the feafon they are whelped
in : in my judgment they fhould be a twelve-
month old ; eighteen months is a great age.

* " Bitch puppies (hould be firft taken out to hunt at eight
*' months old, and Dogs at ten months." — Xenophon.
Allowance muft be made for the warmer climate of Greece.

I LET-

( «H ]

LETTER II.

Concerning the Sorts of Harriers^
and Differ e?jce^

TH E Hounds rrioft In uie and prope?
for Hare-hunting, may be confined
to few forts, and each excellent in nature :
to wit, the deep-tongued, thick-lipped^
broad and long-hung fouthern Hounds.

The fleet fhurp-nofed Dog, ears narrow
and pointed, deep chefted, with thin fhoul-
ders, portending a quarter of the Fox-
llrain.

The rough wire-haired Hound, thick
quartered, well hung, not too flefhy (houU
dered, together with the rough or fmooth
Beagle.

Each of thefe forts, as I iaid before,

have

Different Sorts of Harriers, ii^

have their excellencies, &c. It is not pof-
iible, with juflice, to commend one before
another, for kind, colour, or fervice, prefer-
ence being given according to the humours
and inclinations of Sportfmen, the tribe of
whom are very numerous, and, of confe-
quence, different in opinion.

He that delights in a long chace of fix
hours, often more, and to be in with the
Dogs all the time, let him breed of the
fouthern Hounds firft mentioned, or fuch
heavy Dogs as Suffex Gentlemen run in the
weald. They make good deep bafs mulick,
afford great diverfion, and, confidering how
dirty the country is, (notwithffanding a
hunt often lafts all day long) fatigue the
healthy footman very little.

In an open country where there is good
riding, prefer the fecond fort, with a quar-
ter of the Fox-ftrain : thefe fuit the more
eager, ad:ive Horfeman, and fpend their
tongues generoufly, making delightful har-
mony, and at the fame time go at fuch a
rate, a Hare durft not play many tricks be-
fore them ; they feldom allow her time to
loiter; fhe muft run and continue her foiling
I 2 or

1 1 6 Different Sorts

or change foil, if the latter fhe dies : keep
in, Huntfman , freih ground on the turf is
in fome degree a continued view, otherwife
hang your Dogs, (barring extraordinary ac-
cidents of highways and iheep blemifh,) for
I would no more excufe the lofs of a Hare
on frefh fv/ard, unlefs the Huntfman's fault,
which is too often the cafe, than I would a
kennel of Fox-hounds lofing Reynard in full
chace ; the reafons againft it in both diver-
iions are the fame.

The How Hounds firft mentioned gene-^
rally pack beft. Of the fecond fort, many
not being of equal fpeed, (for it is hard to
procure an even kennel of faft Hounds,)
will be found to tail, which is an inconve-
iiiency ; for the hind Dogs labour on to
overtake the leading Hounds, and feldom
or ever ilop, nor are of the leaft ufe but to
enlarge the cry, unlefs at an over-run,
which happens at the top of the morn, for
a quarter of a mile together ; then the old
Hounds, thrown out or tailed, often come
up, and hit the fault off.
. The fouthern Dogs are not £o guilty of
running a-head^ for as they pack well toge-
ther,

tfHarriePi. 1 1 7

ther, from their equality of fpeed, (it being
eafier to excel the flow than the faft,) at the
leaft balk, there are ten nofes on the ground
for one.

The third fi3ecies of Hounds mentioned
I never faw an entire kennel of, being in
fome parts not much encouraged : they are
of northern breed, and in great efteem, be-
ing bold Dogs, and by many Huntfmen
preferred for the Otter and Martin : in fome
places they are encouraged for Fox-hounds,
but bad to breed from, being too fubjedt to
degenerate and produce thick, low, heavy
fhouldered Dogs unfit for the chace,

Beagles, rough or fmooth, have their ad-»
mirers ; they fpend their tongues free in tre-
ble or tenor, and go a greater rate than the
fouthern Hounds, but tail abominably.
They run low to ground, therefore enjoy the
fcent better than taller Dogs, efpecially
when the atmofphere lies low. In an en-
clofed country they do beft, as they mufe
with the Hare, and at trailing or default,
are pretty good for hedge-rows j yet I have
feen eighty couple in the field, out of which,
\n a winter's fport, I obferved not four
I 3 couple

1 1 B Di^'erent Sorts

couple that could be depended on, the majo-
rity being fo propenfe to challenge feather
or fleak ; yet by the affi fiance of a clever
Huntfman, and the foil well trod, I have
fometimes feen pretty diverfion.

Of the two forts I prefer the rough, or
wire-haired, being generally good fhouldered
Dogs, and well filleted.

Smooth -haired Beagles are commonly
deep hung, thick lipped, and large noftrilled,
but often fo foft, folid, and bad quartered,
as to be fhoulder-fhook and crippled the firft
feafon's hunt, and have frequently that un-
pardonable fault of crook legs, like the Tar-
rier, or right Bath Turnfpit.

I know admirers of this fort, but they
are no favourites of mine 5 few will endure
a tolerable hunt, or at default bear hard
charging. After two hours running, ob-
ferve them crippled and down ; the Huntf-
man may go on himfelf, for what afliflance
many of them give him ; and it is plain from
their form and ihape (for nature makes no-
thing in vain) that they are not defigned for
hard exercife.

So much for Harriers : a deal may be faid

for

of Harriers] 5"i9

for and againft the feveral kinds ; it is a
wide unfettled point to give opinion upon ;
but to fum up the whole in a few words,
ftanch, true Hounds of any fort are aeli-
rable, and whoever has them of pretty
equal age and fpeed, with the requilites of
packing and hunting well together, whe*
ther fouthern, northern, Fox-flrain, or Bea-
gle, can boall an invaluable advantage in the
diverfion, and which few Gentlemen, let
them breed ever fo true, can attain to but
\n years.

The properties to be confidered in the
choice of a Hound, were fettled, my Lord,
long before you and I were born, and my
opinion can be little more than an acquilition
from former Sportfmen. However, prefer
the Dog of a middling lize, with his back
longer than round, nofe large, with noftrils
bold and wide, chefl deep and capacious,
fillets great and high, haunches large, ham§
ftraight, the fole hard and dry, ^claws large,
ears wide, thin, and deep, more round than
fharp, eyes large and protuberant, forehead
prominent, and upper lips thick, and deeper
than the lower jaw.

I 4 The

X20 Different Sorts

The manner of keeping Hounds in kennel,
T fuppofe I am not exped:ed to enter into : be
your Huntfman a fellow of very indifferent
judgment, and not one of the moft nafly
lazy rafcals, he will take care to keep his
kennel fweet, his Dogs clean littered, aired,
and Avatered, their provifions fufficiently
boiled, or rather Hewed. Avoid coarfe, raw,
and parboiled fiefli ; nothing fpoils the fa-
culty of fcenting more.

As to the method of breeding Dogs, I
fhall only obferve. Gentlemen cannot be too
careful, at the proper fcafon, of the Sires
they want the fucceffion from.

A very little fpoils the litter, and not-
withftanding all the care and vigilance pof-
fible, litter after litter fometimes prove
falfe and degenerate, from as high bred
creatures as any in the kingdom.

I kept a Bitch in my chamber from the
earlieft tokens of her growing proud, and
had her fo clofe warded, I could have taken
my oath in all the time fhe never faw any
other Dog ; yet the whelps inherited few or
none of their Sire's qualities, nay fcarce the
colour 3 whence I proved that a Dog and

Bitch

of Harriers, I2I

Bitch of the higheft blood may fail of get-
ting tolerable puppies. The like is often
experienced among Horfes. How nature
errs in this particular (if it may be called an
error) I fubmit to fome more experienced
naturalift.

Talking with a learned Phylician (a great
connoilTeur in pointing and fetting Dogs)
upon the fubjed: of puppies, he told the fol-
lowing marvellous tale of a Bitch he had of
the fetting kind.

As he travelled from Midhurfl into
Hampfliire, going through a country village,
the Maitiifs and Cur-dogs ran out barking,
as is ufual when Gentlemen ride by fuch
places ', among them he obferved a little ugly
Pedlar's Cur particularly eager and fond of
ingratiating himfelf with the Bitch. The
Dodor flopped to water upon the fpot, and
whilfl: his Horfe drank, could not help re-
marking how amorous the Cur continued,
and how fond and courteous the Bitch feem-
ed to her admirer -, but provoked, in the end,
to fee a creature of Phillis's rank and breed
fo obfequious to fuch mean addrefTes, drew
one of his piftols and fhot the Dog dead

on

122 Different Sorts

on the fpot; then alighted, and taking the
Bitch into his arms, carried her before him,
feveral miles. The Dodor relates farther,,
that madam, from that day, would eat little
or nothing,, having in a manner loil her ap-
petite ; ihe hid no inclination to go abroacj
with hermafter, or come when he called;
but feemed to repine like a creature in love^^
and exprefs fenfible concern for the lofs of
her galknt.

Partridge feafon came on, but Hie had nQ
nofe 'y the Dod:or did not take the bird be-
fore her. However, in procefs of time,
phillis waxed proud. The Do6tor was
heartily glad of it, and phylically appre-
hended it would be a means of weaning her
from all thoughts of her deceafed admirer ;
accordingly he had her confined in due time,
and warded by an admirable Setter of high
blood, which the Doctor galloped his grey
itone-horfe forty miles an end to fetch for
the purpofe. And, that no accident might
happen from the carelelTnefs of drunken,
idle fervants, the charge was committed to
atrufty old woman houfekeeperj and, as
abfence frorn patients would permit, th?

Dodor

of Harriers, 123

Dod:or affiduoufly attended the affair him^
felf. But lo ! when the days of whelping
came, PhilHs did not produce one puppy
but what was, in all refpedls, the very pic-
ture and colour of the poor Dog he had fhot
fo many months before the Bitch was in
heat.

This affair not more furprized than enra-
ged the Dodior : for fome time he differed,
almofl: to parting, with his old faithful
houfekeeper, being unjuflly jealous of her
care ; fuch behaviour before fhe never knew
from him, but, alas, what remedy ? He
kept the Bitch many years, yet, to his infi-
nite concern, fhe never brought a litter^
but exadly fimilar to the Pedlar's Cur.
He difpofed of her to a friend of his in a
neighbouring county, but to no purpofe,
the vixen flill brought fuch Puppies.
Whence the Do6tor tenacioufly maintained.
Bitch and Dog may fall paflionately in love
with each other.

That fuch creatures, efpecially the fe-
male, may at particular times like, or pre-.
fer, I grant the Doctor; but how the im-
preffion of the Dog (admitting to favour

him

124 Different Sorts of Harriers,

him there was any) could occafion limlli-
tude in the iflue of the Bitch, and for a
continuance of years, after the Dog's death,
nobody but the Do(5lor is capable of defend-
ing, who to this day relates and jullifies;
the truth of every circumftance I have men-
tioned. So much for Dogs, Harriers efpe-
cially. I hope the digreffion will be par-
doned, and, if not difagreeable, I Ihall pro-
ceed with a page on the Quarr}^

LETTER

[ 125 }

LETTER III.

Tloe Sorts and Difference o/" Hares,
being of no lefs Signification than
the preceding Letters.

A HARE is called by Sportfmen,
within the firft year a Leveret, at
twelve months old a Hare; at two years
old and fo on, a great, a large, or a flam-
ming Hare. I never heard them diilin-
guifhed by other names, nor do I know
more proper.

The derivation of the term is not at all
momentous to the Huntfman ; he is fenfi-
ble when he fees her every body calls fuch
a creature a Hare. Your Lordfliip knows
the ancients called this animal by various
appellations.

The

126 Different Sorts

The Hebrews call the Hare* Arnebethy
which being feminine, poffefled the gene-
rality with a notion no Hares were mafcu-
line; and the opinion fo much prevailed, that
to this day not one man in a thoufand Qcca-

* JlIlJ"1i^, the Hare, from Pflh} to crop^ and yi the
produce of the earth t thefe animals being very remarkable
for deltroying the fruits of the earth. The learned Bo-
CHART, who gives this interpretation of the word, excel-
lently defends it, by fhewing, from hiflory, that thefe ani-
mals have, at different times, defolated the iflands of Aftypa-
lasa. Lens, and Carpathus. To this account, for the fake
of the learned Reader, I fhall add the following elegant
lines concerning thefe animals, from Bargeus Cygneget,, lib.
iir. by which it appears they are great devourers of all kind
of herbs and veget;ib;es ;

" Decerpunt laeti turgentia gramina campi,
•*■ Et culmos fegetum, et fibras tellure repofta*
*' Herbarum, et lento morfus in cortice figunt
*' Arboris, atque udos attondent undique libros;
«* Nee parcunt llrato pomarum, aut glandis acervo,
"" Aut viciae, aut milio, aut procerae frondibus ulmij
*' Prsclpue gratae fylveftria gramina mentha;
*' Quajque colunt riguas in culto Sy fimbria valles,
*' Et vaga ferpilla, et pulegi nobile gramen
•' Percipiunt."— Park HURST, Heb. Lex.

I have been informed by a Gentleman of experience and
obfervation, that he has found Haws in the droppings of
Haies during hard weather,

fionally

of Hares. \ij

iionally talks of a Hare, but fpeaks In the
feminine gender, and ufes the epithets Her
or She. The Greeks fometimes called the
Hare AaQ/w'os, for his immoderate luft -, at
other times ITtwI, implying extraordinary
fear. The Latins, Lepus quaft kvipes, or
Lightfoot, denoting fwiftnefs of feet.

As to any real difference in the fpecies *,
I confefs myfelf no judge 5 I always found
they correfponded in fhape and fimilarity j
but to exceed, like other creatures, in fize
and abilities, which I conceive proceeds
from nothing more than their difference of
feed and fituation, and may be ranged under
the few diftindtions of the down Hare, the
field or enclofure Hare, the marfhy and
woodland Hare.

The mountain or down Hares feed fhort
and fweet, breathe a fine air and enjoy an ex-

♦ Xenophon fays, '* There are two fpecies of Hares,
•'one large, mottled with black, and a great deal of white
" in the forehead ; the other lefs, of a yellowifh colour, and
"' having little white." He alfo obferves, that ♦* moun-
'■* tain Hares are the fwiftell, thofu bred in a plain country,
'* iefs fo, and marlh Hares the floweftof any."

tenfive

llS Different Sorts

tenlive compafs for exerclfe ; they are found
to excel in flrength or celerity, and ftand a
hunt longer than any Hares. In dry fea-
fons they commonly make excurlions into
the vales for diverlion and relief, and I have
remarked myfelf, and have learned from
Shepherds and Hare-finders, (by fome Wags
not unjuftly called* MyoperSy) that Hares
are never more plenty on the hills than in
wet weather -, the reafon of which is plain,
they feed, form, and exercife on drier turf
than the vallies afford.

Every Down Hare has a multitude of
feats, which (as the weather diredts) ilie
changes from time to time, and from prac-
tice to fome innate principle, returns to
again, provided ihe quitted on her own ac-
cord and undifturbed.

The enclofure, marfhy, or woodland
Plares are experienced to be flower, weaker,
and more unfit to endure hard hunting than
the down Hares, the fituation and manner
of their living being oppofite : they reheve
on too rank llrong food, and that too near

* From Mvii^, winking the eyes, q. d, iwm uwx^'

their

of Harriers, 129

their forms ; their circle of exercife is more
confined, and Hable to difturbance, and the
air they breathe is lefs pure and correct,
whence proceeds purfinefs and fhort wind.
Of this fort are the Hares in the wealds,
many of which I have feen when paunched
with' ulcerated lungs and unfound.

* There is another fort of Hares to be
met with (though very feldom) different
from either of the kinds mentioned, that
wander about like vagrants, living at large,
and with indifference, in all places, feating
vaftly uncertain, fometimes in the enclo-
fure, hedge- row, brake, or flrong covert,
at other times in the open common or fields.
Thefe are the Hares for diverfion, and moft
difiicult to judge off, and dangerous to pur-
fue. They ramble through the barn-yard

* " Thofe Hares that wander in all places are moll puz-
*' zling in the chace, for they know the neareft ways ; they
*' generally run up hill or on level ground ; if they find any
*' uneven ground they run over it in an irregular manner,
** but very feldom run down hill." — Xenophon.

Mr. Pennant, in his Britiih Zoology, remarks, that a Hare^
when ftarted, always makes to a rifmg ground, which he at.-
tributes to the length of her hind legs,

K in

t^O T)ifferent Sort's

in the night, and dirregard the gaunt growl-
ing MaftifF, traverfe the orchard and gar- ,
den, intrepid and fearlefs, explore the dan-
gerous pond head, nor dread the roaring
waters, regale on the virgin grafs, or ten-
der clover, or young turnip, or (as fome
hidden caufedireds) negledt them all,- fon-
der to bark, or browfe the budding twig.

When ftarted, they feldom keep any cer-
tain ring, but drive on irregularly, trying
all forts of ground, the turf, the hard high-
way, the watery puddle, or dry dufty fallow,
and lead the weary Sportfman many a pain-
ful flep, and through many a dangerous
pafTage.

Thefe are the old Witches, that afford
inexhauftible fubjedts after Hunting, that
make the glafs pafs brifk about, the cheeks
glow, chins wag, and every faultering
tongue provoke, that the whole edifice re-
founds the continued boifterous roar, impa-
tient each to over hunt or recount his part.
The inexperienced audience, to every ora-
tor by turns, attention deal ; but if the
Huntfman deigns the view to hollow, or
foil over hunt again, fudden filence reigns,
^- and

of liar ri en. 131

and ravifhed with the deafening clamour of
the purfuit, with eager infatuation, all ap-
plaud, and the moft apocryphal tales affent
to and believe ; whilft he ! wretch arbi-
trary, (though illiterate) with ignorance
and pride, native to himfelf, afcribes fome
pafTages, notable in the chace, to his own
good judgment and underftanding ; others,
lefs remarkable, to the poor Hare's contri-
vance and cunning.

As I am entered upon the fubjed: of
Hares, it may not be impertinent to ob-
ferve, how kind Providence has been in the
formation of this animal ; and it is v^ell,
indeed. Nature has been fo beneficent,
there being fcarce a creature breathing,
wild or domeftic, but is an enemy to the
poor defencelefs Hare. Birds of the air,
as well as beafts of the field, feem in per-
petual war with her. The very reptile Ad^
der v^^ill kill the old Hare, paffive and de-
fencelefs in the combat : nor does the Le-
veret feed the fmall circle about its little
home, fecure and unmolefted by the defpi-
cableBat and Owl. Wherefore, as the moil
proper means for prefervation, (amidfl
K 2 fuch

1^2 Different Sorts

fuch a numerous tribe of enemies) Nature
has kindly endowed her with a temper ex-
ceffive timid, continually watchful, and
liilening, and ever eager, even to rafhnefs,
to turn from the moft trifling approach of
danger -, all her dependence being in that
talent alone, and which the wife Contriver
of all things has ordained every part to
afiifl: and compleat. If not unworthy, pray
take a furvey of this little creature ; this
wonder of animals : not more the charm
and delight of the Sportfman, than his Bea-
gles; No creature in the univerfe leaves a
more grateful enchanting fcent, than the
Hare j the fmell of the Martin is not more
ravilhing to the Hounds. Pleafe to view
his fliort round head ; look how extremely
proper and excellently fafhioned it is for
flight. Was he to maintain himfelf, or
feize his food by means of celerity, a longer
nofe and head would have been much more
expedient and neceffary.

See how long the ears, how large and
open, how fixed on the head, and when
pricked how clofe together point, nicely
calculated to hear the enemy at a diflance,

and

of Harriers] 5rj|

and receive timely warning of the leaft ap-*
proach of danger.

' The eyes ingenioufly placed on each fide,
divided by the whole breadth of the fore-
head, not fituated in the front like a Dog
or Cat's eyes, to fee only the fegment of a
circle forward, but lidevt^ays, to obferve al-
mofl a whole circle, being formed fo as to
turn any way, to fpy impending dangers
from all quarters *, and fecure himfelf in
time. A farther remark, and worthy ob-
fervation, is, the creature, waking or lleep-
ing, perpetually watches j his eyes being
continually open, and fo protuberant, round
and large, the lids are far too Hiort to co-
ver them even when at fleep.

View the breaft, how narrow, and at the
fame time how deep and capacious the
chefl ', for as the lungs are in a continual
ftate of violent expanfion's, during the time
he is hunted, and, by the prodigious fre-
quent infpiration and expiration, become in

* Xenophon, who is minutely accurate in his defcrlptlon
of this animal, obferves, that*' when fhe wakes fhe winks
*-^ her eyelids, but when fhe fleeps flie keeps them continu*
H ^Ily open, without motion, having her eyes fixed."

K 3 the

134 Different Sorts

the end fo vaftly diftended, as to require
a much larger fpace than is affigned for the
purpofe, the chefl: therefore is fafhioned to
receive more breath, or give the lungs
more room to perform their office, almofl
than any creature.

Take notice of the back, how ftraight, and
rather long for covering more ground in
running, and well filleted or double- reined,
forflrength in the performance.

The fcut fhort and high, haunches wide,
large and finewy, legs ftraight and propor-
tionably long, with fuch feet no creature in
the animal creation can boafl. Now I have
mentioned the feet, permit me to obferve a
common notion, I might fay an error, there
being feveral egregious ones about Hares ;
but the following, I don't doubt you have
not only heard but read of | and that is, if
you afic feveral Sportfmen, why a low-land
enclofure, or marfh Hare, endures not
Hunting fo long as the hilly or up-land
Hare, the anfwer frequently is, that the
former generally fill themfelves too full of
pafture before they form, and that, by fre-
quent treading on the foft turf and moift

paths.

cf Harrier}, I35

paths, they become far more tender-footed,
and unfit to bear hard running, than the up-
hill Hare, that ufes the hard highways and
dry turf, which is to be met with, three
parts of the year, on the downs or hilly
land.

As to the iiril: of fuch Hunters, or Writ-
ers fo feeming plain reafons, I beg their
pardpn, but moft abfolutely difagree with
their opinion, it being more plain and natu-
ral to believe, fuch Hares never fill them-
felves too full, as they call it. Unerring
Nature, doubtlefs, inftruds them better
than to over-eat themfelves, or gorge {o
much to retard them in their celerity, which
is their only defence and prefervation j it
cannot be I am pofitive. The poor fearful
creatures fatisfy Nature, and no more; their
time of feeding begins according to the fea-
fon, and ends about the certain time i after-
wards a proper fpace is duly employed in
drying, airing, exercifmg, and fporting,
till the approach of morning warns them to
feek or return to their proper retirements.

They do not glutton on their food, like

the wife Heads that hunt them. Eat, for

K 4 the

■ 136 Different Sorts

the cheer Is dainty, we may meet with
none hke it to-morrow. But rather, too
often before Nature is contented retire, mo-
lefted and alarmed in the night, to fome ad-
joined thicket, and there iinifli their repafl,
on the fhaded fpray or four herb ; happy in
their fafety and fohtude. Or fometimes, as
Nature dictates, when the fouthern tempeft
pours down the dreadful torrent, or the
chilling north fpreads the furface with his
filvered mantle, fit clofe in form, till better
times enfue 3 content with no repaft.

Whether this opinion with thofe Sportf-
men who j udge of Hares immoderate eat-
ing by themfelves, and becaufc they have
experienced an impediment in their heels,
from a crammed belly, think Hares meet
with the fame, may be of any weight, I can-
not fay, nor do I care : I have a better opi-
nion of honefl faithful Nature's didiates,
than their idle whims and notions. As to
the other part offered, that low-land Hares
are tender footed, I proteft, I fmile at the
thought of fuch a fhallow opinion. Ten-
der feet in Dogs are owing to the foftnefs of
their foles, or that flefhy fubftance called

the

of 'Harriers . 1 37.

the ball or toes of the feet. This tender-
nefs is natural to fome, and is a fault in the
breed, one of their excellencies being (as be-
fore mentioned) hard dry foles : in others
it proceeds from difufe, in which it is foon
remedied ; moderate exercife every day will
foon bring the feet into order, and make
them fufficiently hard, to endure diverlion.

But as to the Hare being tender in her
feet, a little obfervation may convince fuch
cafuifts of their miftake -, Nature having
been in this particular iingularly liberal
to the poor Hare, by fupplying her with
fuch feet, as are abfolutely free from, and
not fubjed; to tendernefs ; or fcarce fufcep-
tible of hurt, fo as to incommode, or re-
tard her in running.

Pray obferve what a fmall web there is
between the claws, and the admirable de-
ficiency of foles or toes underneath ! With
fubmiflion, what hath fhe to fear then from
the flinty highway, the uneven fevere
frofty path, the poignant bramble, or
piercing black-thorn ? Nothing — the balls
of her feet being fupplied, inftead of hard

ilefh,

ijS Different Sorts

iiefli, with a ilrong coarfe fur, fuited fo
charmingly for the purpofe, that fhe treads
foft, run what road fhe will ; and never
eaficr, or more to advantage, than on the
hardeil beaten path, or ftony rugged
road. The very furface that cripples a Dog,
£he glides over with eafc and pleafure.'
Take notice in a frofl, for the reafons ad-
vanced, what advantage flie has in run-
ning, fuperior to moft creatures ; whilft
the generous fteed founders with mode-
rate gallops, and the fleet Greyhound flarts
his claws, and tears his foles to pieces,
on the rugged frofly paths, fhe treads
foft, as if fhe went on woolpacks, or re-
bounds and leaps upon her very claws.
View her again on the merry highway,
though file fkims over the clay and puddle,
lik an arrow from the bow, yet leaps fo
tender, the furface is fcarce brufhed by her
tread. But enough, I fhall only farther
advance to fuch tender footed brethren one
reafon, and a true one, why a low-land
Hare, or by what appellation they chufe
to diflinguifh her, may on experience prove

lefs

of Harriers, 139

lefs fit to labour, or hard Hunting, than
the up-land Hare, inftead of a too great
plenitude or tendernefs of feet, is occafion-
ed from the too ftrong or rank feed, (I
don't mean the quantity but quality) and
confined circle for exercife ; whence pro-
ceeds Ihort wind and purfinefs^

LET.

[ HO ]

LETTER IV.

So7m PerfeBions of the Hare, a7td
remarkable ^alities of other
Creatures.

N'OTWITHSTANDING the argu-
ments already made ufe of, in de-
fcribing feveral parts of the Hare, and how
each is adapted to contribute towards the
prcfervation of the whole ^ methinks I hear
you fay. What ! is this extraordinary crea-
ture fo complete as to have no fault ?
Does this wonder of animals fuffer no in-
conveniency from any of thofe fine parts ihe
is compofed of ? Few creatures in the ani^
mal, or other creation, are formed abfo-
lutely perfed: and free from blemiili. How
comes the Hare fo frequently to lofe her

life.

Perfe^ions of the Hare^ '&c, 141

life, and in fuch a fimple manner ? How
happens (lie fo often to run headlong into
vifible danger ; into the Traveller's open
arms, or Houfe-cur's jaws, without dif-
cretion enough to turn to right or left, to
avoid fuch accidents ?

To this may be anfwered, the poor Hare
is far from being without failings, nay, on
the contrary, hath numberlefs imperfec-
tions. The very excellence of running
from, or avoiding one danger, notorioufly
drives her head-long into another, till ilie
meets her ruin. She is too often llupid
and fenfelefs of the danger that lies moft ap-
parent, and plain as pofTible, which has
occalioned innumerable arguments among
Huntfmen, and many reafons have been
given for it by Naturalifts _; to you I fub-
mit the following :

Firft, I beg to obferve, notwithilanding
the defcription given of Hares ears, and how
advantageoufly fituated, there is an incon-
veniency attends them, which perhaps ne-
ver happened within the conlideration of fe-
veral good Sportfmen. It is natural for
mankind, who have never refiedted on the

matter.

142 PerfeSfwns of the Harey

matter, to think, becaufe they have an ear
on each fide the head, and can liftcn to a
Kennel of Hounds, whether they run to
right or left, ilraight forward or backward,
that a Hare can do the fame : upon my
word thofe who think fo are egregioufly
miftaken ; a Hare under purfuit has the fad-
defl imperfed: affiftance from her ears
ilraight before or iideways, that can pof-
fibly be, her chief excellence being only in
a fenfibility of the founds that lie behind
her. This is the perfection and primary
caule fhe owes her prefervation to, her ta-
lent of running being only a fecondary qua-
lity.

It is this ability warns her in time to
Ileal from form, and deceive the creeping
Poacher ; by this blefTmg fhe outilrips the
fleet Greyhound, attentive to the noife of
every flretch, and found of every pant : or
when llarted by the fagacious Pack, to con-
tinue her courfe, with refolute expedition,
till quite free from their clamour ; yet, at
the fame time, mifapprehenfive, and deaf
to the noife of enemies before, alone intent,
and all her faculties employed, on that fm-

gle

and ^lualities of other Creatures. 143

gle point of hearing, and running from the
danger that purfues.

I {hall be laughed at, perhaps, by half the
Hunters in England, for advancing fuch a
feeming improbability -, but upon my word
it is true. Talk with any anatomift, that has
infpedled the ftrudture of this creature's ears,
and he will give you reafons in juftification
of what I have laid down.

As the only prefervation a Hare has is
flying from danger, how natural and plain
is it for a common underflanding to recon-
cile the necellity of her being endued with
fuch a proper affifling fenfation, whereby
Ihe may receive timely information of the
diftant or near approach of the enemy.

Without fuch quicknefs of hearing from
behind, a Hare might run blind, or to
death, after fhe was out of harm's way, for
want of being fenfible of it. I challenge
all the Huntfmen in Great Britain, that are
of veracity, to fay, a frefli Hare, ftarted or
courfed, ever flops or turns her head to look
back : how is flie fenlible, then, fhe is clear
from the enemy that purfued her ? She has

no

'144 Ferfe5iio7is of the Hare,

no eyes backwards. True, but Ihe has ears
that anfwer the purpofe.

I have heard it confidently maintained by
feveral, and have read in Authors, who
were more Huntfmen in fpeculation than
pradiice, that a Hare's ears lead the way
when Ihe is hunted: " With one," (fay
they,) " flie hearkeneth to the cry of the
** Hounds, and the other ftretched forth
*' like a fail, to promote her courfe." Ri-
diculous notion ! Whenever fhe pricks
her ears an end, or draws one a-part or more
forward than the other, it is to hearken more
diilind; and nice on that lide the forwardefl
ear is, and not like a fail to promote her
courfe.

Had nature defigned any fmgular aid to
her feet from flretching forth the ears, fhe
would have fupplied her with two pair;
one to lie fiat on the fhoulders for listening,
whilft {hQ failed by the other; and fhe never
would have more occafion for both than
when feverely courfed, at which time the
ears ihe has may be obferved to lie flat on her
neck ; and though flie is obliged, on this
occauon, to play all her tricks to efcape, to

try

and ^aliiies of other Creatures. 145

try the wind every way for advantage, yet, in
all the ihifts fhe makes, I never obferved
this quaUty of failing by the ear, both being
fVriiflly engaged on receiving the fmalleft
found of the Greyhound behind, by which
ihe accordingly, more or lefs, retards or in-
creafes her celerity. There is nothing
more plain and certain, than that Providence
hath endued every creature with fome ex-
cellence peculiar to itfelf : to one, endow-
ments proper for prefervation and defence ;
to another, means neceffary for the attain-
ment of food and nourishment.

Afk a Country Fellow at dufk of the
evening, why yon Owl fits on the barn door,
or perches upon the gate-poft, rail, or
beam ? He will prefently inform you, he is
watching for a Moufe. But a man that is
no very eminent Naturalift knows the Owl
is hearkening rather than looking for a
Moufe; for Owls have ears, and delicate ones,
I alTure you, on which they depend for their
fuftenance, in an equal, nay greater degree
than the eyes. Their ears give them the
iirft and earlieft notice of the motion of prey,
L long

146 Perfedtions of the Hare,

long before it comes into view for the eyesr
to diftinguifli it. Yet, though it may be
o^ranted Owls hearken, as well as look for
prey, I would not have you think, becaufe
they have ears, they hear all manner of
ways. No, they have no good ufe of them,
but from what happens beneath ; their
hearing is very imperfed; before, or fide-
ways, nor have they any advantage at all in
hearing what happens above. Admit they
had, to what ufe or purpofe would it tend ?
They have not the leaft hope or expectation
of Mice hanging over their heads, but the
contrary. All creatures, as I faid before,
boaft fome peculiar excellence. The crafty
Fox that fcouts about, and hath various
means of acquiring fubfiftence, depends
greatly on a talent of hearing from above
faperlor to moil, and equal to all creatures.
What principle do you imagine diredts him
on his patrols, to lurk underneath, or climb
the pear or plumb tree where the poultry
rood ? Not fo much his eyes as his ears : a
feather is fcarce moved but he hears it.
On the other hand, the vigorous wild or

Pole-

and ^lalities of other Creatures, 1 47

Pole-cat's bleffing confifls in hearing di-
rectly forward, deaf as an Adder (when he
is prowling) to prey or danger behind. I
offer this not as conjecture, but matter of
certainty, the animal's ears being con-
ftruCted for fuch Angularities, efpecially the
** pafTage directing to xhQOspetrofujn, which,
" in an Owl's ear, is produced father out
*' above than below, for the greater and
** better reception of found from below :
*' in a Fox, exadily the contrary, and calcu-
" lated to intercept the niceft noife from
** above : in a Cat, far behind, to take the
** forward found : but the ear of a Hare is
** fupplied with a tube directed extremely
** backward." As I already faid, fhe dreads
no danger fo much as what lies behind her,
therefore her ears are capable, by reafon of
fuch backward tubes, of receiving the
fmalleft found that happens from that quar-
ter. I could inflance notable differences in
the ears of other creatures, but it being fo-
reign to my purpofe, fhall proceed to another
well experienced deficiency of the poor Hare,
which is her want of light.

L 2 Almofl

J 48 PerfeSlions of the Hare,

* Almoil every one has experienced that
a Hare fees very imperfect ftraight forward ;
a fad inconveniency, you will fay, not to fee
well, nor hear the immediate danger that
is feemingly fo plain. Why really fo it is,
and the means of lliortening her little life,
frequently much fooner than the moft vio-
lent hunt would do.

I have often heard fay, when a Hare has
been knocked down, or catched by a Dog
relaid, that fhe ran herfelf blind, which is
a notion of the niofl vulgar and illiterate
fpecies.

Some maintain Hares to be of the tribe
of nocflurnal animals, that cannot fee well
in the day, their eyes being much the fame
as Cats or Owls, and of a contexture fuf-
ceptible of far nicer touches of the rays of
light, than creatures more habituated to
day-light.

It is true, I am no Oculifl:, nor compe-

* •* When fhe is purfued, the fear of the Dogs and
" Hunters takes away her prefence of mind, on which ac-
*' count (he often runs unknowingly againft many things,
*■• and fometimes falls into the fnare."— Xenophon.

tent

and ^mlities of other Creatures, 149

tent judge of the ftrudure of eyes ; but if
common reafon may be attended to, (which
every man has a right to offer,) it is natural
to conjecflure, night or day is indifferent to
the Hare, and that fhe only prefers the for-
mer to reUeve in, it being the mofl peace-
able time, and freefl from danger. The
difadvantage of wanting quick fight before,
in my opinion, may chiefly be accounted for
from the fituation of the eyes being fixed in
the head, at a diftance far from each other,
like Horfes j and to fee forward perfed:, re-
quires fome fuch contrivance as the eye-
leathers that Waggoners have at their horfes
collars, the better to occafion the eyes be-
ing direded more forward than backward ;
for as they are formed to turn in the fock-
ets all ways, forward to the nofe, upward,
downward, or back toward the fhoulders,
it needs no great ^nd of philofophy to
judge, that by fo milch as the eyes are turn-r
ed out of the centre of light to look up-
ward, fuch a proportion is wanting to fee
downward ; and fo much as they are flrain-
ed toward the nofe to fee forward, fo much
is required for light backward, fuppofing
L 3 the

150 PerfeSlions of the Hare,

the head to be fteady and fixed, which is
the cafe with the Hare that runs fafl: ; at
other times fhe turns and manages her head
as £he pleafes. But, in an even pofiiure of
the body, the eyes appear fituated to fee
quickeft and beft full on each fide. Whence
it arifes, that the reafon a Hare, when
hunted or courfed, fees not fo clear diredlly
forward, is, that being chiefly intent and
apprehenfive of the danger behind, fhe em-
ploys all her fcnfes, all her judgment, to
efcape that danger; and, the m.ore effed:ually
to accomplifh it, depends not alone on the
ears, but, by endeavouring to fee it, flrains
her eyes as backward as poffible, according
to the degree of terror fhe is in ; infomuch,
that for want of a due proportion of the
eyes employed before, fhe becomes in a
manner blind to the enemy that lies fo ap-
parent. Any perfon may experience truths
of this fort that will caft his eyes upward,
downward, or from fide to fide ; he will
foon find, when he points them one way,
how imperfed: his fight is the other.

Whether a Hare's eyes receive any incon-
veniency from being fo large, full, and con-
vex.

and ^mliiics of other Creatures, 151

vex, I do not pretend to determine. Ocu-
iifls fay, fuch eyes, at proper difliances, fee
objed:s (in proportion to the degree of con-
vexity) more perfect and large than thofe
lefs convex -, or if the eyes fuffer damage,
by being expofed night and day to dufls and
infedts, becaufe the Hds do not cover them
completely, I know not ; but be what will
the caufe, it is certain, Hares do not fee fo
perfed: before as fide-ways, or aflant.

And indeed. Nature in fome meafure has
compenfated this want, and iikewife that of
hearing, by a moft incomparable (tn^Q of
fmellins: : I do not mean the fort of fmell-
ing peculiar to Hounds, but a fpecies that
Sportfmen term winding j being that qua-
lity, when a Dog holds up his nofe, which
he winds carrion by, or a fpringing Spaniel
the bird when fliot : a Hare has this talent
in nice perfection. Take your fland in a
mofl private corner, if ihe has the wind,
you will feldom fee her but at a diftance ;
and though you may happen to fpy her far
off, making boldly towards you, mark her,
in due time fhe will break the road, and
take fome other track. Yet I muil obferve,
L 4 nptwith-

1^2 Perfeciions of the Hare,

notwithllanding this happy endowment fe-
cures her from the lurking Poacher, it often
fails to fruftrate the fnarer's deeper defigns :
he, crafty knave, turns this perfe6tion ad-
vantageoufly to his purpofe; for having
found where a Hare relieves, and being un^
prepared with engines, the reeving purfe^
net, or elaftic wire, to fecure every muefe
and track, ambiguous which to prefer,
breathes but on the turf, or fpits his faliva
on fome neighbouring clod or ftone, or
bending fpray. Madam, on return, dif-
dains thofe roads, fenfible of the ilain -,
Others to purfue, that harbour certain
death : fatal retreat ! Thej-e falls expe-
rienced Pufs ! (pride of the fair Sportfman)
undiftinguifhed and unknown !--rMethinks
I hear you commiferate her, but how fliould
it be otherwife ? Can aninials explore in-
fidiou^ fjian's defigns, or pervade his crafty
wiles ?

A word on thp breeding of Hares, and
I fhall proceed to the feveral parts of hunt-
ing them. Some are of opinion Hares pro-
pagate but once a year ; I am inclined to
think;, from February to the end of harveft,

they

and ^alkies of other Creatures. 153

they breed often, otherwife I cannot account
for the plenty there are.

The Does bring two, and frequently
but on^. I have feen three, but very rare.
I once difcourfed as arrant a Pot-hunter as
ever England bred, that lived on the bor-
ders of South Wales, and had not fcrupled
to kill a Buck or Doe at any feafon for fifty
years together, who affirmed he never faw
or killed a female Hare that had, or gave
fuck to three, in his life.

The Doe makes choice of fome thick
dry brake, high grafs, clover, or ftanding
corn, to kindle in ; her paps come for-
warder under her belly than almoft any
quadruped ; fhe does not long fuckle her
young I if fhe did, and had many, the udder
would be drawn too big, and lie inconve-
nient in running, She brings forth different
from the Coney, her offspring being com-
pletely furred and quick-fighted the in-
llant they are dropped.

It is a remark at the death of a Leveret,
if there are white hairs on the forehead,
there is another of the fame breed j I have
{t^n three found by the harveft-men near
of a fi^e, and not one of them had a flar ;

where-

154 Perfedfions of the Hare,

wherefore I am inclined to believe it a vul-
gar error.

Three Leverets were the moft in number
I ever faw, that in appearance were the
fame kindling. I have heard among Sportf-
men (remarkable for the marvellous) of fix
or (tvQVL young ones at once, but, from
fuch ffcrangers to truth, I never could bring
myfelf to credit it. A certain Baronet,
long lince dead, delighted in getting a fet
of Huntfmen and Fifhermen together, than
both of whom there are not greater liars
under the canopy of Heaven, purely for
the fatisfadiion of out-lying them.

It is a received opinion among Natura-
lifls, that a Hare feldom lives above (tw&n
years, efpecially the Buck, and that when
either is killed, another comes and occupies
the place ; whence happens the Proverb,
^he more Hares you killy the more you will
have to hunt -, for when Buck and Doe live
undiilurbed together a little tim.e, they fuf-
fer no flranger to refide within their li-
mits *.

There

* I am furprized the Author did not here introduce the no-
tion, mentioned by Xenophon, and confirmed by Pliny, of

Hares

and ^alities of other Creatures. 155

There is alfo a well experienced truth,
that fome places are remarkable for being
feldom without Hares, and others (though
as likely in human conjecture as poffible)
feldom with any. Whether it is any par-
ticular excellence in the feed, lituation for
forming advantageoufly for warmth, hear-
ing, or feeing, that induces them to prefer
certain parts to others, or that, on the death
of a Buck or Doe, another fucceeds, and
they pofTefs their ufual circle, I do not
pretend to reconcile. So much for Hares,
Now for the Dogs and Huntfman, both of
whom it will be necelTary to fuppofe in the
field, whether kennel or pack does not fig-
nify -f : it mufl be underftood in the lan-
guage of Hunters, it is a kennel of Hounds,
but twenty or a hundred couple of Beagles
make but a pack.

Hares conceiving again before they bring forth their firft
young. Sir Thomas Brown, in his Treatife on Vulgar Er-
rors, (a Work in which he would be naturally cautious of
introducing the marvellous,) aflerts this circumftance from
his own obfervation.

f This is a diflindlion entirely obfolete.

LETTER

[ '56 I

LETTER V.

Of Trailing and Starting, with
Directions to the Huntsman.

HARE-HUNTING commeiices about
Michaelmas, and fhould end (would
Gentlemen encourage the breed) the middle
of February. As I have fuppofed the
Huntfman abroad, and Dogs caft off, we
may as well imagine one or othet has made
a challenge.

For trailing no rules can be laid down with
certainty ; it depends on the judgment of
the Huntfman, and his juft knowledge of
the feveral good and bad properties of hjs
Dogs. A kennel of the beil Hounds in
Great Britain are not (I may affirm can-
not be) all alike : fome are good for trail-
ing

Trailing and Starting, &c, 1 57

ing and ftarting -, others excellent when
the Hare is on foot ; others again, for hit-
ting off defaults, running the double, or hot
foil, or making good the hard ways.

Some Huntfmen, the inftant they find
where a Hare has relieved, trouble them-
felves not at all about trailing to her, but
proceed with the company to threfhing the
hedges for a wide compafs, many of whom,
being fo fparing of their pains, as often beat
over, as beat a Hare up. For my part,
trailing fairly and ftarting, I think, the
niceft part of the whole paftime, provided
wind and weather permit.

It is an undetermined point at trail or cold
hunting, whether the Dogs challenge from
any particular effluvia that tranfpired from
the feet of a Hare, or remains of breath, that
in her feeding and exercife intermixed with
and foiled the pafture and herbage. Was
it from the foot alone, themoift path would
be ealier to challenge upon than the ver-
dant fward. I have heard fturdy Cafuifts
on both fides, but fo void of fenfe and rea-
fon, little more than the llrongeft arm has
determined the point. In my opinion, not-

with (landing

J 5 S trailing and Startlngy

withflanding the majority may be againR-
me, I confefs myfelf prejudiced in favour
of the latter.

If the Hounds challenge on the relief, it
is a point of judgment not to let them puz-
zle and flick, but to rate them together,
and to make it good round the fences the
fooner the better. Now the Huntfman
mufl depend abfolutely upon his Dogs -,
the tender nofed Hound generally hits it
iirll, and is very often unjuflly deemed a
babbler, becaufe a tougher Dog does not
make good what he opens upon i whereas
the difference too often is, that one Hound's
nofe is fo exquifitely delicate, as to enjoy a
fcent twice as flale as another.

Obferve Damfel, or loquacious Dainty,
open cheerily, the whole pack run in, not
one, for want of equal talents, approves.
But as they proceed to warmer fcent, if
Truman or Ruler (ftanch old Counfellors,
never known to give opinion, but certainty,
the efFed: of long experience) gravely un-
dertake to perufe the cafe, and, on due
coniideration, challenge, but in fingle notes,
the whole kennel (in fcience Brethren and

CoUegues)

with DireBiotts to Huntfmen. 1 59

Collegues) from every quarter hurry, and
with general yelp confirm the found re-
port ; whilfl the afTiduous Huntfman, glad
at heart, in oratory of his own, proclaims
it good.

It is furprizing what a notable confi«
dence prefides among Hounds, in propor-
tion to the reality of each other's affurancesc
The moft rigid fincere perfon upon the
earth cannot deteft or lefs credit the noto-
rious cheat or liar, than a ftanch Hound
one that opens falfe, or fpends his tongue
free to little purpofe.

You may tell me the comparifon is un-
natural ; but what can be more like the
Hound that fticks a long time and conti-
nues opening upon one fpot, than the man
v/ho is a tedious while telling a Canter-
bury tale, or talks perpetually upon part of
a fubjed:.

What like the Babbler more than he
who prates and rattles upon all fubje6t£
with confidence, and underflands no one.

The notes of the Hounds are certain lan-
guage in the ears of the Huntfman^ and

wliat

l6o 'Trailing and Starting^

what he depends upon more than the judg-
ment of all his friends in the field.

According to the length of time a Hare
has been gone to form, do they more or lefs
afTure him of their likelihood to ftart. At
the mofl: diftant part of her morning's ex-
ercife, where the tendered nofed Dog can
but touch of the fcent, the true mulical
Hound opens fingle j perhaps a long hold-
ing note, or (according to the Dog) only
what fome people call a chop. As they
gather on towards her, each old Sophifter
confirms his firft opinion by an additional
note, and doubles his tongue. When
near her form, and the fcent lies warm and
flrong, all double and treble their notes.

Beware of the counter-trail, which may
happen when Dogs are cafl off, fo as to
challenge about the middle of her works,
©r nearer the form than the feed ; there the
fcent lies fo equal, that the Dogs, over ea-
ger and bufy, often hit the heel-way, or
draw amifs : this the Huntfman murt:
judge of by the notes his Dogs firfl chal-
lenge in. ¥! they double and carry it on

counter.

with DireBio72S to Huntfmen^ 1 6 r

counter, they will foon fignify their error,
by opening only iingle j for inftead of the
fcent lying hotter, and encreafing upon their
nofes, it is the contrary, and dwindles to no
fcent at all.

Young Hares tread more deep and heavy*
than old ones, becaufe the younger they
are the weaker the joints. At full moon,
they make mod: work, and go a great dif-
tance, relieving upon any fort of feed, ef-
pecially that which grov/s within fliade of
the hedge- rows and trees. At this time
Buck and Doe ofteneil: alTociate together.

Another point mufl be obferved, that
all Hares do not leave an equal degree of
fcent. The down Hares leave the leaft.
Inclofure, woodland, and m.arfhy Hares
the moft, efpeclally flie that forms in the
plafhy ground, or near the river fide or wet
ditch ; fhe leaves a ftrong fcent, being com-
monly diflempered and unhealthy.

* *' The fcent of young Flares Is ftronger than that of
** full grown ones, for their limbs being tender, the whole
** body drags on the ground. — At full moon the trail is
•* moil irregular ; for rejoicing in the light, they play toge-
•* ther, and throwing themfelves, make long intervals.'*
— Xenophon.

M The

1 62 Trailing and Starting^

The reafon low-land Hares fmell ftronger
than the down Hares, proceeds from the
fuperior ranknefs of their food, and the
effluvia in woods and inclofures, being far
better defended from wind and air than on
the bleak downs.

All Hares leave more fcent going to than
from relief, and never fmell fo ftrong as
when they pafture on young corn ; which
requires fo little confideration to account
for, I ihall for brevity's fake omit it, and
return to the Huntfman, whom we will fup-
pofe on good trail, and the Hounds doub-
ling and trebling.

About this time I fuppofe he is endea-
vouring to judge whereabout fhe may iit ;
if he is clever and lucky in this particular,
it not only proceeds from eileem, but that
defirable token of it field-money, which
makes many a man negled: his Dogs, too
much, in good trail, to myope about in the
hedges and brakes, in expedation of a fo-
ho ! ' To efpy a Hare no rules can be laid
down, fhe generally forms uncertain ;
whoever looks for her muft have the idea

of

mth DireBions to Huntfmcn, 163

of a Hare feated ftrongly pidured in his
mind.

They very feldom chufe to form in high
woods in autumn, becaufe the leaves,
acorns, and beech-maft, are continually fall-
ing J and in wet weather drops from the
trees diilurb them. They rather prefer the
dry brake, hedge, or ftubble.

In January, February, and March, Gen-
tlemen hunt in fome parts till the twenty-
fifth ; they feat moft uncertain, and wander
fuch a vail: circuit, an indifferent Huntf-
man may trail all day long, and not ftart.
What adds to their uncertain forming, be-
fides the feafon of bucking, is, they are fo
liable, under warm dry hedges and bram-
bles, to be peftered with Pifmires, or mo-
lefted with Vipers, and fuch vermin, that
they prefer the open fields and plowed lands.

Let us imagine, that by this time the
Huntfman has cried So-ho ! Obferve how
the Heroes prefs together, and parley over
the imagined vidim. Pride of their eager
hearts, and glory of the field ! How each
(ere fhe leaps from form) wifely pronounces
or fize or gender. The unexperienced
M 2 youth.

164 trailing a?2d St artmgy

youth, with eyes convulfed, and phyz dif-
tort and pale, in imperfedt, hafty ftammers,
proclaims a flamming Bitch -, whilft fome
graver Sire (whom age and experience bid
be pofitive) with paralytic nods, and afped:
four, portending contradidlion, affirms fhe
is fmall and young. Learned fage ! Others,
in joyful confuiion, amaze, and fufpence,
fcarce diftinguifh whether it is a Hare or
not. The Huntfman, on whom for fupe-
rior knov/ledge each dependent is, from
maxims of his own, arbitrarily decides the
fex. But to fuch Wifeacres, who pretend
with certainty, from the whitenefs of one
part, or rednefs of another, to diftinguifli
Buck from Doe, it may be faid, there is
but male and female; and the man who ne-
vtv faw a Hare in his life, but declares his
opinion at random, it is a tofs up if he is
not as often right as the wifeft of them. But
to proceed, as we have imagined a fo-ho !
we may as well fuppofe flie is a(5lually on
foot. Hark ! the hills and woods refound
the loud acclaim.

Now the leaden -heeled Hind and brawny
Peafant, with hob- nailed fhoone, labour

o'er

with DireSlions to Uuntfmen, 16^

o'er the clod ; the infecfl world tremble at
their tread, the hardy Woodman fpeeds
from toil, the Plowman quits the uniinifh«
ed furrow ; all fcamper o'er the plain, mul-
tiplying as they go : fome armed with
clubs or flaves, in leathern jerkins clad 1
others the flail or dung-fork wield, and in.
frocks of white or azure hue (fuccindl for
fpeedj terrific feem. Each generous heart
difdains to lie behind. Nov/ no diftindtion
rules. The King, the Keifer, the Lord,
the Hind, Fellows alike, and Competitors
in the field. Now, Huntfman, lay in your
Dogs well, and rather whifper than bellow
to them, till they undertake it, and go on
full cry. Follow yourfelf at a due diftance,
and, as occafion requires, re-cheat them ;
if you have not a horn, call them two or
three times together, foftly ! foftly ! for
nought but general emulation reigns. Sire
with Son, and Son with Sire contend ; im-
petuous drive the Dogs. Beware the un-
experienced Sportfman, whether on foot or
horfeback -, be fure check his forwardnefs.
Many people think a chief part of hunting
-confifts in hollowing loud, and running
M 3 or

i66 Trailing and Star ting ^

or riding hard ; but they are miftaken, and
fuch perfons, gentle or fimple, muft not be
offended if the Huntfman fwears at them,
he has a right to do fo. No tongue can be
allowed but his, nor, at this time, no foot
more forward than his own.

A clofenefs on the Dogs, it is well
known, hurries them too much, being apt
of themfelves, in their firfl heat of mettle,
to over-fhoot the Game. Many hours fad
fport has happened from driving the Hounds
too faft, and confounding them with the
hollowing of the company, or a noify block-
head of a Huntfman or Whipper-in.

As Pufs takes her circuit, judgment is
often made of her gender. A Buck gives
fufpicion by beating the hard paths, ftony
highways, and taking a ring of a large ex-
tent in proportion to the compafs of his
feed and exercife, which may be gueffed at,
from the quantity of ground the Dogs trail-
ed over : it being worthy of notice, that, in
th^ progrefs of the chace, a Hare v^ill go
over great part of the trailed land, and vifit
her works of the preceding night and morn-
ing, unlefs ihe takes endways, which^ after

a ring

with TiireBiom to Huntfmen, \6j

a ring or fo, a Buck is apt to do, and loiter
a vaft way on frefh ground, without offering
to return.

The Doe now and then doubles in a (hort
Ipace, and feldom holds an end, unlefs
knit, or at the end of the feafon has kin-
dled. At fuch times fhe often runs forward,
and fcarce ever returns to her young, or ef-
capes with life, being naturally weak and
unfit for fatigue.

Yet, notwithftanding all that can be ad-
vanced, both fexes regulate their condudt
much according to the feafon and weather.
After a rainy night, in a woody country,
neither Buck nor Doe cares to keep the co*
vert, the wet and drops that hang on the
fprays offend them ; therefore they hold the
highways or flony lanes, for as the fcent
naturally lies ftrong, they beat the roads
that take the leaft : not that a Hare judges
upon what foil the fcent lies weakeil, it is
her ears that chiefly direct her ; for the
Hounds being oftener at default on the hard
paths than the turf, ihe finds herfelf not fo
clofely purfued, by being not much alarm-
ed with the continued cry of the Dogs at
M 4, her

1 68 Trailing and Starting,

her heels. The larger the cry, the more
fhe is terrified, and failer flie fpeeds, the cer-
tain effed of which is a heart broke fooner
than with a kennel, in number and good-
nefs equal, that fpent their tongues lefs free.

The fame principle direds her to feek
the covert in autumn, when the ground is
dry, and wind bleak and cold at north or
eaft ; then Pufs runs the paths that are co-
vered with leaves, which are fo continually
falling and blowing about, the beft Hounds
can make but little of her -, therefore her
alarms being not of long continuance, but
feldom and fhort, fhe refls contented where
jhe is leaft difturbed.

If a Hare is trailing to form, on that de-
pends great part of the fuccefs of the hunt ;
if fhe is beat up, the firft ring is a founda-
tion for the fucceeding paftime, all the
tucks and doubles fhe afterwards makes, be-
ing, in a great meafure, like the firil.

According to the ground (he runs, the
Fieldmen are to ftation themfelvesj no two
are to fland prating together ; let each pur-
fue the method he thinks befl for afTifting

the

with DireSlions to Huntfmen. 169

the Dogs, and his own diverfion. This is
the time to give proof of good judgment.

If any perfons are lying back, or guarding
the foil, I recommend flanding alone, quiet
and private as poffible. Above all, obferve
the wind. Whoever fits in the wind, hun-.
dred to one he does not fee the Hare, unlefs,
at a great diftance, fhe drops back, or leaps
afide, for the reafons before obferved.

On fight of the Hare, and llie happens
to quat, fiience will be an argument of
great prudence ; if the Dogs are at default,
let them remain fo : but if fhe goes forward,
and will fpeed, the Ungle view hollow, if the
Huntfman is within hearing, is allowable,
in order to encourage and give him infor-
mation what part fhe bears for.

Beware, above all things, the vile prac-
tice of hollowing off the Hounds, to lay
them in after a view 3 leaving unhaunted
ground is the worfl thing can poflibly hap-
pen. Befides, it not only fpoils the Dogs,
and accufloms them at every fault to liflen
for the hollov/, but it is foul fport and con-
demnable.

I hinted fome time pail, the Huntfman

fhould.

I70 Tl'r ailing and Starting,

£hould, by all means, go on the iirft ring ;
a deal depends on his knowledge of it in the
courfe of Hunting -, and as he follows, it
cannot be amifs to fmooth here and there
with his foot* feveral parts of the circuit
the Hare makes, efpecially under gates,
ftiles, entrances and endings of bye-lanes and
highways, as often as time and the foil
will admit.

By this means (if fhe doubles) he will
certainly prick her upon fome of thofe pla-
ces again and again, and be of fingular ufe
to the Hounds in drawing the hot foil.
As he pricks her, let him brufh it out and
re- fmooth the places. This is the beft me-
thod of treading a foil, and if done with
judgment, no Hare that holds her foiling
can efcape, if the Huntfman is allowed to
put it in practice.

It is a rule among Sportfmen, when a
Hare runs the double, to fet people to it
backwards, in order to meet, and oblige her

* Thefe letters, which feem calculated for fome very
lifongly inclofed country, agree with Xenophon's account
of hunting in the mountainous and woody country of
Greece j the horfe in. boilkfcem entirely to be ufelefs.

with DireSfions to 'Huntfmen. 171

to take frefli ground ; the confequence of
which often has been, that having met and
hooped her, fhe has redoubled back a few
rods, and leaped off into fome hedge or brake,
and there quat^ till the Dogs (confounded
in the miHfl: of two equal burning heats)
T.afs her and come to the dead default.
Now the judgment of the Huntfman, and
ilanchnefs of the Hounds, are to be appro-
ved ', but thefe I ihall referve for the next
chapter.

LETTER

[ 172 ]

E T T E R VI.

Of the Default, with fome Cau-
tions; alfo of ^marvellous Tal^^
of Hares at Default,

THE chief con fiderat ions at default
are, how long the Hare has been on
foot, and how far the Hounds make it
good? If ihe has not been run half her
time (as near as judgment can be made), the
Huntfman muft try expeditiouily a wide
circle, changing his Dogs hard and quick on
the highways,- and fo perfiil in trying circle
within circle, till he returns to the place the
Dogs threw up at. On the other hand, if
file has been drove hard three parts of her
time, or is near dead run, fhe will only leap
off a few rods, and quat, until one or other

of

Default, with Cautions, &c. 173

of the Dogs jumps upon her. Therefore, in
fuch cafe, the Huntfman needs only to try
a fmall circle, not nimble, but flow and fure,
with great caution and care ; for the compafs
being fo little, he has no occafion to draw Co
hafty about as if twice as large.

Take heed of talking too loud to the
Hounds ; I have heard fome fellows in an
harfh tone, inftead of cheriihing, rate and
confound them ; there are Dogs of fhy
fearful tempers that v/ill fcarce bear fpeak-
ing to. Give me a fellow of everlafting
patience and good temper, that does not
hunt becaufe it is his buHnefs, but loves it
naturally ; one with a moderate voice and
clear, thatfpeaks to an old Hound at default,
quick, but not noify, and cheriihes him
nimbly, very often, and in a tone that en-
forces life and courage, and compels him to
iloop perpetually.

Beware unhaunted ground ; the inconve-
niency attending it will be too apparent.
Avoid likewife the prevailing fault of leaving
the recovery to endeavour to prick; it is
not the Huntfman's bulinefs, but the com-
pany's in the field ; therefore he fhould not,

upon

174 Default y with Cautionff

upon any account, attempt it : for whilft
lie is myoping about, the Dogs throw up,
not one in twenty has his nofe to the
ground. If it happens to be a long dead
default, pay fome regard, Huntfman, to the
tender-nofed babbling Dog you difregardcd
in the morning; the delicacy of his noftrils
may be fufceptible of the fcent a long time
later than a ftancher Hound. You have
feid, fuchand fuch a Dog deferves hanging;
Le will open at nothing at all, fay you : but
beware, my friend, if it is not the contrary,
and owing to his fuperior excellence of
fcenting; for, as I have already obferved, a
Hare that relieved at twelve at night, the
tender Hound you condemn will challenge
cheerily next morning, and in the prefent
difheartening cafe, if he does but open, it
may encourage fome ftancher Hound to
run in and ftoop ; which, after a long tedi-
ous default, he would not otherwife do. I
have known Huntfmen fo diHrefled, to
make their Dogs try and floop (when it has
\>^&vi found w^hich way the Hare has baulked
them,) that they have rung an old Hound's
ears fo cleverly, he has roared as if he had

hit

a?2d marvellous ^ales of Hares . ly^

hit upon a burning fcent, which has invited
the pack together, and given them fuch
ipirits, every Dog has ftooped and tried it.

How numerous are the marvellous ftories
of Hares at default, tending chiefly to ag-
grandife their extenfive capacity and cun-
ning. Some we read of, when hard preiled,
that have ftarted frefh Hares, and quatted in
their forms -, others climbed upon quickfet
hedges, and ran a long way upon the top,
then leaped off, and baulked the Dogs,
Some have made to furze-bufhes, and leaped
from bufh to bufh, like Squirrels from
fpray to fpray, by which means the Hounds
have been at irrecoverable defaults. Becaufe
I never experienced fuch craft and policy, it
would be wrong to deny the reality of it:
but, faith, I fmile to read or hear of
Hares that played fuch pranks with defign
or on purpofe.

I have ktn. inftances of their dropping
back, and feating again in the fame forms ;
alfo of vaulting, running through houfes,
creeping into fheep-cotes, and, in open
countries, of holding the fheep-blemifh,
and intermixing with the flock ; but moft

of

176 T)e faulty with Cautions ^

of thole tricks are done when a Hare is har-
raffed out of her fenfes, and not by pure
contrivance and defign.

I will venture to affirrri, if a Hare has
any cunning at all, flie never fhews it {q
much (being never more fafe) than Vi^hen
fhe continues the foil, or traverfes her
ring over and over.

I laugh at the fimpleton, that does not
confider it is a poor Hare's extraordinary
fear, not the efFcdl of judgment, that drives
and provokes her to fuch rafh and danger-
ous attempts, and fhall think the man
fliallow brained himfelf that contends for
tlie contrary.

On recovery, judgment may be made
from the time the Hare has run, and time
ihe has quat, how long fhe may be likely to
ftand ; the Huntfman is never to quit the
default, v/hilfl day-light and weather per-
mit : if the Hare is not killed or taken up,
there is no good reafon why it is not to be
hit oif ; and it fliould be a ftanding maxim,
that it is ever as eafy to recover a loft Hare
as to flart a frelh one.

By a long quat^ after a moderate hunt, a

Hare

and marvellous Tales of Hares , lyj

Hare often becomes ftiff, therefore the
Hunters fhould prefs in upon the Dogs,
efpeclally in covert : many Hares are eat
up by the Hounds for want of forming fome
fuch judgment, and then the fimple Huntf-
mian damns and fwears at the Dogs ; where-
as his own defert fliould be a cudgel for his
ftupldity, the Hounds being entitled to
every Hare they hunt ; it is the chief re-
ward of their labour and merit.

It is diverting to hear country fellows,
on light of a Hare, cry out flie is all over
in a fweat, which is a monflrous ignorance.
The mofl indifferent Sportfmen know to the
contrary, the leafl proof not being to be
found on the niceft examination, no more
than of a Dog or Cat's fweating.

There is another prevailing notion^, very
vulgar, much talked of, and lefs underftood,
that the longer a Hare has been hunted,
the weaker the fcent grows. I never found
fuch an alteration ; and, if any judgment is
allowed to be made from the behaviour of
the Hounds, the old ftanch Dogs will be
found to rate on, towards the conclulion of

* See the former EiTay, p. So.

N the

jy^ Default y iDith Cautions,

the hunt, with additional vigour, not from
decay of fcent, but the contrary j whence
they become, every inch they go, more fen-
lible of their near approach to the Hare,
than all the Hunters in the field.

But ihould it be maintained, the fmell
does really decreafe, the more a Hare is
prefled, what can it be owing to ? To lay
it down as fadt, without offering fome rea-
ibn, is certainly a very arbitrary determina-
tion. Is it becaufe ihe is run out of wind?
If that is allowed, Cafuifts, who maintain
Hounds hunt the foot, mufl give up the ar-
gument : for what reafon can be affigned
why a Hare's it^ty immediately before her
death, do not leave as ilrong and equal fcent
as at flarting.

Hares, or other creatures, hard run,
perform their infpiration and expiration
very quick, at leafh fix times in proportion
for once they otherwife would, if cool and
not urged. Now, if fix expirations, under
ievere purfuit, are equal to one, when a Hare
is jufl ftarted, what difference can there be
in the fcent ?

It may be alledged, the fcent lies ilronger

at

and marvellous Tales of Hares, 179

at iirfl, becaufe it makes its return from a
full ftomach, or that at ftarting, the lungs
having not fuffered much diftention, flie
breathes freer, which, by running low to the
earth, intermixes better with the herbage.
On the other hand, that a Hare long hunted
runs high, and of courfe emits her breath
farther off from the furface, therefore more
liable to be fooner feparated, and overcome
by wind and air.

To the firft part I anfwer, the fafter a
Hare runs, the longer ftretches ; therefore
the lower fhe lies to the ground, but the
farther the Hounds are behind ; and her
breath (though expired ever fo free) re-
mains a long time, in proportion to the
diftance, before the Dogs come up to enjoy
it.

In the fecond place, the hard hunted
Hare makes her ftretches ihorter, which
brings her body naturally more upright and
high from the furface, and the fcent hereby
is more liable to be fooner overcome by
wind and weather. But, then, as /he
breathes quick in proportion, as I juft faid,
and Hiortens her pace in a fenfible degree,
N z the

i8o Default, with Cautions ,

the Hounds, fo much as flie fhortens, fo
much do they haften, being drawn on by an
increafing fcent, even until Madam feels
them at her heels.

Another reafon, more natural and eafy
than either of the aforefaid, why a Hare,
towards the end of the hunt, is often diffi-
cult to be killed, is, that if fhe holds her
circuit, fhe confines her works in a much
ihorter compafs, doubles here and there over
and over; {hifts, redoubles, and tries all
places for reft and fecurity, making a deal of
foiling in a little fpace, which variety of
equal fcent puzzles the Dogs exceedingly.
But this is difcourfe the illiterate Huntf-
man troublea himfelf little about, his chief
iludy and height of genius extending little
farther than to that moft defirable excellence
of hollowing loud, and winding the ilraight
horn, and talking to his Dogs in an unin-
telligible jargon, that a Hottentot would
blulli to be mafter of.

So much for Kare-hunting. If you
meet with any of my fentiments that agree
with your own, or that give the leafl fatis-
fadory information, I am fatisiied. You

know

and marvellous Tales of Hares. 1 8 1

know I live in the woodland country, and
write like fuch a one; my Huntfman is
obliged to be always on foot, and a nimble
one. The properties requilite to make a
good one, are, as before is hinted, everlafting
patience, indefatigablenefs, a good heel, to-
lerable mufical voice, and a natural love for
Hounds and Hunting. Lying tongues the
honefteft carry, but if they do not impofe
on their Maflers it may be pardoned. Hare-
hunting is a fine recreation, and, for innu-
merable reafons, worthy of being followed,
but often fuch hard exercife on foot, that
were boys put apprentice to it, not one in
fifty would ferve out his time.

N -J AN

A N

ACCOUNT

OF THE

HUNTING EXCURSIONS

O F

ASOPH UL DOULAH,

Vifier of the Mogul Empire, and Nabob of Oude.

B Y /

WILLIAM BLANE, Esq^

Who attended in thefe E.vcurfions in the Years
2785 and 17B6,

N 4

{ »85 )

AsopH Ul Doulah's Hunting

Excursions.

THE Vifier always fets out upon liis
annual hunting party a foon as the
cold feafon is well fet in ; that is, about
the beginning of December ; and he flays
out till the heats, about the beginning of
March, force him back again. During this
time, he generally makes a circuit of coun-
try from four to fix hundred miles, always
bending his courfe towards the fkirts of the
Northern Mountains, where the country^
being wild and uncultivated, is the moft
proper for game.

When he marches, he takes with him,
not only his houfehold and Zenana *, but all
his Court, and a great part of the inhabi-

^ The Seraglio.

tants

tS6 'AfiphVlBoulaJf^

tants of his capital. Befides the immediate
attendants about his perfon, in the various
capacities of Rhidmitgars*, Frafliesf, Chob-
darsj, Harcaras§, Mewatics •[ , &c. which
may amount to about two thoufand> he is at-
tended in camp by five or fix hundred horfe,
and leveral battahons of regular fepoys, with
their field-pieces. He takes with him
about four or five hundred elephants ; of
thefe fome are broke in for riding, fome for
fighting, fome carry baggage, and the reft
are refervedfor clearing the jungles || andfo-
refts of the game : of the firft kind, there

* Footmen, or valets-de-chambre.

«|- Servants whofe bufinefs is to pitch tents in the field,
and in the houfe to fpread the carpets, &c. and keep the
apar ments clean.

X Servants who carry a filver mace In front of the pro-
cefiion, who attend at the door to announce ftrangers and
vifitors, and who are fent upon meflages of ceremony.

§ Servants employed for meflages, and to procure in-
telligence.

^ A fe£l of Hindoftan foldiers, principally employed as
miards.

1! Defert and uncultivated places, whether covered with
long grafs or reeds, or with brufh-wood, or forefts.

are

Hunting Excurfions, 187

are always twenty or thirty ready t:aparifon-
ed, with Howdahs * and Amarys -f-, that at-
tend clofe behind the one he rides upon him-
felf, that he may change occafionally to any
of them he Hkes ; or he fometimes permits
fome of his attendants to ride upon them.
He has with him about five or fix hun-
dred fumpter horfes, a great many of
which are always led ready faddled near
him ; many of them are beautiful Perfian.
horfes, and fome of them of the Arabian
breed ; but he feldom rides any of them.
Of wheel carriages, there are a great many
of the country fafhion drawn by bullocks,
principally for the accommodation of the

* The fame as Amarys, but without a canopy.

-f- AnAmaryis the machine faftened upon the back of the ele-
phant for riding in. It is generally made of wood, painted and
gilded. It is of a fquare form, with ledges about eight inches
high^ and in two divifions, tlie largeft before, and a fmall
one behind for a fervant : the firil divifion is from three to
four feet wide, with cufhions and bedding in it ; and the
whole is covered by a canopy, fupported with eight ftand-
ards, and covered with Englilh broad cloth, either plain <jr
embroidered .

women j

l88 'Afoph VI Boulah's

women ; befides which, he has with him a
couple of Englifh chaifes, a buggy or two,
and fometimes a chariot ; but all thefe, like
the horfes, are merely for ihow, and never
ufed 'y indeed, he feldom ufes any other con-
veyance but an elephant, or fometimes,
when fatigued or indifpofed, a palanquin, of
which feveral attend him.

The arms he carries with him are a vail
number of matchlocks — a great many Eng-
lifh pieces of various kinds — piftols (of
which he is very fond), a great number, per-
haps forty or fifty pairs — bows and arrov/s
—befides fwords, fabres, and daggers innu-
merable. One or more of all thefe different
kinds of arms he generally has upon the
elephant with him, and a great many more
are carried in readinefs by his attendants.

The animals he carries for fport are dogs,
principally greyhounds, of which he has
about three hundred — hawks, of various
kinds, at leafl two hundred — a few trained
leopards, called Cheetahs, for catching deer
' — and to this lift I may add a great many
markfmen, v/hofe profefTion is to fhoot deer

— *and

Hunting Ex cur [ions. 189

i— and fowlers who provide game ; for
there are none of the natives of India who
have any idea of fhooting game with fmall
Ihot, or of hunting with flow hounds. He
is alfo furniilied with nets of various kinds,
fome for quail, and others very large, for
fifliing, which are carried along with him
upon elephants, attended by fiihermen, lb
as to be always ready to be throv/n into any
river or lake he may meet with on the
march.

Befides this Catalogue for the fport, he
carries with him every article of luxury or
pleafjre -, even ice is transported along v/ith
him to cool his water, and make ices ; and
a great many cgrts are loaded with the
Ganges water, which is efteemed the beft
and lighten in India, for his drink. The
fruits of the feafon, and freili vegetables,
are fent to him daily from his gardens to
whatever diftance he may go, by laid bear-
ers, ftationed upon the road at the diflance
of every ten miles, and in this manner con-
vey whatever is fent by them at the rate of
four miles an hour, night and day, Befides

the

1 90 ^Ifoph XJl Doulats

the fighting elephants, which I have men-
tioned, he has with him fighting antelopes,
fighting buffaloes, and fighting rams, in
great numbers : and laftly, of the feathered
kind (befides hawks), he carries with him
feverai hundred pigeons, fome fighting
cocks, and an endlefs variety of nightin-
gales, parrots, minos, &c. all of which are
carried along with his tents.

What I have hitherto enumerated are
the appendages of the Nabob perfonally ;
befides which, there is a large public Ba-
zar, or, in other words, a moving town, at-
tends his camp, confifting of fhopkeepers
and artificers of all kinds, money changers,
dancing women, &c. &c. 5 fo that, upon
the moil moderate calculation, the number
of ibuls in his camp cannot be reckoned at
lefs than twenty thoufand.

There are generally about twenty or thir-
ty of the gentlemen of his Court, who at-
tend him on his hunting parties, and are
the companions of his fports and pleafures.
They are principally his own relations in
different degrees of confanguinity , and

fuch

Hunting Excurf^ons. 191

luch as are not related to him, are of the
old refpedtable families of Hindoftan, who
either have Jaghires, or are otherwife fup-
ported by the Nabob : all of thefe are ob-
liged to keep a fmall eftablifhment of ele-
phants for the fake of attending the Nabob ;
befides horfes, a palanquin, &c.

The Nabob, and all the gentlemen of his
camp, are provided with double fets of tents
and camp equipage, which are always fent
on the day before to the place whither he in-
tends going, which is generally about eight
or ten miles in whatever direction he experts
mofl game; fo that by the time he has fi-
niflied his fport in the morning, he finds the
whole camp ready pitched for his recep-
tion.

His Highnefs always rifes before day-
break, and after ufmg the hot bath, he eats
an Engllih breakfaft of tea and toaft, which
is generally over by the time the day is well
broke. He then mounts ' his elephant, at-
tended by all his houfehold and Swary, and
preceded by fome muficians on horfeback,
fmging and playing on mufical inflru-
mcnts. He proceeds forwards, and is'pre-

fently

igz Afoph JJlTiQulaloi

fently joined, from the different quarters of
the camp, by the gentlemen of his Court,
who, having paid their refpe6ts, fall in upon
their elephants on each fide of, or behind,
the Nabob's, fo as to form a regular moving
Court or Durbar ; and in this manner they
march on converfmg together, and looking
out for game. A great many dogs are led
before, and are conflantly picking up hares,
foxes, jackalls, and fometimes deer. The
hawks are alfo carried immediately before
the elephants, and are let fly at whatever
game is fprung for them, which generally
confifts of partridges, in great numbers and
varieties, quails, buftards, and different
kinds of herons, which lafl give excellent
fport with the falcons, or fharp-winged
hawks. The Nabob takes great pains in
ranging the elephants in a regular line,
which is very exteniive, and by proceeding
in this manner no game can efcape. The
horfe are generally at a little diilance upon
the wings, but fmall parties of three or four
borfemen are placed in the intervals of, or
before the elephants, in order to ride after
the hawks, and affiil the dogs when loofed

at

Himttng ExcurJJons. 193

at deer ; or very often the horfemen run
down what we call the hog-deer, without
any dogs. Wild boars are fometimes Part-
ed, and are either fliot or run down by the
dogs and horfemen.

When intelligence is brought of a tyger,
it is matter of great joy, as that is con-
iidered as the principal fport, and all the
reft only occafional to fill up the time.
Preparations are inftantly made for purfuing
him, which is done by affembling all the
elephants, with as many people as can con-
veniently go upon their backs, and leaviag
all the reft, whether on foot, or on horfe-
back, behind. The elephants are then
formed into a line, and proceed forward
regularly ; the Nabob and all his attendants
having their fire-arms in readinefs. The
cover, in which the tyger is moft frequently
found, is long grafs, or reeds fo high as
often to reach above the elephants, and it is
very difficult to find him in fuch a olace,
as he either endeavours to fteal off, or lies
fo clofe that he cannot be roufed till the
elephants are almoft upon him. He then
O roars

194 Afoph Ul DoiilahU

roars and fkulks away, but is fhot at as
foon as he can be feen ; and it is generally
contrived, in compliment to the Nabob,
that he ihall have the firft {hot at him. If
he is not difabled, he continues fkulking
away, the line of elephants following hipi,
and the Nabob and others fhooting at him
as often as he can be feen, till he falls.
Sometimes, when he can be traced to a
particular fpot where he couches, the ele-
phants are formed into a circle round him,
and in that cafe, when he is roufed, he
generally attacks the elephant that is near-
eil: to him, by fpringing upon him with a
dreadful roar, and biting at, or tearing him
with his claws : but in this cafe, frorn his
being obliged to fhew himfelf, he is foon
difpatched by the number of fhots aimed at
him ; for the greateft difficulty is to roufe
him, and get a fair view of him. The ele-
phants all this time are dreadfully fright-
ened, fhrieking and roaring in a manner
particularly expreffive of their fear : and
this they begin as foon as they fmell him,
or hear him growl, and generally endeavour

to

Hunting Ex curjion 5, 195

to turn back from the place where the tyger
is : fome of them, however, but very few,
are bold enough to be driven up to attack
him, which they do by curling the trunk
clofe up under the mouth, and then char-
ging the tyger with their tuiks ; or they en-
deavour to prefs him to death by falling on
him with their knees, or treading him un-
der their feet. Ifone tyger is killed, it is
confidered as a good day's fport ; but
fometimes two or three are killed in onp
day, or even more, if they meet with a fe-
male and her cubs. The Nabob then pro-
ceeds towards his tents upon the new
ground, fo that every day is both a march-
ing day and a day of fport ; or fometimes he
halts for a day or two upon a place that he
likes, but not often. When he gets to his
tents, which is generally about eleven or
twelve o'clock, he dines, and goes to fleep
for an hour or two. In the afternoon he
piounts his elephant again, and takes a cir-
cuit about the fkirts of the camp, with the
dogs and hawks ; or fometimes amufes him-
felf with an elephant fight, with fhooting
at a mark, or fuch likeamufements ; and
O 2 this

196 '^fophVl Doulah's

this courfe he repeats every day infallibly
during the whole of the party.

The other principal objed:s of the Na-.
bob's fport are, wild elephants, buffaloes,
and rhinoceros.

I was prefent two years ago at the chace
of a wild elephant of prodigious fize and
ftrength. The plan nril: followed, was to
endeavour to take him alive by the affiftance
of the tame elephants, who tried to furround
him, whilft he was kept at bay by fire-
works, fuch as crackers, porte- fires, &c.
but he always got off from them, notwith-
ffanding the drivers upon fome of the tame
elephants got fo near as to throw noozes of
very ffrong ropes over his head, and endea-
voured to detain him by faftening them
round trees, but he fnapped them like
packthread, and held on his way towards
the foreff. The Nabob then ordered fome
of the ffrongell: and moft furious of his
fighting elephants to be brought up to him.
As foon as one of them came near him, he
turned and charged him with dreadful fury -,
fo much foj^that in the ffruggle with one of
them he broke one of his tufks by the mid-

dle^

Hunting Excurfions. 1 97

die, and the broken piece (which was up-
wards of two inches in diameter, of foHd
ivory) flew up in the air feveral yards above
their heads. Having repelled the attacks
of the fighting elephants, he purfued his
way with a flow and fuUen pace towards his
cover. The Nabob then feeing no poffibi-
lity of taking him alive, gave orders for kill-
ing him. An inceffant fire from match-
locks was immediately commenced upon
him from all quarters, but with little efFedl,
for he twice turned round and charged the
party. In one of thefe charges he flruck
obliquely upon the elephant which the
*Prince rode, and threw him on his fide, but
fortunately pafTed on without offering far-
ther injury to him. The Prince, by laying
hold of the Howdah, kept himfelf in his
feat, but the fervant he had behind, and eve-
* ry thing he had with him on the Howdah,
was thrown off to a great diflance. At laft,
our grifly enemy was overpov/ered by the

* This Prince was the Shaw Zadah, eldefl: fon to the
Great Mogul, who had at this time taken refuge with the
Vifier from the perfecution of his father's minifters.

O 3 number

19^ AfophUl Doulah's

number of bullets fhowered upon him from
all fides, and he fell dead, after having re-
ceived, as was computed, upwards of one
thoufand balls in his body : he had carried
us a chace of eight or ten miles after him,
and afforded us fport from morning till
twelve o'clock. The following year the
Nabob took fifteen wild elephants at once.
They had wandered up a narrow valley in
the mountains, which was terminated by
inacceflible precipices, and when they had
got to the end of it, the country people
threw up a ftrong rampart of trees, ftones,
earth, &c. acrofs the valley behind them,
and confined them in it. After having
been much reduced by hunger, they were
all taken alive, by letting in the tame ele-
phants amongft them.

The hunting the wild buffaloe is alio
performed by fhooting him fropn elephants;
but he runs fo fail that it is very difficult to
get up with him, and as there are no dogs
who will attack him, the horfemen are fent
after him to endeavour to ftop or turn him,
but they dare not venture near, as he runs

at

Hunting Excurfions. 199

at them, and can eafily tofs a horfe with his
horns, if he comes within his reach: but
when he can by any means be retarded, fo as
to let the elephants come up, he is foon
difpatched by the match-lock : fome of the
buffaloes are of prodigious fize and ftrength,
and have an uncommonly wild and furious
look, and they are fo formidable in the jun-
gles, that it is faid even the largeft royal
tyger never ventures to attack them.

I have never feen the rhinoceros hunted,
although there are many of them on the
route the Nabob goes i but they generally
keep to the thick forefts where it is impofli-
ble to follow them. When they can be
got at, they are purfued upon elephants and
Ihot; but it is both more difficult and dan-
gerous than any other fport, for even the
elephant is not fafe againft him -, for if he
charges an elephant and rips him with his
horn, he generally kills him on the fpot ;
and except his eyes or temples, and a fmall
part of his breafl before the fhoulder, he is
invulnerable to the largeft mufket ball in
every other part of his body.

O 4 When

200 ^foph UI Doukh's

When the Prince is with the Nabob upon
the party, the etiquette obferved in regard to
him, is this : as foon as the Nabob is mount-
ed, he goes in front of the Prince's tent, and
there waits till he is ready -, as foon as his
Royal Highnefs comes out of his tent, the
Vifier pays his obeifance by making his
elephant kneel down, and then makes three
Jalatm to him. The Prince is then mount-
ed upon his elephant, which is made to ad-
vance about eight or ten paces in front of
the Nabob and the refl: of the party, and in
that ftation he marches on. When they
arrive at the new camp, the Nabob attends
him to the door of his tent, and then takes
his leave ; and this form he repeats regu-
larly twice every day.

As you may be curious to know how I
difpofe of myfelf in the party, I fliall briefly
mention it. I generally have two or three
elephants of my own well caparifoned, and
a double fet of tents, one of which is al-
,,M^ays fent on with the Nabob's, fo that I
am entirely independent in refped: to my
equipage ; and as both the Perfian and In-

doftan

Hunting Excurfions, 201

doftan languages are familiar to me, I mix
a good deal in converfation with the Na-
bob and the gentlemen about him, and con-
form myfelf as much as poffible to their
manners and cuftoms ; and although I am
defirous of being confidered entirely on an
equal footing with the native gentlemen
about the court, yet the Vilier generally
ihews me particular marks of attention, by
making me ride clofe to himfelf.

THE

THE

C HACK.

POEM.

B Y

William somervile, Esq^

Nee tibi cura Canum fuerit poftrema.

ViRG. Georg. in.

Romanis folenne viris opus, utile famae,

Vitaeque, & membris.

HoK. Ep. XVIII. Lib. i.

THE

PREFACE.

THE old and Infirm have at leaft this
privilege, that they can recall to
their minds thofe fcenes of joy in which
they once delighted, and ruminate over
their pafl pleafures, with a fatisfacSion almolt
equal to the iirft enjoyment. For thofe
ideas, to which any agreeable fenfation is
annexed, are ealily excited -, as leaving be-
hind them the moft ftrong and permanent
impreffions. The amufements of our
youth are the boaft and comfort of our de-
clining years. The ancients carried this
notion even yet further, and fuppofed their
heroes In the Elylian Fields were fond of the
very fame diverlions they exercifed on earth.
Death Itfelf could not wean them from the

accuftomed fports and gayeties of life.

Pars

ao6 Preface to

Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaeftris,
Contendunt ludo, & fulva luitantur arena :
Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, & carmina dicunt.
Arma procul currufque vlrum miratur inanes.
Stant terra defixse haftse, paflimque foluti
Percampos pafcuntur equi. Quae gratia currutn
Armorumque fuit vivis, quse cura nitentes
J'afcere equos, eadem fequitur tellure repoftos.

ViRG. i^neid. VI,

Part on the grafly cirque their pliant limbs

In wreftling exercife, or on the fands

Struggling difpute the prize. Part lead the ring.

Or fwell the chorus with alternate lays.

The chief their arms admires, their empty cars.

Their lances fixM in earth. Th' unharnefs'd Heeds

Graze unreftrain'd j horfes, and cars, and arms.

All the fame fond deflres, and pleafing cares.

Still haunt their (hades, and after death furvive,

I hope, therefore, I may be indulged (even by
the more grave and cenforious part of man-
kind) if, at my leifure hours, I run over, in
my clbow^- chair, fome of thofe chaces,
which were once the dehght of a more vi-
gorous age. It is an entertaining, and (as
I conceive) a very innocent amufement.
The refult of thefe rambHng imaginations
will be found in the following poem j which
if ecjually diverting to my readers, as to

myfelf,

the Chace, 20^

myfclf, I fhall have gained my end. I
have intermixed the preceptive parts with
io many defcriptions and digreflions in the
Georgick manner, that I hope they v^ill not
fce tedious. I am fure they are very necef-
fary to be well underflood by any gentle-
tleman, vvho would enjoy this noble fport
in full perfedlion. In this at leaft I may
comfort myfelf, that I cannot trefpafs up-
on their patience more than Markham,
BJome, and the other prpfe writers upon
this fubjedt.

It is moft certain, that Hunting was the
exercife of the greateft heroes in antiquity.
By this they formed themfelves for war 3
and their exploits againft wild beails were a
prelude to their future vid:ories. Xeno-
phon fays, that almofl all the ancient he-
roes, Neftor, Thefeus, Caftor, Pollux,
UlyiTes, Diomedes, Achilles, &c. were
MaG-/jW Kvyyiyeffiuv, difciples of hunting; be-
ing taught carefully that art, as what would
be highly ferviceable to them in military
difcipline. Xen. Cynegetic. And Pliny
obferves, thofe who were defigned for great
captains, were firfl taught certare cum

fugacibus

20 8 Preface to

fugaclbus ferls curfu, cum audaclbus robore,
cum callidis aftu : to contefl: with the
fwiftefl: wild beafts, in fpeed ; with the
boldeft, in flrength; with the moil cunning,
in craft and fubtilty. Plin. Panegyr.
And the Roman Emperors, in thofe mo-
numents they ereffled to tranfmit their ac-
tions to future ages, made no fcruple to
join the glories of the chace to their moft
celebrated triumphs. Neither were their
poets wanting to do juflice to this heroick
exercife. Belide that of Oppian in Greek,
we have feveral poems in Latin upon Hunt-
ing. Gratius was contemporary with Ovid ;
as appears by this verfe,

Aptaque venanti Gratius arma dabit.

Lib. IV. Pont.

Gratius fhall arm the huntfman for the chace.

But of his works only fome fragments re-
main. There are many others of more
modern date : amongft thefe, Nemelianus,
who feems very much fuperior to Gratius,
though of a more degenerate age. But on-
ly a fragment of his iirft book is preferved.
We might indeed have expected to have

feen

the Chace, 209

feen It treated more at large by Virgil in his
third Georgick, fince it is exprefsly part of
his fubjed:. But he has favoured us only
with ten verfes -, and what he fays of dogs,
relates wholly to greyhounds and mafliffs.

Veloces Spartae catulos, acremque molofTum.

Geor. lii.

The greyhound fwift, and maftifPs furious breed.

And he direds us to feed them with butter-
milki Pafce fero pingui. He has, it is
true, touched upon the chace in the 4th and
7th books of the iEneid. But it is evident^
that the art of hunting is very different now
from what it was in his days, and very
much altered and improved in thefe latter
ages. It does not appear to me that the
ancients had any notion of purfuing wild
beafts by the fcent only, with a regular and
well-difciplined pack of hounds y and
therefore they muft have pafTed for poachers
amongfl: our modern fportfmen . The muf-
ter roll given us by Ovid, in his flory of
Adascn, is of all forts of dogs, and of all
countries. And the defcription of the an-
P cient

210 Preface to

cicnt hunting, as we find it in the Antiqiii-
ties of Pere de Montfaucon, taken from the
fepulchre of the Nafos, and the arch *of
Conftantine, has not the leaft trace of the
manner now in ufe.

Whenever the ancients mention dogs fol-
lowing by the fcent, they mean no more
than finding out the game by the nofe of
one fingle dog. This was as much as they
knew of the odora canum vis. Thus Ne-
mefianus fays,

Odorato nofcunt veftigia prato,
Atque etiam leporum fecreta cubilia monftrant.

They challenge on the mead the recent ftains.
And trail the hare unto her fecret form.

Oppian has a long defcription of thefe dogs
in his firfi: book from ver. 479 to 526,
And here, though he feems to defcribe the
hunting of the hare by the fcent through
many turnings and windings, yet he really
fays no more, than that one of thofe
hounds, which he calls iKviv1ri^e<;, finds out
the game. For he follows the fcent no fur-
ther than the hare's form j from whence,
after he has flarted her» he purfues her by

fight.

the Chace, 2tt

fight. I am indebted for thefe two laft re-
marks to a reverend and very learned gen-
tleman, v^hofe judgment in the Belles Let-
tres no body difputes, and v^^hofe approba-
tion gave me the aflurance to piiblifh this
poemo

Oppian alfo obferves, that the beft fort
of thefe finders were brought from Britain ;
this ifland having always been famous (as it
is at this day) for the beft breed of hounds,,
for perfons the beft fkilled in the art of
hunting, and for horfes the moft enduring
to follow the chace. It is therefore flrange
that none of our poets have yet thought it
worth their while to treat of this fubjedl *
which is without doubt very noble in itfelf^
and very well adapted to receive the moft
beautiful turns of poetry. Perhaps our
poets have no great genius for huntingi
Yet I hope, my brethren of the couples, by
encouraging this firft, but imperfed: t "ny^
will fhew the world they have at leafl fome
tafte for poetry.

The ancients efleemed hunting, not only

as a manly and warlike exercife, but as

highly conducive to health. The famous

P ?; Galen

^ 1 2 Preface to

Galen recommends it above all others, a§
not only exercifing the body, but giving de-
lisht and entertainment to the mind. And
he calls the inventors of this art v^^ife men,
and well fkilled in human nature. ** Lib.
** de parvs Pilas Exercitio."

The gentlemen, who are fond of a gingle
at the clofe of every verfe, and think no
poem truly mufical but what is in rhime,
will here find themfelves difappointed. If
they will be pleafed to read over the .ihort
preface before the Paradife Loft, Mr.
Smith's Poem in memory of his friend Mr.
John Philips, and the Archbifhop of Cam-
bray's Letter to Monfieur Fontenelle, they
may probably be of another opinion. For
my own part, I fhall not be afhamed to fol-
low the example of Milton, Philips, Thorn-
fon, and all our beft tragick writers.

Some few terms of art are difperfed here
and there 5 but fuch only as are abfolutely
requifite to explain my fubjec^. I hope in
this the cri ticks will excufe me -, for I am
humbly of opinion, that the aifedtation,
and not the neceilary ufe, is the proper ob-
jedl of their cenfure.

But

the Chace, 2 1 3

But I have done. I know the Impatience
of my brethren, when a fine day, and the
concert of the kennel, invite them abroad.
I fhall therefore leave my reader to fuch di-
verfon as he may find in the poem itfelf.

En age, Segnes,
Rumpe moras, vocat Ingenti clamore Cithjeron,
Taygetique canes, domitrixqvie Epidaurus equorum;
Et vox aflenfu nemorum ingeminata remugit.

ViRG. Georg. in.

Hark away,
Cafl: far behind the ling'ring cares of life.
Cithasron calls aloud, and in full cry
"Thy hounds, Taygetus. Epidaurus trains
For us the gen'rous fteed ; the hunter's fhoutSj,
And chearing cries, afTenting woods return.

THE

THE

C H A C E^

BOOK THE FIRST.

ARGUMENT.

THE Subjeft propofed. Addrefs to his Royal Highnefs the
Prince. The Origin of Hunting. The rude and unpoliih-
cd Manner of the firft Hunters. Beafts at firft hunted for
Food and Sacrifice. The Grant made by God to Man of
the Beafts, &c. The regular Manner of Hunting firft
brought into this Ifland by the Normans. The beft Hounds
andbeftHorfes bred here. The Advantage of this Exercife
to us, as Iflanders. Addrefs to Gentlemen of Eftates. Si-
tuation of the Kennel and its feveral Courts. The Diver-
fion and Employment of Hounds in the Kennel. The dif-
ferent Sorts of Hounds for each different Chace. Defcrip-
tion of a perfedl Hound. Of fizing and forting of Hounds ;
the middle-fized Hound recommended. Of the large
deep-mouthed Hound for hunting the Stag and Otter. Of
the Lime Hound ; their Ufe on the Borders of England and
Scotland, A phyfical Account of Scents. Of good and
bad fcenting Days. A fhort Admonition to my Brethren of
the Couples.

1. HE chace I fing, hounds, and their various breed,
And no lefs various ufe. O thou great prince !
Whom Cambria's tow'ring hills proclaim their lord,
Deign thou to hear my bold, inltrudlive fong.

P 4 While

2i6 Somervile^s [first

While grateful citizens, with pompous fhevv.
Rear the triumphal arch, rich with th* exploits
Ot thy illuftrious houfe j while virgins pave
Thy way with flow'rs, and, as the royal youth
Faffing they view, admire, and figh in vain ;
While crowded theatres, too fondly proud
Of their exotic minftrels, and fhrill pipes,
The price of manhood, hail thee with a fong.
And ain foft-warbiing; my hoarfe-founding horn
Invites thee to the chace, the fport of kings ;
Image of war, without its guilt. The Mufe
Aloft on wing fhall foar, condudl with care
Thy foaming courfer o'er the fteepy rock.
Or on the river bank receive thee fafe,
Light-boftnding o'er the wave, from fhore to fliore.
Be thou our great protestor, gracious youth !
And if, in future times, fome envious prince,
Carelefs of right and guileful, fhould invade
Thy Britain's commerce, or Ihould ftrive in vaia
To wreft the balance from thy equal hand j
Thy hunter-train, in chearful green array'd,
(A band undaunted, and inur'd to toils,)
Shall compafs thee around, dye at thy (ttty
Or hew thy pafTage thro' th' embattled foe.
And clear thy way to famej infpir'd by thee,
The nobler chace of glory fhall purfue
Thro' fire, and fmoke, and blood, and fields of deatli.

Nature, in her produ<5lions flow, afpires
Py juft degrees to reach perfeftion's height :

So

BOOK.] Chace, 217

So mimick art works leifurely, till time
Improve the piece, or wife experience give
The proper finiihing. When Nimrod bold.
That mighty hunter, firft made war on beafts.
And ftain'd the wood-land green with purple dye.
New, and unpolifh'd was the huntfman's art ;
No dated rule, his wanton will his guide.
With clubs and (lones, rude Implements of war,
He arm'd his favage bands, a multitude
Untrain'd ; of twining ofiers form'd, they pitch
Their artlefs toils, then range the defert hills.
And fcow*r the plains below : the trembling herd
Start at th' unufual found, and clam'rous fhout
Unheard before ; furpriz'd, alas ! to find
Man now their foe, whom erft they deem'd their lord.
But mild, and gentle, and by whom as vet
Secure they graz*d. Death ftretches o'er the plain
Wide-rwafting, and grim {laughter red with blood :
Urg'd on by hunger keen, they wound, they kill.
Their rage licentious knows no bound ; at Jaft
Incumber'd with their fpoils, joyful they bear
Upon their fhoulders broad the bleeding prey.
Part on their altars' fmokes a facrifice
To that all-gracious Pow'r, whofe bounteous hand
Supports his wide Creation ; what remains
On living coals they broil, inelegant
Of tafte, nor fkill'd as yet in nicer arts
Of pamper'd luxury. Devotion pure.
And flrong neceffity, thus firft began

The

2 1 8 Somervile's [first

The chace of beads : tho* bloody was the deed,
Yet without guilt. For, the green herb alone
Unequal to fuftain man's laboring race,
* Now ev'ry moving thing that liv'd on earth
Was granted him for food. So juft is Heav*ri
To give us in proportion to our wants.

Or chance or induftry in after-times
Some few improvements made, but fhort as yet
Of due perfedlion. In this ifle remote
Our painted anceftors were ilow to learn.
To arms devote, in the politer arts
Nor fkill'd nor ftudious -, till from Neuftria's coafts
Vidtorious William to more decent rules
Subdu'd our Saxon fathers, taught to fpeak
The proper dialedl, with horn and voice
To chear the bufy hound, whofe well-known cry
His lift'ning peers approve with joint acclaim.
From him fucceflive huntfmen learn'd to join.
In bloody focial leagues, the multitude
Difpers'd, to fize, to fort their various tribes.
To rear, feed, hunt, and difcipline the pack.

Hail, happy Britain ! highly favoured ifle.
And Heav'n's peculiar care ! To thee 'tis giv'n
To train thefprightly fleed, more fleet than thofe
Begot by winds, or the celeftial breed
That bore the great Pelidesthro* the prefs
Qi heroes arm'd, and broke their crowded ranks ;

* Gen, chap, ix, ver. 3.

Which,

BOOK.] Chace, 219

Which, proudly neighing, with the fun begins

Chearful his courfe, and ere his beams decline

Has meafured half thy furface unfatigued.

In thee alone, fair land of liberty !

Is bred the perfedt hound, in fcent and fpeed

As yet unrival'd, while in other climes

Their virtue fails, a weak degen'rate race.

In vain malignant fleams and winter fogs

Load the dull air, and hover round our coafts;

The huntfman, ever gay, robuft, and bold.

Defies the noxious vapour, and confides

In this delightful exercife, to raife

His drooping head, and chearhis heart with joy.

Ye vig'rous youths, by Imiling fortune blefl
With large demefnes, hereditary wealth,
Heap'd copious by your wife fore-fathers care.
Hear and attend ! while I the means reveal
T'enjoy thofe pleafures, for the weak too ftrong.
Too coflly for the poor ; to rein the fleed
Swift-flretching o'er the plain ; to chear the pack
Opening in concerts of harmonious joy.
But breathing death. What, tho' the gripe fevere
Of brazen-fifted Time, and flow difeafe
Creeping thro' ev'ry vein, and nerve unflrung,
Afflidt my fhatter'd frame, undaunted ftill,
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 fcene

In

220 Somervile's [first

In all its fplendors decked, 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 vet'ran's lole delight.

Firfl: let the kennel be the huntfman's care.
Upon fome little eminence eredt,
And fronting to the ruddy dawn; its courts
On either hand wide op'ning to receive
The fun'^ all chearing beams, when mild he fliines.
And gilds the mountain tops. For much the pack
(Rous'd from their dark alcoves) delight to llretcb.
And b?fk, in his invigorating ray:
Warn'd by the flreaniing light and merry lark.
Forth rufh 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 Mules aid ; untouch'd, unflrung.
Lies my mute harp, and thy defponding bard
Sits darkly mufing o'er th' unfinifh'd lay.

Let no Corinthian pillars prop the dome,
A vain expence, on charitable deeds
Better difpos'd, to cloath the tatter'd wretch
Who (brinks beneath the blaft, to feed the poor
rinch'd withafflidive want: for ufe, not ftate.

Gracefully

BOOK.] Chace, 221

Gracefully plain, let each apartment rife.

O'er all let cleanlinefs prefide, no fcraps

Beftrew the pavement, and no half- pick'd bones,

To kindle fierce debate, or to difguft

That nicer fenfe, on which the fportfman's hope

And all his future triumphs muft depend.

Soon as the growling pack with eager joy

Have lapp'd their fmoking viands, morn or eve.

From the full ciftern lead the dudtile ftreams.

To -walh 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 bruih th* entangled covert, whofe nice fcent

O'er greafy fallows and frequented roads

Can pick the dubious way ? Baniih far off

Each noifomeftench, let no ofFenfive fmell

Invade thy wide inclofure, but admit

The nitrous air and purifying breeze.

Water and ihade no lefs demand thy care :
In a large Iquare th' adjacent field inclofe,
There plant in equal ranks the fpreading elm.
Or fragrant lime ; moll happy thy defign,
If, at the bottom of thy fpacious court,
A large canal, fed by the cryftal brook.
From its tranfparent bofom fhall refledt
Thy downward flru6ture 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 tongues,

And

±2i Somervzie*s [first

And drop their feeble tails, to cooler (hades
Lead forth the panting tribe ; foon (halt thou find
The cordial breeze theif fainting hearts revive :
Tumultuous foon they plunge into the ftream.
There lave their recking fides, with greedy joy
Gulp down the flving wave, this way and that
From Ihore to fhore they fwim, while clartiour loud
And wild uproar torments the troubled flood :
Then on the funnv bank they roll and ftrctch
Their c pn'-ng limbs, or elfe in wanton rings
Courfint; around, purfuing and purfued,
The merry multitude difporting play.

But here with watchful and obfervanteye
Attend their frollcks, which too often end
In bloody broils and death. High o*er thy head
Wave thy reiounding whip, and with a voice
Fierce-menacing o'er-rule the ftern debate.
And quench their kindling rage •, for oft in fpott
Begun, combat enfues, growling they fnarl.
Then, on their haunches rear'd, rampant they feizg
Each other's throats, with teeth and claws^ in gore
Befmear'd, they wound, they tear, till on the groundj
Panting, half dead theconquer'd champion lies:
Then fudden all the bafe, ignoble crowd
Loud-clain'ring feize the helplefs worried wretch.
And, thirftingfor his blood, drag diff'rent ways
His mangled carcafs on th' enfanguin'd plain.
O ! breafts of pity void I t' opprefs the weak,
To point your vengeance at the friendlefs head,

And

^

BOOK.] Chace. 223

And with one mutual cry infult the fallen !
Emblem too juft of man's degen'rate race.

Others apart by native inflindl led,
Knowing inftru6tor ! 'mong the ranker grafs
Cull each falubrious plant, with bitter juice
Concodlive ftor'd, and potent to allay
Each vitious ferment. Thus the hand divine
Of Providence, beneficent and kind
To all his creatures, for the brutes preferibes
A ready remedy, and is himfelf
Their great phyfician. Now grown ftiff with age^
And many a painful chace, the wife old hound,
Regardlefs of the frolick pack, attends
His mailer's fide, or (lumbers at his eafe
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 fpeed.
Bounds o'er the lawn to feize his panting prey.
And in imperfed: whimp'rings fpeaks his joy.

A diff' rent hound for ev'ry diff'rent chace
Select with judgment ; nor the tim'rous hare
O'er-match'd deftroy, but leave that vile offence
To the mean, murd'rous courfing crew, intent
On blood and fpoil. O blaft their hopes, juft Heav'n \
And all their painful drudgeries repay
With difappointment and fevere remorfe.
But hufband thou thy pleafures, and give fcope
To all herfubtle play ; by nature led,

A thou-

2 24 Somerviles [f r R s t*

A thoufand fhifts fhe tries ; t* unravel thefc
7ii' indijftrious beagle twifts his waving tailji
Thro' ai] her labyrinths purfues, and rings
Her doleful knell. See there with count'nance blithe^
And witn 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 b.andifhments and humble joy ',
His glofly fkin, or yellow-pied, or blue,
In lighis or fhades by nature's pencil drawn,
Refleds the various tints ; his ears and legs,
Fleckt here and there, in gay enamel'd pride^
R val the fpeckled pard ; his rulh-grown tail
O'er his bioad back bends in an ample arch ;
On flioulders clean, upright and firm he (lands ;
Hts round cat foor,ftrait hams, and wide-fpread thighs^
And his low-dropping cheft, confefs his fpeed,
His ftrength, his wind, or on the ileepy hill.
Or far extended plain ; in ev'ry part
So well proportion'd, that the nicer fkill
Of Phidias himfelf can't blame thy choice.
Of fuch compofe thy pack. But here a mean
Obferve, nor the large hound prefer, of fize
Gi^antick : he in the thick- woven covert
Painfully tugs, or in the thorny brake
Torn and embarrafs'd bleeds : but if too fmall.
The pigmy brood in ev'ry furrow fwims ;
Moil'd in the clogging clay, panting they lag
Behind inglorious j or elfe fhivering creep

Bcnumb'd

BOOK.] Chace, ... 2:25

fienumb'd ^nd faint beneath the {helt'ring thorn.
For hounds Of middle iize, aflive and ftrong.
Will better anfwef all thy various ends,
And crown thy pleafing labours with fuccefs.
As fome brave captain, curious and exai^.
By his fix'd flandard forrhs in equal ranks
His gay battalion, as one man they move
Step after ftep, their fize the fame, their arms
Far-gleaming, dart the fame united blaze ;
Reviewing generals his merit own ;
How regular I 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 jufl applaufe.
But above all take heed, nor mix thy hounds
Of difTrent 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 {lately (lag, that o'er the woodland reigns j
Or if th' harmonious thunder of the field
Delight thy ravifh'd ears ; the deep-flew'd hound
Breed up with care, flrong, heavy, flow, but fure ;
Whofe earsdown-hanging from his thick round head
Shall fwecp the morning dew, whofe clanging voice
Awake the mountain echo in her cell.
And fli;ike the forefls : the bold talbot kind
Of thefe the prime, as white as Alpine fnows ;
And great their ufe of old. Upon the banks

Q^ Of

226 Somervile's [first

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 pilPring race ; welltrain'd and ikill'd

In all the myfteries of theft, the fpoil

Their only fubflance, feuds and war their fport:

Not more expert in ev'ry fraudful art

Th' arch * felon was of old, who by the tail

Drew back his lowing prize : in vain his wiles.

In vain the flicker of the cov'ring rock,

In vain the footy cloud, and ruddy flames

That illu'd from his mouth ; for foon he paid

His forfeit life : a debt how juftly due

To wrong'd Alcides, and avenging Heav'n !

Veil'd in the fliades 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 flails proted: the fleer, nor flrongbarr'd doors

Secure the fav'rite horfe. Soon as the morn

Keveals his wrongs, with ghaftly vifage wan

The plundered owner flands, and from his lips

A thoufand thronging curfes burft their way :

He calls his flout allies, and in a line

His faithful hound he leads, then with a voice

That utters loud his rage, attentive chears:

Soon the fagacious brute, his curling tail

* Cacus, Virg. /Er\, lib. viii.

Flourifli'd

BOOK.] Chace, 227

Flourifh'd in air, low-bending plies around
His bufy nofe, the (learning vapour fnuffs
Inquifitive, nor leaves one turf untried,
Till, confcious of the recent ftains, his heart
Beats quick" ; his fnuffling nofe, his adive tail,
Atteft his joy ; then with deep op'ning 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,
0*er beaten paths, with men and beafts diftain'd,
Unerring he purfues, till, at the cot
Arriv'd, and feizing by his guilty throat
The caitif vile, redeems the captive prey :
So exquifitely delicate his fenfe !

Shou'd fome more curious fportfman here enquire,
"Whence this fagacity, this wond'rous pow'r
^ Of tracing, ftep by ftep, or man or brute ?
What guide invifible points out their way
O'er the dank marlh, bleak hill, and fandy plain ?
The courteous Mufe fhall the dark caufe reveal.
The blood that from the heart incelLnt rolls
In many a crimfon tide, then here and there
In fmaller rills difparted, as it flows
Propell'd, the ferous particles evade
Thro' th' open pores, and with the ambient air
Entanglina mix. As fuming vapours rife.
And hang upon the gently purling brook,

0^2 There

2 23 Somervik's [first

There by th' incumbent atniofphere comprefs'd.

The panting chace grows warmer as he flies.

And thro' the net-work of the ikin perfpires ;

Leaves a long-flreaming trail behind, which by

The cooler air condens'd, remains, unlefs

By Tome rude florm difpers'd, or rarified

By the meridian fun's intenfer heat.

To ev'ry flirub the warm effluvia cling,

Hang on the grafs, impregnate earth and fkies.

With noftrils op'ning wide, o'er hill, o'er dale.

The vig'rous hounds purfue, with ev'ry breath

Inhale the grateful fleam, quick pleafures fling

Their tingling nerves, while they their thanks repay^

And in triumphant melody confefs

The titillating joy. Thus on the air

Depend the hunter's hopes. When ruddy flreaks

At eve forebode a bluft'ring flormy day,

Or low'rins clouds blacken the mountain's brow.

When nipping frofts, and the keen biting blafts

Of the dry parching Eaft, menace the trees

With tender bloflbms teeming, kindly fpare

Thy fleeping pack, in their warm beds of flraw

Low-finking at their eafe ; lifllefs they flirink

Into feme dark recefs, nor hear thy voice

Tho' oftinvok'd ; or haply if thy call

P».oufe up the flumb'ring tribe, with heavy eyes

Giaz'd, lifelefs, dull, downward they drop their tailsl

Inverted ; high on their bent backs ereft

Their pointed briflles flare, or 'mong the tufts

Of

BOOK.] Chace. 229

Of ranker weeds, each {lomach-healiiig plant
Curious they crop, fick, fpiritlefs, 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.
Butif th' inclement fk-ies and angry Jove
Forbid the pleafing intercourfe, thy books
Invite thy ready hand, each facred page
Rich 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 Heav'n,
That Britain yet enjoys dear liberty.
That balm of life, that fweeteft blefFing, cheap
Tho' purehas'd with our blood. Well-bred, polite,
Credit thy calling. See ! how mean, how low.
The booklefs faunt'ring youth, proud of the fkut
That dignifies his cap, his flourifh'd belr.
And rufty couples gingling by his f^de.
Be thou of other mould ; and know that fuch
Tranfporting pleafures were by Heav'n ordain'd
Wifdom's relief, and virtue's great reward.

0^3 BOOK

^jo Somerviles [second

BOOK THE SECOND.

ARGUMENT.

OF the Power of Inftinft in Brutes. Two remarkable In-
flances in the Hunting of the Roe-buck, and in tlie Hare go-
ing to Seat in the Morning. Of the Variety of Seats or
Forms of the Hare, according to the Change of the Seafon,
Weather, or Wind. Defcription of the Hare-hunting in all
its Parts, interfperfed with Rules to be obferved by thofe
who follow that Chace. Tranfition to the Afiatic Way of
Hunting, particularly the magnificent Manner of the Great
Mogul, and other Tartarian Princes, taken from Monfieur
Bernier, and the Hiftory of Gengifkan the Great. Con-
cludes with a fhort Reproof of Tyrants and Opprcffors of
Mankind.

N<

OR will it lefs deli2;lit th' attentive fage
T' obferve that inftindl, which unerring guides
The brutal race, which mimics reafon's lore
Andofttranfcends. Heav'n-taught,the roe-buck fwift
Loiters at eafe before the driving pack,
And mocks their vain purfuit ; nor far he flies
But checks his ardour, till the fleaming fcent,
That frefhens on the blade, provokes their rage.
Urg'd to their fpeed, his weak deluded foes
Soon flag fatigued ; flrain'd to excefs each nerve.
Each flacken'd finew fails ; they pant, they foam ;

Then

BOOK.] Chace, 231

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 inftindt that direfls the jealous hare
To chufe her foft abode : with ftep revers'd
She forms the doubling maze ; then, ere the morn
Peeps thro' the clouds, leaps to her clofe recefs.

As wand'ring fhepherds on th* Arabian plains
No fettled refidence obferve, but Ihift jq

Their moving camp ; now, on feme cooler hill
With cedars crown 'd, court the refrefliing breeze ;
And then, below where trickling ftreams dillill
From feme penurious fource, their thirft allay.
And feed their fainting flocks ; fo the wife hares
Oft quit their feats, left fome more curious eye
Shou'd mark their haunts, and by dark treach'rous

wiles
Plot their deftruftion ; 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 moift marfh, 'mong beds of rulhes 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 helplefs young :
But when autumnal torrents and fierce rains
Deluge the vale, in the dry crumbling bank
Their forms they delve, and cautioufly avoid
The dripping covert : yet when winter's cold

0^4 Their

232 Bomervile's [second

Their limbs benumbs, thither with fpeed return'd.
In the long grafs they ikulk, or Ihrinking 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 fubtje, various game, nor wafte in vain
His tfedious hours, till his impatient hounds.
With difappointment vex'd, each fpringing lark
Babbling purfue, far fcatter'd o'er the fields.
Now golden autumn from her open lap
Her fragrant bounties Iho v'rs ; the fields are (horn ;
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 daddies bend beneath their load.
All now is free as air, and the gay pack
In the rough briftly fiubbles range unblam'd ;
No widow's tears o'erflow, no fecret curfe
Swells in the farmer's breafl:, 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 hollows loud,
Charm'd with the rattling thunder of the field.
Oh bear me, fome kind pow'r invifible !
To that extended lawn, where the gay court
View the fwitt racers, firetching to the goal j
Games more renown'd, and a far nobler train,

Than

BOOK,] Chace. 233

Than proud Elean fields could boaft 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 profpedt loft, beholds at laft
Sarum's proud fpire, that o'er the hills afcends.
And pierces thro' the clouds. Or to thy downs.
Fair CocPvVold, where the well-breath'd beagle climbs.
With matchlefs fpeed, thy green afpiring brow.
And leaves the lagging multitude behind.

Hail, gentle dawn ! Mild blulhing goddefs, hail !
Rejoic'd I fee thy purple mantle fpread
O'er half the fkies, gems pave thy radiant wajr.
And orient pearls from ev'ry flirub depend.
Farewel, Cleora, here deep funk in down
Slumber fecure, with happy dreams amus'd.
Till grateful fteams fhall tempt thee to receive
Thy early meal, or thy officious maids.
The toilet plac'd, fhall urge thee to perform
Th' important work. Me other joys invite.
The horn fonorous calls, the pack awak'd
Their mattins chant, nor brook niy long delay :
My courfer hears their voice j fee there with ears
And tail ereft, neighing he paws the ground;
Fierce rapture kindles in his redd'ning eyes.
And boils in ev'ry vain ! As captive boys,
Cow'd by the ruling rod, and haughty frowns
Of pedagogues fevere, from their hard tafks
Jf once difmifs'd, no limits can contain.

The

234 Somervile*s [seconb

The tumult rais'd within their little breads.
But give a loofe to all their frolick play :
So from their kennel rulh the joyous pack i
A thoufand wanton gayeties exprefs
Their inward extafy, their pleafmg fport
Once more indulged, and liberty reftor'd.
The rifing fun that o'er th' horizon peeps.
As many colours from their glofTy fkins
Beaming reflects, as paint the various bow
When April fhow'rs defcend. Delightful fcene !
Where all around is gay, men, horfes, dogs.
And in each fmiling countenance apppears
Frefh-blooming health, and univerfal joy.

Huntfman, lead on ! behind the cluft'ring pack
Submifs attend, hear with refpe6l thy whip
Loud-clanging, and thy harfl:ier voice obey :
Spare not the draggling cur, that wildly roves.
But let thy brifk affiftant on his back
Imprint thy juft refentments, let each lafh
Bite to the quick, till howling he return
And whining creep amid the trembling crowd.

Here on this verdant fpot, where nature kind
W^ith double bleflings crowns the farmer's hopes ;
Where flow'rs autumnal fpring, and the rank mead
Affords the wand'ring hares a rich repaft j
Throw off thy ready pack. See, where they fpread
And range around, and dafh the glitt'ring dew.
If fome ftanch hound, with his authentic voice.
Avow the recent trail, the juftling tribe

Attend

BOOK.] Chace, 235

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 aflur'd

With joy redoubled the low vallies ring.

What artful labyrinths perplex their way !

Ah ! there Iheliesi howclofe ! Ihe pants, fhe doubts

If now Ihe lives j fhe trembles as fhe firs.

With horror feiz'd. The wither'd grafs that clings

Around her head, of the fame ruffet hue,

Almofl deceiv'd my fight, had not her eyes

W^ith life full-beaming her vain wiles betray'd.

Atdiftance 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

Untra6lable, nor hear thy chiding voice.

Now gently put her off; fee how diredt

To her known mufe fhe flies ! Here, huntfman, bring

(But without hurry) all thy jolly hounds.

And calmly lay them in. How low they (loop.

And feem to plough the ground; then all at once

With greedy noftrils fnuff the fuming fleam

That glads their flutt'ring hearts. As winds let loofe

From the dark caverns of the blufl'ring god.

They burft away, and fweep the dewy lawn.

Hope

236 Shmervile's [second

Hope gives them wings, while (lie's fpurr'donby fear.
The welkin rings, men, dogs, hills, rocks, and woods.
In die 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 print
The grafs unbruis'd ; with emulation fir'd.
They drain 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 j with fteady hands by turns
Indulge their fpeed, or moderate their rage.
Where are their forrows, difappointments, wrongs,
Vexations, ficknefs, cares ? All, all are gone.
And with the panting winds lag far behind,

Huntfman ! her gaitobferve; if in wide rings ..
She wheel her mazy way, in the fam.e round
Perfifting ftill, fhe'll foil the beaten track,
But if Ihe fly, and with the fav'ring wind
Urge her bold courfe, lefs intricate thy tafk :
Pufh on thy pack. Like fome poor exil'd wretch^
The frighted chace leaves her late dear abodes.
O'er plains remote (he ftretches far away.
Ah ! never to return ! For greedy death
Hov'ring exults, fecure to feize his prey.

Hark ! from yon covert, where thofe tow'ring oaks
Above the humble copfe afpiring rife.
What glorious triumphs burll in ev'ry gale

Upon

'fcooic.] Chace. 237

Upon our ravifll'd ears ! The hunters (hout.

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. AfRiftive birch

No more the fchool-boy dreads; his prifon broke,

Scamp'ring he flies, nor heeds his mailer's call ;

The weary traveller forgets his road,

And climbs th' adjacent hill; the ploughman leaves

Th' unfinifli'd furrow ; nor his bleating flocks

Are now the fliepherd'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 fhe 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 utmofl: bound

Slyly Ihe fkirts ; behind them cautious creeps,

And in that very track, fo lately ftain'd

By all the fl:eaming crowd, feems to purfue

The foes fhe flies. Let cavillers deny

That brutes have reafon ; fure 'tis fomething more,

'Tis Heav'n direds, and flratagems infpires.

Beyond the fliort extent of human thought.

But hold 1 fee her from the covert break 5

Sad on yon little eminence fhe flrs ;
intent fhe lifl:cns with one ear ercdl,

Pond'ring,

238 Somer'uiles [second

Pond'ring, and doubtful what new courfe to take.
And how t' efcape the fierce blood-thirfty crew.
That Hill urge on, and ftill in vollies loud
Infuk her woes, and mock her fore diftrefs.
As now in louder peals the loaded winds
Bring on the gathering ftorm, her fears prevail.
And o'er the plain, and o'er the mountain's ridge,
Away Ihe flies ; nor ihips with wind and tide.
And all their canvas wings, fkud half fo faft.
Once more, ye jovial train, your courage try.
And each clean courfer's fpeed. We fcour along.
In pleafing hurry and confufion toft;
Oblivion to be wilh'd. The patient pack
Hang on the fccnt unwearied, up they climb.
And ardent we purfue ; our lab'ring fteeds
We prefs, we gore ; till once the fiimmit gain'c^
Painfully panting, there we breathe awhile j
Then like a foaming torrent, pouring down
Precipitant, we fmoke along the vale.
Happy the man, who with unrival'd fpeed
Can pafs his fellows, and with pleafure view
The ftruggling pack; how in the rapid courfe
Alternate they prefide, and juftling pufh
To guide the dubious fcent ; how giddy youth
Oft babbling errs, by wifer age reprov'd ;
How, niggard of his ftrength, the wife old hound
Hangs in the rear, till feme important point
Roufe all his diligence, or till the chace
jinking he finds ; then to the head he fprings

With

BOOK.] Chace, 239

With third of glory fir'd, and wins the prize.
Huntfman, take heed ; they flop in full career.
Yon crowding flocks, that at a diftance 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
Sallied 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 more
They're check'd- -hold back with fpecd-on either hand
They fiourifli round — ev*n yet perfift — 'Tis right.
Away they fpring ; the ruftling ftubbles bend
Beneath the driving ftorm. Now the poor chace
Begins to flag, to her laft fliifts reduc'd.
From brake to brake flie flies, and vifits all
Her well-known haunts, where once flie rang'd fecure.
With love and plenty bleft. See ! there flie goes,
She reels along, and by her gate betrays
Her inward weaknefs. Sec, how black flie looks !
The fweatthat clogs th' obfl:ru(fted pores, fcarce leaves
A languid fcent. And now in open view
See, fee, flie flies ! each eager hound exerts
His utmoft fpeed, and flretches ev'ry nerve.
How quick flie turns ! their gaping jaws eludes.
And yet a moment lives •, till round inclos'd
By all the greedy pack, with infant fcreams

Sh<^

240 Somerviles [sECofJDf

She yields her breath, and there reluctant dies.
So when the furious Bacchanals aflfaird
Threician Orpheus, jX)or ill-fated bard !
Loud was the cry, hills, woods, and Hebrus' banks^
Returned their clam'rous rage •, diftrefs'd he flies.
Shifting froni place to place, but flies in vain ;
For eager they purfue, till panting,, faint.
By noify multitudes o'erpower'd, he finks.
To the relentlefs crowd a bleeding prey.

The huntfman now, a deep incifion made.
Shakes out with hands impure, and dafhes 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 (he lieSj
A mangled coarfe ; in her dim glaring eyes
Cold death exults, and ftiffensev'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 ioud-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
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 Mule from faithful records fings.

Why

Book.] Chace, 241

Why on the banks of Gemna, Indian ftream.
Line within line, rife the pavilions proud.
Their filken ftreamers waving in the wind ?
Why neighs the warrior horfe ? From tent to tent,
Why prefs in crowds the buzzing multitude ?
Whyfhines thepolilh'd helm, and pointed lance.
This way and that far-beaming o*er the plain ?
Nor Vifapoiir nor Golconda rebel •,
Nor the great Sophi, with his numerous hoft.
Lays wade the provinces ; nor glory fires
To rob, and to deftroy, beneath the name
And fpacious guife of war. A nobler caufe
Calls Aurengzebe to arms. No cities fack'd.
No mothers tears, no helplefs orphans cries.
No violated leagues, with fharp remorfe
Shall fling the confcious vidor ; but mankind
Shall hail him good and jufl. For 'tis on beafta
He draws his vengeful fword ; on beaftsof prey
Full-fed with human gore. See, fee, he comes !
Imperial Dehli, op'ningvvide her gates.
Pours out her thronging legions, bright in arms.
And all the pomp of war. Before them found
Clarions and trumpetSj 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 Iteed, and watch his nod :

R And

242 Somervile's [secokd

And potent Rajahs, who themfelves prcfide

O'er reahiis of wide extent ; but here fubmifs

Their homage pay, alternate kings and flaves.

Next thcfe, with prying eunuchs girt around.

The fair Sultanas of his court ; a troop

Of chofen beauties, but with care conceal'd

From each intriifive eye ; one look Is death.

Ah, cruel Eaflern law ! (had kings a pow'r

But equal to their wild tyrannic will)

To rob us of the fun's all-chearing ray

Were lefs fevere. The vulgar clofe the march.

Slaves and artificers ; and Dehli mourns

Her empty and depopulated ftreets.

Now at the camp arriv'd, with Item review.

Thro' groves offpears, from file to file, he darts

His fharp experienc'd eye ; their order marks.

Each in his ftation rang'd, exaft and firm.

Till in the boundlefs line his fight is loft. .

Not greater multitudes in arms appear'd

On thefe extended plains, when Amnion's fon

With mighty Porus in dread battle join'd,

The vafiTal 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 fliore to fnore.

And drank the rivers dry. Meanwhile in troops

The bufy hunter-train mark out the ground,

* Xcr;tes.

A wide

BOOK.] Chace> 243

A wide circumference ; full many a league
In compafs round ; woods, rivers, hills, and plains.
Large provinces ; enough to gratify
Ambition's highefl 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 preiides.
Gives out his mandates proud, laws of the chace,
From ancient records drawn. With rev'rence lovVj
And proftrate at his feet, the chiefs receive
His irreverfible decrees, from which
To vary, is to die. Then his brave bands
£ach to his flation leads ; encamping round.
Till the wide circle is compleatly form'd.
Where decent order reigns, what thefe command
Thofe execute with fpeed, and pundtual care 5
In all the ftridteft difcipline of war :
As if fome watchful foe, with bold infult.
Hung low'ring o'er their camp. The high refolve^
That flies on wings thro' all th' encircling line^
Each naotion fleers, and animates the whole.
So, by the fun's attradive pow'r controll'd.
The planets in their fpheres roll round his orb.
On all he fliines, and rules the great machine.
Ere yet the morn difpels the fleeting mifts.
The fignal giv'n by the loud trumpet's voice^
Now high in air th' imperial flandard waves.
Emblazon 'd rich with gold, and glitt'ring gems 5
And like a flieet of fire thro' the dun gloom

R 2 Streaming

241- Somervile*s [sEcojJd

Streaming meteorous. The foldiers Ihouts,
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, tygers fell
Shrink at the noife, deep in his gloomy den
The lion ftarts, 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 parties here and there
Detach 'd o'er hill and dale, the hunters range
Inquifitive ; flrong dogs that match in fight
The boldeft brute, around their maflers wait,
A faithful guard. No haunt unfearch'd, they drive
From ev'ry covert, and from ev'ry den,
The lurking favages. Inceffant (houts
Re-echo thro* the woods, and kindling fires
Gleam from the mountain tops -, the foreft feems
One mingling blaze : like flocks of Iheep they fly
Before the flaming brand : fierce lions, pards.
Boars, tygers, bears, and wolves ; a dreadful crew
Of grim, blood-thirfly foes : growling along,
They flalk indignant ; but fierce vengeance flill
Hangs pealing on their rear, and pointed fpears
Prefert immediate death. Soon as the night
Wrapt in her fable veil forbids the chace.

They

BOOK.] Chace. 245

They pitch their tents, in even ranks, around

The circling camp. The guards are plac*d, and fires

At proper diftances afcending rife.

And paint the horizon with their ruddy light.

So round fome ifland's ihore 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 furrounding fire.

What dreadful bowlings, and what hideous roar,

Difturb thofe peaceful fhades ! where erft the bird

That glads the night had chear'd the lift'ning groves

With fweet complainings. Thro' the (ilent gloom

Oft they the guards affail ; as oft repell'd

They fly reludlant, 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 leflens, 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'd rage

Againft their fellow brutes. With teeth and claws

The civil war begins ; grappling they tear.

Lions on tygers prey, and bears on wolves ;

Horrible difcord \ till the crowd behind

Shouting purfue, and part the bloody fray.

At once their wrath fubfides ; tame as the lamb

The lion hangs his head ; the furious pard,

Pv 3 Cow'd

246 Somerviles [second

Cow'd and fubdu'd, flies from the face of man,
Nor bears one glance of his commanding eye.
So abjed; is a tyrant in diftrefs.

At ]aft within the narrow plain confin'd,
A lifted field, mark'd out for bloody deeds,
An amphitheatre more glorious far.
Than ancient Rome cou'dboaft,they crowd in heaps^
Difmay'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' aflert 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 fteeds
With decent pride they fit, that fearlefs hear
The lion's dreadful roar j and down the rock
Swift-fhooting plunge, or o'er the mountain's ridge
Stretching along, the greedy tyger leave
Panting behind. On foot their faithful flaves
Widi javelins arm'd attend 5 each watchful eyo
Fix'd on his youthful care, for him alone
He fears, and to redeem his life, unmov'd
Wou'd 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 flufhes in his cheeks.
I^^ov/ the loud trumpet founds a charge. The fliouts

Qf

BOOK.] Chace. 247

Of eager hofts, thro' all the circling line.
And the wild howlings of the beafts within.
Rend wide the welkin ; flights of arrows, wing'd
With death, and javelins launched from ev'ry arm.
Gall fore the brutal bands, with many a wound
Gor'd thro' and thro'. Defpair at laft prevails,
When faintinor nature fhrinks, and roufes all
Their drooping courage. Swell*d with furious rage.
Their eyes dart fire ; and on the youthful band
They rufli implacable. They their broad Ihields
Quick interpofe ; on each devoted head
Their flaming falchions, as the bolts of Jove,
Defcend unerring. Proftrate on the ground
The grinning monfters lie, and their foul gore
Defiles the verdant plain. Nor idle {land
The trufty flaves ; with pointed fpears they pierce
Thro' their tough hides, 01 at their gaping mouths
An eafier paffage find. The king of brutes
In broken roarings breathes his laft ; the bear
Grumbles in death ; nor can his fpotted ikin,
Tho' fleek it Ihine, 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 :
Men, horfes, dogs, fierce beafts of ev'ry kind,
A ftrange promifcuous carnage, drenched in blood.
And heaps on heaps amafs'd. What yet remain
Alive, with vain aflault contend to break
Th' impenetrable line. Others, whom fear
Infpires with felf-preferving wiles, beneath

R 4 The

24? Somerviles [second

The bodies of the flain for fhelter 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 compleat, and Aurengzebe
By one dread frown extinguifh'd half their race :
When lo ! the bright Sultanas of his court
Appear, and to his ravifh'd eyes difplay
Thofe charms, but rarely to the day reveal'd.

Lowly they bend, and humbly fue, to fave
The vanquifh'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 opprefTors, whofe vain hearts exult
In wantonnefs of pow'r, 'gainfl the brute race.
Fierce robbers like yourfelves, a guiltlefs war
W^age uncontroU'd : here quench your thirft of blood 5
But le^rn from Aurengzebe to fpare mankind,

BOOK

BOOK.] Chace, 249

BOOK THE THIRD,

ARGUMENT.

OF King Edgarj and his impofing a Tribute of Wolves Heads
upon the Kings of Wales : From hence a Tranfition t-> Fox-
Hunting, which is defcribed in all its Parts. Cenfure of an
over-numerous Pack. Of the feveral Engines to deftroy
Foxes, and other wild Beafts. The Steel-trap defcribed,
and the Manner of ufmg it. Defcription of the Pitfall for
the Lion ; and another for the Elephant. The ancient Way
of Hunting the Tyger with a Mirrour. The Arabian Man-
ner of hunting the wild Boar. Defcription of the Royal
§cag-chace at Windfor Foreft. Concludes with an Addrels
to his Majefty, and an Eulogy upon Mercy.

Xn Albion's ifle when glorious E^lgar reign'd,
He, wifely provident, from her white cliffs
Launch'd half her foreft, and with numerous fleets
Cover'd his wide domain •, there proudly rode
Lord of the deep, the great prerogative
Of Britiih monarchs. Each invader bold,
Dane and Norwegian, at a diftance gaz'd,
And, difappointed, gnalh'd his teeth in vain.
He fcour'd the feas, and to remotefl: fhores
With fwelling fails the trembling corfair fled.
Rich commerce flourifli'd, and with bufy oars
Palh'd the refounding furge. Nor lefs 3t land

His

2^o Somervile's [third

His royal cares ; wife, potent, gracious prince !
His fubjedts from their cruel foes he faved,
And from rapacious favages their flocks.
Cambria's proud kings (tho' with reludtance) paid
Their tributary wolves ; head after head.
In full account, till the woods yield no more,
And all the ravenous race extindt is loft.
In fertile paftures more fecurely graz'd
The fecial troops ; and foon their large increafe
With curling fleeces whiten'd all the plains.
But yet, alas ! the wily fox remained,
A fubtle, pilfVing foe, prowling around
In midnight Ihades, and wakeful to deftroy.
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 deareft treafure loft, thro' the dun night
Wanders perplex'd, and darkling bleats in vain ;
While, in th' adjacent bufli, poor Philomel
(Herfelf a parent once, till wanton churls
Defpoil'dher neft) joins in her loud laments.
With fweeter notes, and more melodious woe.

For thefe nodturnal thieves, huntfman, prepare
Thy fharpeft 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 blufti of day.
With thy far-echoing voice alarm thy pack.
And roufe thy bold compeers. Then to the copfe.

Thick

BOOK.] Chace, 25$

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 v^ith ev'ry mouth.
As ftraggling armies, at the trumpet*s voice,
Prefs to their ftandard ; hither all repair.
And hurry thro' the woods ; with hafty ftep
Ruftling, and full of hope 5 now driv'p on heaps
They puih, they ftrive j while from his kennel fneaks
The confcious villain. See ! he fkulks along.
Sleek at the fhepherd's coft, and plump with meals
Purloin'd. So thrive the wicked here below.
Tho' high his brufn he bear, tho' tipt with white
It gaily Ihine ; yet ere the fun declin'd
Recall the (hades of night, the pamper'd rogue
Shall rue his fate revers'd ; and at his heels
Behold the juft avenger, fwift to feize
His forfeit head, and thirfting for his blood.

Heavens ! 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 fhake.
Xhe chorus fwells ; lefs various, and lefs fweet

The

2^2 Somervile 's [third

The thrilling notes, when in thofc very groves

The fealher'd chorifters falute the fpring,

And ev'ry bufti in concert joins ; or when

The matter's hand, in modulated air.

Bids the loud organ breathe, and all the pow'rs

Of mufic in one inftrument combine.

An univerfal minflrelfy. 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 flraggling hound

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 fleed ;

Flourifh 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 ftream

In foaming eddies whirls •, in vain the ditch

Wide-gaping threatens death. The craggy fleep.

Where the poor dizzy (hepherd crawls with care.

And dings to ev'ry twig, gives us no pain ;

But down we fwcep, as floops the falcon bold

To pounce his prey. Then up th' opponent hill.

By the fwift motion flung, we mount aloft.

So Ihips in winter-feas now Aiding fink

Adown the fteepy wave ; then, tofs'd on high,

Kide on the billows, and defy the ftorm.

What

BOOK.] Chace. 253

What lengths we pafs ! where will th-e wand'ring
chace
Lead us bewilder'd ! Smooth as Iwallows fkim
The new-fhorn mead, and far more fwift, we fly.
See my brave pack ! how to the head they prefs,
Juftling 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 fleer, with wanton wing
Their figure oft they change, and their loud clang
From cloud to cloud rebounds. How far behind
The hunter-crew, wide-{l:raggling o*er the plain !
The panting courfer now with trembling nerves
Begins to reel j urg'd by the goring fpur,
Makes many a faint effort : he fnorts, he foams ;
The big round drops run trickling down his fides.
With fweat and blood diftain'd. Look back and view
The flrange confufion of the vale below,
Where four vexation reigns. See yon poor jade !
jn vain th' impatient rider frets and fwears.
With galling fpurs harrows his mangled fides ;
He can no more : his fliff, unpliant limbs
Pvooted in earth, unmov'd and fix'd he ftands.
For ev*ry cruel curfe returns a groan.
And fobs, and faints, and dies. Who without grief
Can view that pamper*d fleed, his matter's joy.
His minion, and his daily care, well cloath'd.
Well fed with ev'ry nicer cate ; no cofl,
No labour fpar'd ; who, when the flying chace

Broke

2^4 ^omervils's [third

Broke from the copfe, without a rival led
The num'rous train : now a fad fpedtade
Of pride brought low, and humbled infolence.
Drove like a pannier'd afs, and fcourgM along !
While thefe with loofen'd reins, and dangling heels.
Hang on their reeling palfreys, that fcarce bear
Their weights ; another in the treacherous bog
Liesflound'ringhalf ingulph'd. What biting thoughts
Torment th'abandon'd crew ! Old age laments
His vigour fpent : the tall, plump, brawny youth
Curfes his cumb'rous bulk, and envies now
The Ihort pygmean race, he whilom kenn'd
With proud infuking leer. A chofen few
Alone the fport enjoy, nor droop beneath
Their pleafing toils. Here, huntfman, from this height
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 brufh he drags.
And fweeps the mire impure ; from his wide jaws
His tongue unmoiften'd hangs ; fymptoms too fure
Of fudden death. Hah ! yet he flies, nor yields
To black defpair. But one loofe more, and all
His wiles are vain. Hark ! thro' yon village now
The rattling clamour rings. The barns, the cotj,
And leaflefs elms, return the joyous founds.
Thro' ev'ry homeftall, and thro' ev*ry yard.
His midnight walks, panting, forlorn, he flies 5
Thro* ev'ry hole he fneaks, thro* ev'ry jakes

Plunging

BOOK.] Chdce. i^^

Plunging he wades befmeared, and fondly hopes
In a fuperior flench to lofe his own :
But faithful to the track, th* unerring hounds
With peals of echoing vengeance clofe purfue.
And now diftrefs'd, no Ihelt'ring covert near.
Into the hen-rooft creeps, whofe walls with gore
Diftain'd atteft his guilt. There, villain, there
Exped: thy fate deferv'd. And foon from thence
The pack inquilitive, with clamour loud,
Drag out their trembling prize, and on his blood
With greedy tranfport feaft. In bolder notes
Each founding horn proclaims the felon dead.
And all th'affembled village Ihouts 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 repaft :
In the full glafs the liquid amber fmiles,
Our native produdt. And his good old mate
With choiceft viands heaps the lib'ral board.
To crown our triumphs, and reward our toils.

Here muft th' inftrudive Mufe (but with refpe<fl)
Cenfure that numerous pack, that crowd of flate.
With which the vain profufion of the great
Covers the lawn, and (hakes the trembling copfc.
Pompous incumbrance ! A magnificence
Ufelefs, vexatious ! For the wily fox.
Safe in th' increafing number of his foes.
Kens well the great advantage ; llinks behind
And flily creeps thro' the fame beaten track.

And

2^6 Somervi/e's [third

And hunts them ftep by ftep ; then views efcap'd^

With inward extafy, the panting throng

In their own footfteps puzzled^ foil'd, andlofl.

So when proud Eaftern kings fummon to arms

Their gaudy legions, from far diflant 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 compaft

Ofchofen vet'rans, they prefs blindly on.

In heaps confus'd, by their own weapons fall,

A fmoking carnage fcatter'd o'er the plain*

Nor hounds alone this noxious brood deftroy :
The plunder'd warrener full many a wile
Devifes to entrap his greedy foe,
Fat with nod:urnal fpoils : at clofe of day.
With filence drags his trail ; then from the ground
Pares thin the clofe graz'd turf, there with nice hand
Covers the latent death, with curious fprings
Prepar'd to fly at once, whene'er the tread
Of man or beaft unwarily fliall prefs
The yielding furface. By th' indented fleel
With gripe tenacious held, the felon grins.
And ftruggles, but in vain: yet oft 'tis known.
When ev'ry art has fail'd, the captive fox
Has fliar'd the wounded joint, and with a limb
Compounded for his life. But if perchance
In the deep piifall plung'd, there's no efcape;
But iinrepriev'd he dies, and bleach'd in air
The jefl of clowns, his reeking carcafs hangs.

Of

iBoblc.] Chdce. 257

Of thefe are various kinds : not ev'n the king
Of brutes evades this deep devouring grave ;
But by the wily African betray'd,
Heedlefs of fate, within its gaping jaws
Expires indignant. When the orient beatn
With bluihes paints the dawn ; and all the race
Carnivorous, with blood full-gorg'd, retire
Into their darkfome cells, there fatiate fnore
O'er dripping offals, and the mangled limbs
Of men and beads ; the painful forefter
Climbs the high hills, whofe proud afpiring topSj
With the tall cedar crown'd, and taper fir,
Affail the clouds. There 'mong the craggy rocks.
And thickets intricate, trembling he views
His footfteps in the fand; the difmal road
And avenue to death. Hither he calls
His watchful bands ; and low into the ground
A pit they fink, full many a fathom deep.
Then in the midft a column high is rear'd.
The butt of fome fair tree; upon whofe top
A lamb is plac'd, juft ravifh'd from his dam.
And next a wall they build, with flones and earth
Encircling rounds and hiding from all view
The dreadful precipice. Now when the Ihades
Of night hang low'ring o'er the mountain's brow>
And hunger keen, and pungent thirft of blood,
Rouze up the flothful bead, he (hakes his (ides,
Slow-rifing from his lair, and flretches wide
His rav'nous paws, with recent gore diftain'd.

S The

2^8 Somervile's {tniikti

The forefts tremble, as he roars alou45
Impatient to deftroy. O'erjoy'd he hears
The bleating innocent, that claims in vain
The lliepherd*s care, and feeks with piteous moan
The foodful teat-, himfelf, alas! defign'd
Another's meal. For now the greedy brute
Winds him from far; and leaping o'er the mound
To feize his trembling prey, headlong is plung'd
Into the deep abyfs. Proftrate he lies
Aftunn'd and impotent. Ah 1 what avail
Thine eye-balls flafhing fire, thy length of tail.
That lalhes thy broad fides, thy jaws befmear'd
With blood and offals crude, thy Ihaggy mane
The terror of the woods, thy ftately port.
And bulk enormous, fince by ftratagem
Thy ftrength is foil'd ? Unequal is the llrife.
When fov'reign reafon combats brutal rage.

On diftant Ethiopia's fun-burnt coafls.
The black inhabitants a pitfall frame.
But of a diff'rent kind, and diff'rent ufe.
With flender poles the wide capacious mouth, •
And hurdles flight, they clofe; o'er thefe is fpread
A floor of verdant turf, with all its flow'rs
Smiling delufive, and from ftrittefl: fearch
Concealing the deep grave that yawns below.
Then boughs of trees they cut, with tempting froit
Of various kinds furcharg'dj the downy peach,
Thecluft'ring vine, and of bright golden rind
The fragrant orange. Soon as ev'ning grey

Advances

jBooK ] Chace, 259

Advances flow, befprinkling all around

With kind refrelhing dews the thirfty glebe,

The (lately elephant from the clofe fhade

With ftep majeftic flrides, eager to tafte

The cooler breeze that from the fea-beat Ihore

Delightful breathes, or in the limpid ftream

To lave his panting fides ; joyous he fcents

The rich repaft, unweeting of the death

That lurks within. And foon he fporting breaks

The brittle boughs, and greedily devours

The fruit delicious. Ah ! too dearly bought 5

The price is life. For now the teach'rous turf

Trembling gives way, and the unwieldy beaft^

Self-finking, drops into the dark profound.

So when dilated vapours ftruggling hsave

Th'incumbent earth; if chance the cavern'd ground

Shrinking fubfide, and the thin furface yield,

Down finks at once the pond'rous dome, ingulph'd

With all its tow'rs. Subtle, delufive man t

How various are thy wiles ! artful to kill

Thy favage foes, a dull, unthinking race.

Fierce from his lair fprings forth the fpeckled pard^

Thirftingfor blood, and eager to deftroy ;

The huntfman flies, but to his flight alone

Confides not: at convenient diftance fix*d,

A polifli'd mirrour flops in full career

The furious brute : he there his image views j

Spots againft fpots with rage improving glow ;

Another pard his briflly whifkers curls.

26o Soniervile's [xHlRi?

Grins as he grins, fierce-menacing, and wide
Diftends his op'ning paws ; himfelf againfl
Himfelf oppos'd, and with dread vengeance arm'd.
The huntfman now, fecure, with fatal aim
Direds the pointed fpear, by which transfix'd
He dies, and with him dies the rival fliade.
Thus man innum'rous engines forms, t'affail
The favage kind : but moft the docile horfe.
Swift, and confederate with man, annoys
His brethren of the plains ; without whofe aid
The hunters arts were vain, unfkill'dto wage
With the more adive brutes an equal war :
But, borne by him, without the well-train*d pack,
Man dares his foe, on wings of winds fecure.

Hirn the fierce Arab mounts, and with his troop
Of bold compeers ranges the defer ts wild :
"Where, by the magnet's aid, the traveller
Steers his untrodden courfe, yet oft on land
Is wreck'd, in the high-rolling waves of fand
Immers'd and loft ; while thefe intrepid bands,
Safe in their horfes fpeed, out- fly the ftorm.
And fcouring round make men and beafts their prey»
The grifly boar is fingled from his herd,
As large as that in Erimanthian woods,
A match for Hercules. Round him they fly
In circles wide; and each in pafling fends
His feather'd death into his brawny fides.
But perilous ih' attempt. For if the fteed
Haply too near approach, or the loofe earth

His

BOOK.] Chace, 261

His footing fail, the watchful, angry beaft
Th* advantage fpies, and at one iidelong glance
Rips up his groin. Wounded, he rears alott.
And, plunging, from his back the rider hurls
Precipitant j then bleeding fpurns the ground.
And drags his reeking entrails o'er the plain.
Mean while the furly monfter trots along.
But with unequal fpeed j for ftill they wound.
Swift-wheeling in the fpacious ring. A wood
Of darts upon his back he bears ; adown
His tortur'd fides the crimfon torrents roll
From many a gaping font. And now at laft
Staggering he falls, in blood and foam expires.

But whither roves my devious Mufe, intent
On antique tales, while yet the royal flag
Unfung remains ? Tread with refpeflful awe
Windfor*s green glades ; where Denham, tuneful bard,
Charm'd once the lift'ning Dryads with his fong
Sublimely fweet. O ! grant me, facred fhade.
To glean fubmifs what thy full fickle leaves.

The morning fun, that gilds with trembling rays
Windfor's high tow'rs, beholds the courtly train
Mount for the chace, nor views in all his courfe
A fcene fo gay : heroic, noble youths.
In arts and arms renown'd, and lovely nymphs.
The faireft of this ifle, where beauty dwells
Delighted, and deferts her Paphian grove
For our more favour'd fhades : in proud parade
Thefe ihine magnificent, and prefs around

S 3 The

262 Somervile's [third

The royal happy pair. Great in themfelves,

They fmile fuperior ; of external fhow

Regard iefs, while their inbred virtues give

A liiftre to their pow'r, and grace their court

With real fplendours, far above the pomp

Of eaftern kings in all their tinfel pride.

Like troops of Amazons, the female band

Prance round their cars, not in refulgent arms

Asthofe of old; unfkill'd to wield the fwordj

Or bend the bow, thefe kill with fureraim.

The royal offspring, faireft of the fair.

Lead on the fplendid train; Anna, more bright

Than fummer funs, or as the lightning keen.

With irrefiftible effulgence arm'd,

Fires ev'ry heart. He muft be more than man.

Who unconcern'd can bear the piercing ray.

Amelia, milder than the blulhing dawn.

With fweec engaging air, but equal pow'r,

Infenfibly fubdues, and in foft chains

Her willing captives leads. Illuftrious maids.

Ever triumphant ! whofe vidtorious charms.

Without the needlefs aid of high defcent.

Had aw'd mankind, and taught the world's great lords

To bow and fue for grace. But who is he,

Frefh as a rofe-bud newly blown, and fair

As op'ning liliies, on whom ev'ry eye

With joy and admiration dwells? See! fee!

^e reins his docile barb with manly grace,

Ts it Adonis for the chace array'd ?

BOOK.] Chace, 263

Or Britain's fecond hope ? Hail, blooming youth \
May all your virtues with your years improve,
Till, in confummate worth, you fiiine the pride
Of thefe our days, and to fucceeding times
A bright example. As his guard of mutes
On the great Sultan wait, with eyes dejedt
Andfix'd on earth, no voice, no found is heard
Within the wide ferail, but all is hufh'd,
And awful filence reigns j thus ftand the pack
Mute and unmov'd, and cow'ring low to earth.
While pafs theglltt'ring court, and royal pair:
So difciplinM thofe hounds, and fo referv'd,
Whofe honour 'tis to glad the hearts of kings.
But foon the winding horn, and huntfman's voice.
Let loofe the gen'ral chorus j far around
Joy fpreads its wings, and the gay morning fmiles.

Unharbour'd now the royal flag forfakes
His wonted lair ; he Ihakes his dappled fides.
And tofles high his beamy head, the copfe
Beneath his antlers bends. What doubling ihifts
He tries ! not more the wily hare j in thefe
Wou'd flill perfift, did not the full-mouth 'd pack
With dreadful concert thunder in his rear.
The woods reply, the hunters chearing fhouts
Float thro' the glades, and the wide foreil rings.
How merrily they chant ! their noftrils deep
Inhale the grateful fleam. Such is the cry.
And fuch th' harmonious din; thefoldier deems
The battle kindling, and the flatefman grave

S 4 Forgets

264 Somervile*s [third

Forgets his weighty cares ; each age, each fex
In the wild tranfport joins j luxuriant joy.
And pleafure in excefs, fparkling exult
On ev'ry brow, and revel unreftrain'd.
How happy art thou, man, when thou'rt no more
Thyfelf ! when all the pangs that grind thy foul.
In rapture and in fweet oblivion loft,
Yield a (hort interval, and eafe from pain !

See the fwift courfer ftrains, his fhining hoofs
Securely beat the folid ground. Who now
The dang'rous pitfall fears, with tangling heath
High-overgrown ? Or who the quiv'ring bog
Soft-yielding to the ftep ? All now is plain.
Plain as the ftrand fea-lav'd, that ftretches far
Beneath the rocky fhore. Glades croffing glades
The foreft opens to our wond'ring view :
Such was the king's command. Let tyrants fierce
Lay wafte the world 5 his the more glorious part
To check their pride, and, when the brazen voice
Of war is hufli'd, (as erft victorious Rome)
T' employ his ftation'd legions in the works
Of peace J to fmooth the rugged wildernelsj
To drain the ftagnate fen, to raife the Hope
Depending road, and to make gay the face
Of nature with th' embellifhments of art.

How melts my beating heart ! as I behold
Each lovely nymph, our ifland's boaft and pride,
Pulh on the gen'rous fteed, that ftrokes along
O'er rough, o'er fmooth, nor heeds the fteepy hill.

Nor

BOOK.] Chace. 265

Nor faulters in th* extended vale below j
Their garments loofely waving in the wind,
And all the flufli of beauty in their cheeks !
"While at their fides their penfive lovers wait,
Dire<5t their dubious courfe ; now chill'd with fear
Solicitous, and now with love infiam'd.
O ! grant, indulgent Heav'n, no rifing florm
May darken with black wings this glorious fcene ! ,
Shou'd Ibme malignant pow'r thus damp our joys.
Vain were the gloomy cave, fuch as of old
Betray'd to lawlefs love the Tyrian queen.
For Britain's virtuous nymphs are chafte as fair,
Spotlefs, unblam'd, with equal triumph reign
In the dun gloom, as in the blaze of day.

Now the blown ftag, thro' woods, bogs, roads,
and ftreams.
Has meafur'd half the foreft ; but, alas !
He flies in vain, he flies not from his fears,
Tho' far he caft the ling'ring pack behind.
His haggard fancy fl:ill with horror views
The fell defl:royer j ftill the fatal cry
Infults his ears, and wounds his trembling heart.
So the poor fury-haunted wretch (his hands
In guiltlefs blood diftain'd) fl;ill feems to hear
The dying fhrieks j and the pale threat'ning ghoft
Moves as he moves, and as he flies, purfues.
See here his flot j up yon green hill he climbs.
Pants on its brow awhile, fadly looks beck
On his purfuers, cov'ring all the plain ,

But,

266 Somerviles [thirI)

But, wrung with anguifh, bears not long the fight.
Shoots down the fteep, and fweats along the vale :
There mingles with the herd, where once he reign'd
Proud monarch of the groves, whofe clafhing beam
His rivals aw'd, and v^hofe exalted pow'r
Was ftill rewarded with fuccefsful love.
But the bafe herd have learn'd the ways of men,
Averfe they fly, or with rebellious aim
Chace him from thence : needlefs their impious deed.
The huntfman knows him by a thoufand marks.
Black, and imboft j nor are his hounds deceiv'd ;
Too well diilinguifli thefe, and never leave
Their once-devoted foe j familiar grows
His fcent, and Itrong their appetite to kill.
Again he flies, and with redoubled fpeed
Skims o'er the lawn ; ftill the tenacious crew
Hang on the track, aloud demand their prey.
And pufli him many a league. If haply then
Too far efcap'd, and the gay courtly train
Behind are cafl:, the huntfman's clanging whip
Stops full their bold career ; pafllve they fl:and,
Unmov'd, an humble, an obfequious crowd.
As if by fl:ern Medufa gaz'd to llones.
So at their gen'ral's voice whole armies halt
In full purfuit, and check their thirfl: of blood.
Soon at the king's command, like hafty fi:reams
Damm'd up awhile, they foam, and pour along
With frefli recruited might. The fl:ag, who hop'd
His foes were loft:, now once more hears aftunn'd

The

BOOK.] Chace, 26 f

The dreadful din ; he fhivers ev'ry limb.
He flarts, he bounds ; each bufh prefents a foe.
Prefs'd by the frelli relay, ho paufe allow'd,
Breathlefs, and faint, he faulters in his pace,
And lifts his weary limbs with pain, that fcarcc
Suftain their load ; he pants, he fobs appall'd ;
Drops down his heavy head to earth, beneath
His cunnb'rous beams opprefs'd. But if perchance
Some prying eye furprize him ; foon he rears
Ere£l his tow'ring front, bounds o'er the lawn
With ill-diflembled vigour, to amufe
The knowing forefter, who inly fmiles
At his weak fhifts and unavailing frauds.
So midnight tapers wafte their laft remains.
Shine forth a while, and as they blaze expire.
From wood to wood redoubling thunders roll,
And bellow thro' the vales ; the moving ftorm
Thickens amain, and loud triumphant fhouts.
And horns fhrill-warbling in each glade, prelude
To his approaching fate. And now in view
With holbbling gaii^nd high, exerts amaz'd
What ftrength is left : to the laft dregs of life
Reduc'd, his fpirits fail, on ev'ry fide
Hemm'd in, befieg'd ; not the leaft op'ning left
To gleaming hope, th' unhappy's laft referve.
Where fhall he turn ? Or whither fly ? Defpair
Gives courage to the weak. Refolv'd to die.
He fears no more, but rufties on his foes.
And deals his deaths around \ beneath his htt

Thefc

268 Somervile's [third

Thefe grovelling lie, thofeby his antlers gor'd
Defile th'enfanguin'd plain. Ah! fee cliftrefs'd
He flands at bay againft yon knotty trunk.
That covers well his rear; his front prefents
An hod of foes. O! fhun, ye noble train.
The rude encounter, and believe your lives
Your country's due alone. As now aloof
They wing around, he finds his foul uprais'd
To dare fome great exploit : he charges home
Upon the broken pack, that on each fide
Fly diverfe j then as o'er the turf he ftrains.
He vents the cooling ftream, and up the breeze
Urges his courfe with eager violence :
Then takes the foil, and plunges in the flood
Precipitant ; down the mid-ftream he wafts
Along, till, (like a Ihip diftrefs'd, that runs
Into fome winding creek,) clofe to the verge
Of a fmall ifland, for his weary feet
Sure anchorage he finds, there fkulks immers'd.
His nofe alone above the wave, draws in
The vital air ; all elfe beneath the flood
Conceal'd, and loft, deceives each prying eye
Of man or brute. In vain the crowding pack
Draw on the margin of the ftream, or cut
The liquid wave with oary feet, that move
In equal time. The gliding waters leave
No trace behind, and his contrafted pores
But fparingly perfpire : the huntfman ftrains
His lab'ring lungs, and puffs his cheeks in vain :

At

1

fiobK.] Chace. 269

At length a blood-hound bold, ftudious to kill,
Andexquifite offenfe, winds him from far j
Headlong he leaps into the flood, his mouth
Loud-op'ning fpends amain, and his wide throat
Swells ev'ry note with joy j then fearlefs dives
Beneath the wave, hangs on his haunch, and wounds
Th' unhappy brute, that flounders in the fl:ream.
Sorely diftrefs'd, and ft:ruogling flirives to mount
The fl:eepy fliore. Haply once more efcap'd.
Again he fl:ands at bay, amid the groves
Of willows, bending low their downy heads.
Outrageous tranfport fires the greedy pack ;
Thefe fwim the deep, and thofe crawl up with pain
The flipp'ry bank, while others on firm land
"Engage j the ft:ag repels each bold aflault.
Maintains his pofl:, and wounds for wounds returns.
As when fome wily corfair boards a fliip
Full-freighted, or from Afric's golden coafl:s.
Or India's wealthy fl:rand, his bloody crew
Upon her deck he flings i thefe in the deep
Drop fliort, and fwim to reach her fteepy fldes.
And clinging climb aloft, while thofe on board
Urge on the work of fate ; the mafter bold,
Prefs'd to his lafl: retreat, bravely refolves
To fink his wealth beneath the whelming wave,
His wealth, his foes, nor unreveng'd to die.
So fares it with the flag j fo he refolves
To plunge at once into the flood below,
Himfelf, his foes, in one deep gulph immers'd.

Ere

270 Bomerviles [third

Ere yet he executes this dire intent,
In wild diforder once more views the light j
Beneath a weight of woe, he groans diftrefs'd :
The tears run trickling down his hairy cheeks ;
He weeps, nor weeps in vain. The king beholds
His wretched plight, and tendernefs innate
Moves his great foul. Soon at his high command
Rebuk'd, the difappointed, hungry pack
Retire fubmifs, and grumbling quit their prey.
Great prince ! from thee what may thy fubjeds
hope.
So kind, and fo beneficent to brutes ?
O mercy, heav'nly born ! fweet attribute !
Thou great, thou beft prerogative of pow'r !
Juftice may guard the throne, but, join'd with thee^
On rocks of adamant it ftands fecure.
And braves the ftorm beneath : foon as thy fmiles
Gild the rough deep, the foaming waves fubfidc;,
And all the noify tumult finks in peace.

BOOK

BOOK.] Chace. nji

BOOK THE FOURTH.

ARGUMENT.

OF the Neceffity of deftroying fome Beafts, and prefervlng
others for the Ufa of Man. Of breeding of Hounds ; the
Seafon for this Bufmefs. The Choice of the Dog, of great
Moment. Of the Litter of Whelps. Of the Number to
be reared. Of fetting them out to their feveral Walks,
Care to be taken to prevent their Hunting too foon. Of
entering the Whelps. Of breaking them from running at
Sheep. Of the Difeafes of Hounds. Of their Age. Of
Madnefs j two Sorts of it defcribed, the Dumb, and out-
rageous Madnefs : its dreadful EfFeds. Burning of th6
Wound recommended as preventing all ill Confequences.
The infeflious Hounds to be feparated, and fed apart. The
Vanity of trufting to the many infallible Cures for this Ma-
lady. The difmal EfFefts of the Biting of a Mad Dog up-
on Man defcribed. Defcription of the Otter Hunting. The
Conclufion.

Wi

HATE'ER of earth is form'd, to earth returns
Diflblv'd : the various objedts we behold,
Plants, animals, this whole material mafs.
Are ever changing, ever new. The foul
Of man alone, that particle divine,
Efcapes the wreck of worlds, when all things fail.
Hence great thediftance 'twixt the beafls that periHi
And God's bright image, man's immortal race.

The

272 Somer'vile's [fourth

The brute creation are his property,
Subfervient to his will, and for him made.
As hurtful thefe he kills, as ufeful thofc
Preferves ; their fole and arbitrary king.
Shou'd he not kill, as erft the Samian fage
Taught unadvis'd, and Indian Brachmans now
As vainly preach ; the teeming rav'nous brutes
Might fill the fcanty fpace of this terrene.
Incumbering all the globe ; Ihou'd not his care
Improve his growing flock, their kinds might fail,
Man might once more on roots and acorns feed.
And thro' the deferts range, fhiv'ring, forlorn.
Quite deftitute of ev'ry folace dear,
And ev'ry fmiling gaiety of life.

The prudent huntfman, therefore, will fupply
With annual large recruits his broken pack.
And propagate their kind : as from the root
Frelh fcions ftill fpring forth, and daily yield
Kew blooming honours to the parent-tree.
Far (hall his pack be fam*d, far fought his breed.
And princes at their tables feafl thofe hounds
His hand prefents, an acceptable boon.

Ere yet the fun thro' the bright ram has urg'd
His lleepy courfe, or mother Earth unbound
Her frozen bofom to the weftern gale ;
When feather'd troops, their focial leagues diflblv'd,
Seledt their mates, and on the leaflefs elm
The noify rook builds high her wicker neft;
Mark well the wanton females of thy pack,

That

BOOK.] Chace, 273^

That curl their taper tails, and frifking court
Their pyebald mates enamour'd ; their red eyes
Flafh fires impure ; nor reft nor food they take.
Goaded by furious love. In fep'rate cells
Confine them now, left bloody civil wars
Annoy thy peaceful ftate. If left at largCj
The growling rivals in dread battle join,
And rude encounter. On Scamander's ftreams
Heroes of old with far lefs fury fought
For the bright Spartan dame, their valour's prize.
Mangled and torn thy fav'rite hounds fhall lie,
Stretch'd on the ground ; thy kennel ftiall appear
A field of blood : like fome unhappy town
In civil broils confus'd, while difcord fhakes
Her bloody fcourge aloft, fierce parties rage.
Staining their impious hands in mutual death.
And ftill the beft belov'd and braveft fall :
Such are the dire effedts of lawlefs love,

Huntfman ! thefe ills by timely prudent care
Prevent : for ev'ry longing dame feled:
Some happy paramour ; to him alone
In leagues connubial join. Confider well
His lineage ; what his fathers did of old,
Chiefs of the pack, and firft to climb the rock,
Or plunge into the deep, or thread the brake
With thorns lTiarp-poinred,pla(h'd, and briars in woven.
Obferve with care his fhape, fort, colour, fi^e.
Nor will fagacious huntfmen Icfs regard

T His

2 74 Somervile 's [fourth

His inward habits ; the vain babbler Ihun,
Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong.
His foolifh offspring Ihall offend thy ears
With falfe alarms, and loud impertinence.
Nor lefs the fbifting cur avoid, that breaks
Illufive from the pack ; to the next hedge
Devious he flrays, there ev'ry mufe he tries j
If haply then he crofs the flreaming fcent.
Away he flies vain glorious, and exults
As of the pack fupreme, and in his fpeed
And ftrength unrivall'd. L.o ! caft far behind
His vex'd affociates pant, and lab'ring (train
To climb the flcep afcent. Soon as they reach
Th' infulting boafter, his falfe courage fails,
Behind he lags, doom'd to the fatal noofe.
His mailer's hate, and fcorn of all the field.
What can from fuch be hop'd, but a bafe brood
Of coward curs, a frantic, vagrant race ?

When now the third revolving moon appears.
With fharpen'd horns, above th' horizon's brink.
Without Lucina's aid, exped: thy hopes
Are amply crown'd ; ihort pangs produce to light
The fmoking litter, crawling, helplefs, blind.
Nature their guide, they feek the pouting teat.
That plenteous Hreams. Soon as the tender dam
Has form*d them with her tongue, with pleafure view
The marks of their renown'd progenitors.
Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come. All thefe
Seled with joy j but to the merc'icfs flood

Expofe

BOOK.] Chace, 275

Expofe the dwindling refufe, nor o'crload
Th' indulgent mother. If thy heart relent.
Unwilling to deftroy, a nurfe provide,
And to the fofter-parent give the care
Of thy fuperfluous brood ; Ihe'U cherifh kind
The alien offspring ; pleas'd thou (halt behold
Her tendernefs and hofpitable love.

If frolic now and playful they defert
Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf.
With nerves improv'd, purfue the mimic chace,
Courfing around ; unto thy choiceft friends
Commit thy valuM prize ; the ruftic dames
Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps
Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kifs
Carefs, and dignify their little charge
With feme great title, and refounding name
Of high import. But cautious here obferve
To check their youthful ardour, nor permit
The unexperienc'd younker, immature.
Alone to range the woods, or haunt the brakes
Where dodging conies fport : his nerves unftrung^
And ftrength unequal, the laborious chace
Shall flint his growth, and his rafh, forward youth
Contract fuch vicious habits, as thy care
And late correction never fhall reclaim.

When to full ftrength arrived, mature and bold.
Conduct them to the field ; not all at once,
But, as thy cooler prudence Ihall dired:.
Select a few, and form them by degrees

T 2 To

276 Somervile'i [FouRTii

To flrlderdifclpline. With thefe confort

The ftanch and fleady fages of thy pack.

By long experience vers'd in all the wiles

And fubtle doublings of the various chace.

Eafy the leflbn of the youthful train.

When inftincft prompts, and when example guides*

If the too forward younker at the head

Prefs boldly on, in wanton fportive mood,

Corredt his hafle, and let him feel abafh'd

The ruling whip. But if he ftoop behind

In wary modeft guife, to his own nofe

Confiding fure, give him full fcope to work

His winding way, and with thy voice applaud

His patience, and his care : foon Hialt thou view

The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe,

And all the lift'ning pack attend his call.

Oft lead them forth where wanton lambkins play^
And bleating dams with jealous eyes obferve
Their tender care. If at the crowding flock
He bay prefumptuous, or with eager hafte
Purfue them fcatter'd o'er the verdant plain ;
In the foul fad: attach'd, to the ftrong ram
Tie fafl the rafh offender. See ! at firft
His horn'd companion, fearful, and amaz'd.
Shall drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground :
Then, with his load fatigued, fliall turn a-head.
And with his curl'd hard front inceffant peal
The panting wretch, 'till, breathlefs and aftunn'd,
Stretch'd on the turf he lie. Then fpare not thou

The

ibook;] Chace. 277

The twining whip, but ply his bleeding fides
Laih after lafli, and with thy threat'ning voice,
Harlh-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud
His vile offence. Sooner fhall trembling doves,
£fcap'd the hawk's fharp talons, in mid air,
Aflail their dang'rous foe, than he once more
Difturb the peaceful flocks. In tender age
Thus youth is train'd ; as curious artifts bend
The taper, pliant twig •, or potters form
Their foft and dudtile clay to various fhapes.
Nor is't enough to breed ', but to preferve
Muft be the huntfman's care. The ftanch old hounds,
Guides of thy pack, the' but in number few,
Are yet of great account •, Ihall oft untie
The Gordian knot, when reafon at a (land
Puzzling is loft, and all thy art is vain.
O'er clogging fallows, o'er dry plafter'd roads.
O'er floated meads, o'er plains with flocks diftain'd
Rank fcenting, rhefe muft lead the dubious way.
As party-chiefs in fenates who prefide.
With pleaded reafon and with well-turn'd fpeech
Condudt the flaring multitude ; fo thefe
Diredtthe pack, who with joint cry approve.
And loudly boaft difcov'ries not their own.
Unnumber'd accidents, and various ills.
Attend thy pack, hang hov'ring o'er their heads.
And point the way that leads to death's dark cave.
Short is their fpan ; few at the date arrive
Of ancient Argus, in old Homer's fong

T 3 So

27S SomervIIe*s [fourth

So highly honour'd ; kind, fagacious brute !
Not ev'n Minerva's wifdom cou'd conceal
Thy much-lov'd mafter from thy nicer fenfe.
Dying his lord heown'd, view'd him all o'er
With eager eyes, then clos'd thofe eye«i, well pleas'd*

Of lefler ills the Mufe declines to fing,
Nor ftoops fo low ; of thefe each groom can tell
The proper remedy, ButO \ what care !
What prudence can prevent madnefs, theworft
Of maladies ? Terrific peft ! that blafls
The huntfman's hopes, and defolation fpreads
Thro' all th' unpeopled kennel unreftrain'd.
More fatal than th' envenom'd viper's bite ;
Or that Apiilian fpider's pois'nous fting,
Heal'd by the pleafing antidote of founds.

When Sirius reigns, and the fun's parching beams
Bake the dry gaping furface, vifit thou
Each ev'n and morn, with quick obfervant eye.
Thy panting pack. If, in dark fullen mood.
The glouting hound refufe his wonted meal.
Retiring to fome clofe, obfcure retreat,
Gloomy, difconfolate ; with fpeed remove
The poor infedious wretch, and in ilrong chains
Bind him fufpe6ted. Thus that dire difeafe,
Which art can'c cure, wife caution may prevent,

But this negledted, foon expedt a change,
A dilmal change, confuiion, frenzy, death.
Or in fome dark recefs, the fenfelefs brute
Sits fadly pining: deep melancholy.

And

ROOK.] Chace, 279

And black defpair, upon his clouded brow
Hang low'ring ; from his half-op'ning jaws
The clammy venom, and infeftious froth,
Diftiiling tall j and from his lungs inflam'd
Malignant vapours taint the ambient air.
Breathing perdition : his dim eyes are glaz'd.
He droops his penfive head, his trembling limbs
No more fupport his weight ; abjedt he lies.
Dumb, fpiritlels, benumb'd, till death at laft
Gracious attends, and kindly brings relief.

Or if outrageous grown, behold, alas !
A yet more dreadful fcene ; his glaring eyes
Redden with fury, like fome angry boar
Churning he foams, and on his back txtdi
His pointed briftles rife ; his tail incurv'd
He drops, and with harfh broken bowlings rends
The poifon-tainted air, with rough hoarfe voice
IncelFant bays, and fnuffs th'infedious breeze i
This way and that he flares aghaft, and darts
At his own fhade ; jealous, as if he deem'd
The world his foes. If haply tow'rd the ftream
He caft his roving eye, cold horror chills
His foul ; averfe he flies, trembling, appall'd.
Now frantic to the kennel's utmoft verge
Raving he runs, and deals deilrudtion round.
The pack fly diverfe ; for whate'er he meets
Vengeful he bites, and ev'ry bite is death.

If now perchance thro' the weak fence efcap'd.
Far up the wind he roves, with open mouth

T 4 Inhales

2 8 o Somervile's [fourth

Inhales the cooling breeze, nor man nor beaft
He fpares implacable. The hunter-horfe.
Once kind alTociate of his fylvan toils,
(Who haply now without the kennel's mound
Crops the rank mead, and lift'ning hears with joy
The chearingcry that morn and eve falutes
His raptur'd fenfe,) a wretched vidim falls.
Unhappy quadruped ! no more, alas !
Shall thy fond mailer with his voice applaud
Thy gentlenefs, thy fpced ; or with his hand
Stroke thy foft dappled fides, as he each day
Vifits thy Hall, well pleas'd ; no more Ihalt thou
With fprightly neighings, to the winding horn.
And the loud-op'ning pack in concert join'd,
Glad his proud heart. For oh ! the fecret wound
Rankling inflames, he bites the ground and dies.

Hence to the village with pernicious hafle
Baleful he bends his courfe : the village flies
Alarni'd ; the tender mother in her arms
Hugs clofe the trembling babe ; the doors are barr'd.
And flying curs, by native inftindt taught.
Shun the contagious bane j the ruftic bands
Hurry to arms, the rude militia feize
Whate'er at hand they find; clubs, forks, or guns,
From ev'ry quarter charge the furious foe.
In wild diforder, and uncouth array.
Till now with wounds on wounds opprefs'd and gor'd,
At one ihort pois'nous gafp he breathes his laft.

Hence to the kennel, Mufe, return, and view
"With heavy heart that hofpital of woe;

WheF§

BOOK.] Chace, 281

Where horror flalks at large, infatiate death

Sits growling o'er his prey : each hour prefents

A diff'rent fcene of ruin and diftrefs.

How bufy art thou, Fate ! and how fevere

Thy pointed wrath ! The dying and the dead

Promifcuous lie J o'er thefe the living fight

In one eternal broil ; not confcious why.

Nor yet with whom. So drunkards, in their cups.

Spare not their friends, while fenfelcfs fquabble reigns.

Huntfman ! it much behooves thee to avoid
The perilous debate. Ah! rouze up all
Thy vigilance, and tread the treach'rous ground
With careful ftep. Thy fires unquench'd preferve.
As erft the veftal flame ; the pointed fleel
In the hot embers hide •, and if furpris'd
Thou feel'ft the deadly bite, quick urge it home
Into the recent fore, and cauterize
The wound •, fpare not thy flefli, nor dread th' event :
Vulcan fliall fave, when ^fculapius fails.

Here Ihou'd the knowing Mufe recount the means
To flop this growing plague. And here, alas !
Each hand prefents a fov'reign cure, and boalls
Infallibility, but boafts in vain.
On this depend: each to his fep'rate feat
Confine, in fetters bound ; give each his mefs
Apart, his range in open air ; and then
If deadly fymptoms to thy grief appear.
Devote the wretch, and let him greatly fall,
A gen'rous vidtim for the public weal.

Sing,

zBz Somervile's [rouRTii

Sing, philofophic Mufe, the dire effeds
or this contagious bite on haplefs man.
The ruftic fwains, by long tradition taught
Of leeches old, as foon as they perceive
The bite imprefsM, to the fea-coafts repair.
Plung'd in the briny flood, th' unhappy youth
Now journeys home fecure ; but foon Ihall wiih
The Teas as yet had cover 'd him beneath
The foaming furge, full many a fathom deep.
A fate more difmal, and fuperior ills.
Hang o'er his head devoted. When the moon,
Clofing her monthly round, returns again
To glad the night; or when full-orb'd fhe fhines
High in the vault of heav'n ; the lurking pefl
Begins the dire aflault, Thepois'nous foam.
Thro' the deep wound inftill'd with hollile rage.
And all its fiery particles faline.
Invades th' arterial fluid, whofe red waves
Tempeftuous heave, and, their coheflon broke.
Fermenting boil ; inteftine war enfues.
And order to confufion turns embroird.
Now the diftended veffels fcarce contain
The v;ild uproar, but prefs each weaker part.
Unable to refift, the tender brain.
And ilomach, fuffer moft ; convulfions fliake
His trembling nerves, and wandering pungent pains
Pinch fore the fleeplefs wretch ; his flutt'ring pulfe
Oft intermits ; penfive and fad he mourns
His cruel fate, and to his weeping friends
Laments in vain i to hafty anger proncj

Refents

BOOK.] Chacel 283

Refents each flight offence, walks with quick ftep.

And wildly {lares ; at laft with bounc'lefs iWay

The t} rant frenzy reigns. For as the dog,

(Whofe fatal bite convey'd th' infedious bane,)

Raving he foams, and howls, and barks, and bites.

Like agitations in his boiling blood

Prefent like fpecies to his troubled mind ;

His nature and his adtions all canine.

So (as old Homer fung) th'affociates wild

Of wand'ring Ithacus, by Circe's charms

To fwine transformed, ran gruntling thro' the groves.

Dreadful example to a wicked world !

See there diftrefs'd he lies ! parch*d up with thirft.

But dares not drink; till now at laft his foul

Trembling efcapes, her noifome dungeon leaves.

And to fome purer region wings away.

One labour yet remains, celeftial maid \
Another element demands thy fong.
No more o'er craggy fteeps, thro' coverts thick
With pointed thorn, and briars incricare,
Urge on with horn and voice the painful pack ;
But ikim with wanton wing th' irriguous vale.
Where wincing ftreams amid the fljw'ry meads
Perpetual glide along, and undermine
The cavern'd banks, bv the tenacious roots
Of hoary willows arch'd ; gloomy retreat
Of the bright fcaly kind, where they at will
On the green wat'ry reed their pafture graze.
Suck the moift foil, or llumber at their eafe,

Rock'd

,5184 Somervile'i [fourth

Pvock'd by the reftlcfs brook, that draws aflope
Its humid train, and laves their dark abodes.
Where rages not oppreffion ? Where, alas !
Is innocence fecure ? Rapine and fpoil
Haunt ev'n the loweft deeps •, feas have their Iharks;
Hivers and ponds inclos'd, the rav'nous pike 5
He in his turn becomes a prey, on him
Th' amphibious otter feafts. Juft is his fate
Deferv'd: but tyrants know no bounds; nor fpears
That brittle on his back, defend the perch
From his wide greedy jaws; nor burnifh'd mail
The yellow carp; nor all his arts can fave
Th' infinuating eel, that hides his head
Beneath the flimy mud j nor yet efcapes
Thecrimfon-fpotted trout, the river's pride.
And beauty of the ftream. Without remorfe.
This midnight pillager ranging around,
Infatiate fwallows all. The owner mourns
Th' unpeopled rivulet, and gladly hears
The huntfman's early call, and fees with joy
The jovial crew, that march upon its banks
In gay parade, with bearded lances arm'd.

This fubtle fpoiler of the beaver kind.
Far off perhaps, where ancient alders fliade
The deep ftill pool, within fome hollow trunk
Contrives his wicker couch ; whence he furveys
His long purlieu, lord of the flream, and all
The finny Ihoals his own. But you, brave youths,
Dilpute the felon's claim ; try ev'ry root,

And

BOOK.] Chace> 2S5

And ev*ry reedy bankj encourage all
The bufy-fpreading pack, that fearlefs plunge
Into the flood, and crofs the rapid ftream.
Bid rocks, and caves, and each refounding fhore.
Proclaim your bold defiances loudly raife
Each chearing voice, till diftant hills repeat
The triumphs of the vale. On the foft fand
See there his feal imprefs'd ! and on that bank
Behold the glitt'ring fpoils, half-eaten f^fh.
Scales, fins, and bones, the leavings of his feaft.
Ah! on that yielding fag-bed, fee, once more
His feal I view. O'er yon dank rufhy marfh
The fly goofe- footed prowler bends his courfe.
And feeks the diftant fliallows. Huntfman, bring
Thy eager pack, and trail him to his couch.
Hark! the loud peal begins, the clam'rous joy.
The gallant chiding, loads the trembling air.

Ye Naiads fair, who o'er thefe floods prefide,
Raife up your dripping heads above the wave.
And hear our melody. Th' harmonious notes
Float with the ftream; and ev'ry winding creek
And hollow rock, that o'er the dimpling flood
Nods pendant, ftill improve from fliore to fliore
Our fweet reiterated joys. What fliouts !
What clamour loud! What gay, heart-chearing founds
Urge thro' the breathing brafs their mazy way !
Not choirs of Tritons glad with fprightlier ftrains
The dancing billows, when proud Neptune rides
In triumph o'er the deep. How greedily

They

^S6 Somervtle^s [fourth

They fnufFthe fifhy fteam, that to each blade
Rank-fccnting clings ! See 1 how the morning dews
They fweep, that from their feet befprinkling drop
Difpers'd, and leave a track oblique behind.
Now on firm land they range ; then in the flood
They plunge tumultuous i or thro* reedy pools
Ruftling they work their way : no holt efcapes
Their curious fearch. With quick fenfation now
The fuming vapour (lings ; flutter their hearts.
And joy redoubled burfts from ev'ry mouth.
In louder fymphonies. Yon hollow trunk.
That, with its hoary head incurv'd, falutes
The paffing wave, mult be the tyrant's fort.
And dread abode. How thefe impatient climb,
While others at the root incelTant bay :
They put him down. See, there he dives along I
Th' afcending bubbles mark his gloomy way.
Quick fix the nets, and cut ofl his retreat
Into the fhelt'ring deeps., Ah, there he vents !
The pack plunge headlong, and protended fpears
Menace deflrudion ; while the troubled furge
Indignant foams, and all the fcaly kind
Affrighted hide their heads. Wild tumult reigns,
And loud uproar. Ah, there once more he vents!
See, that bold hound has feiz'd him; down they (ink.
Together loft ; but foon (hall he repent
His rafli affault. See, there efcap'd he flies,
Half drown'd, and clambers up the flipp'ry bank
With ouze and blood diftain'd. Of all the brutes.

Whether

BOOK.] Chace, 22 j

Whether by nature form'd, or by long ufe.
This artful diver beft can bear the want
Of viral air. Unequal is the fight
Beneath the whelming element. Yet there
He lives not long •, but relpiration needs
At proper intervals. Again he vents ;
Again the crowd attack. That fpear has pierc*d
His neck ; the crimfon waves confefs the wound.
Fix'd is the bearded lance, unwelcome gueft
Where-e'er he flies; with him it finks beneath.
With him it mounts j fure guide to ev'ry foe.
Inly he groans, nor can his tender woun.i
Bear the cold ftream. Lo ! to yon ledgv bank
He creeps difconfolate ; his num'rous foes
Surround him, hounds,and men. PiercM thro'and thro*.
On pointed fpears they lift him high in air ;
Wriggling he hangs, and grins, and bites in vain ;
Bid the loud horns, in gaily-warbling ftrains.
Proclaim the felon's fate ; he dies, he dies.

Rejoice, ye fcaly tribes, and leaping dance
Above the wave, in (Ign of liberty
Reflor'd ; the cruel ryrant is no more.
Rejoyce fecure and blefs'd ; did not as yet
Remain fome of your own rapacious kind •,
And man, fierce man, with all bis various wiles.

O happy! if ye knew your happy (late,
Ye rangers of the fields ; whom nature boon
Chears with her fmiles, and ev'ry elea;ent
Confpires to blefs. What, if no heroes frown

From

288 Somer'viles [fourth

From marble pedcftals, nor Raphael's works,
Nor Titian's lively tints, adorn our walls ?
Yet thefe the meaneft of us may behold.
And, at another's coft, may feaft at will
Our wond'ring eyes ; what can the owner more ?
But vain, alas ! is wealth, not grac'd with pow'r.
The flow'ry landfkip, and the gilded dome,
And villas op'ning to the wearied eye,
Thro' all his wide domain ; the planted grove,
The flirubby wildernefs, with its gay choir
Of warbling birds, can't lull to foft repofe
Th' ambitious wretch, whofe difcontented fout
Is harrow'd day and night ; he mourns, he pines.
Until his prince's favour makes him great.
See there he comes, th* exalted idol comes !
The circle's form'd, and all his fawning ilaves
Devoutly bow to earth ; from ev'ry mouth
The naufeous flatt'ry flows, which he returns
With proniifes, that die as foon as born.
Vile intercourfe ! where virtue has no place.
Frown but the Monarch, all his glories fade ;
He mingles with the throng, outcaft, undone.
The pageant of a day ; without one friend
To footh his tortur'd mind ; all, all are fled :
For tho' they bafk'd in his meridian ray.
The infedts vanifli as his beams decline.

Not fuch our friends ; for here no dark defigny
No wicked int'reft bribes the venal heart ;
But inclination to our bofoms leads.

And

BOOK.] Chace, 289

And weds them there for life i our focial cups
Smile, as we fmilej open, and unreferv'd.
We fpeak our inmoft fouls; good humour, mirth.
Soft complaifance, and wit from malice free,
Smooth ev'ry brow, and glow on ev'ry cheek.

O happinefs fmcere ! what wretch wou'd groan
Beneath the galling load of powV, or walk
Upon the llipp'ry pavements of the great.
Who thus cou'd reign, unenvied and fecure?

Ye guardian pow'rs who make mankind your care,
Give me to know wife nature's hidden depths.
Trace each myfterious caufe, with judgment read
Th' expanded volume, and fubmifs adore
That great creative will, who at a word
Spoke forth the wond'rous fcene. But if my foul.
To this grofs clay confin'd, flutters on earth
With lefs ambitious wing; unfkili'd to range
From orb to orb, where Newton leads the way;
And view with piercing eyes the grand machine,
Worlds above worlds ; fubfervient to his voice.
Who, veil'd in clouded majefty, alone
Gives light to all ; bids the great fyftem move.
And changeful feafons in their turns advance,
Unmov'd, unchang'd, himfelf : yet this at leaft
Grant me propitious, an inglorious life.
Calm and ferene, nor lofl: in falfe purfuits
Of wealth or honours ; but enough to raife
My drooping friends, preventing modeft want.
That dares not afk. And if, to crown my joys,

U Yc

i^o Somervik's Chace.

Ye grant me health, that, ruddy in my cheeks,
Blooms in my life's decline-, fields, woods, and ftreams,
Each tow'ring hill, each humble vale below.
Shall hear my cheating voice, my hounds Ihall wake
The lazy morn, and glad th* horizon round.

METHOD

[ 29^ J

Method of dejlroying Hares by the
Hare-Pipe.

THE following extradt from Mr. Chand-
ler's Travels in Greece, at the fame time
that it ihews that the country of Xenophon is
ilill famous for Hare-hunting, and that the
modern Athenians have not degenerated from
their illuftrious anceftors, at leafl; in their love
for that diveriion, defcribes a mode of killing
hares formerly pra(ftifed by poachers in this
kingdom, vi^hich w^ill explain the meaning of
hare-pipes 3 a device mentioned in old law
books and deputations to game - keepers.
Though Chandler doth not explain it to be an
imitation of the call between male and female
in breeding feafon, yet his narrative clearly af-
certains it, by dating the particular month in
which it is pradiifed, and that one killed by
})is company was big with young.

" Hares are exceedingly numerous. Call-
ing is pradtifed, in ilill weather, from the lat-
ter end of May to about the middle of Auguft.

Three

292 Method of deflroying Hares, (^c.

Three or four men in a company ftand filcftt
and concealed in a thicket, with guns pointed
in different directions. When all are ready,
the caller applies two of his fingers to his lips,
and fucking them, at firil: flowly, and then
fafter, produces a fqueaking found ; when the
hares, within hearing, rufh to the fpot. In
this manner many are flaughtered in a day.
One of my companions, with Lombardi, a
Turk and Greek or two, who were adepts,
killed eleven, among which was a female big
with young. Thefe animals are faid to alfem-
ble together, to leap and play, at the full of the
moon j and, it is likely, the fhepherds, who
live much abroad, obferving and liftening to
them, learned to imitate their voices, to de-
ceive, and make them thus foolifhly abet their
own deflrudion."

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Jefferfon, In one Volume, 8vo. Price 7s.

§. Hiflory of New fiolland, W^ith an Introductory

Difcoufle

New Books printed for John Stockdale.

Difcourfe oa Banifliment. By the Right Hon. William
Eden. In one Volume, 8vo. Price 6s.

7. Hiftory of the Revolution of South Carolina. By
Dr. David Ramfay. In two Volumes, 8vo. F'rice ns.

8. Hiftory of the Union. By Daniel De Foe. With
an Introdudlion, by J. L. De Lolme. In one large
quarto Volume, (containing lOOO Pages. Price il. los.

9. Hiftorical Trads. By Sir John Davies. In one
Volume, 8vo. Price 5s.

10. Debates in Parliament. By Dr. Samuel Johnfon.
In two Volumes, 8vo. Price 12s.

11. An Eftimate of the Comparative Strength of Great
Britain, during the prefent and four preceding Reigns,
and of the LofTes of her Trade from every War fmce the
Revolution. By George Chalmers, Efq. Price 3s. 6d.
fewed, or 5s. Calf lettered.

12. Original Royal Letters, written by King Charles
the Ift. and lid. King James the lid. the King and Queea
of Bohemia, &c. In orte Volume, with four elegant
Engravings by Sherwin. Price los. 6d.

13. Poems on various Subjedis. By Henry James.
Pye, Efq. M. P. In two Volumes, 8vo. Price 12s.

14. Four Tradts. By Thomas Day, Efq. In one
Volume, 8vo. Price los. 6d.

15. Beauties of the Britifli Senate. In two Volumes>
8vo. Price los. 6d.

^ he following Books, for the Injiru5lian and Enter -^
tainment of Youth ^ are juji fublifhed.

I. THE Hiftory of Little Jack, who was found by Ac-
cident and nurfed by a Goat :

See Fortune's fcorn, but Nature's darling child,
Rock'd by the teropeft, nurtur'd on the wild !
With mind unfoften'd, and an aftive frame.
No toilscan daunt him, and no danger tame!
Though winds and waves impede his daring courfe.
He fleers right onward, and defies their force..

Neatly printed in a fmall Volume, and ornamented with
twenty-iwo beautiful Cuts. Price only is. bound.

a. The

New Books printed for John Stockdale.

I. The New Robinfon Crufoe ; an inftru6live and
entertaining Hiftory, for the Ufa of Children of both
Sexes. Tranflated from the French. Embelliftied with
thirty-two beautiful Cuts. In four Volumes. Price
only 6s.

3. The Hiftory of the Three Brothers. To which are
added, a Sicctch of Univerfal Hiftory, and a Brief Chro-
nology of the moft remarkable Events in the Hiftory of
England. Embelliftied with thirty-fix Heads of the Kings
of England, and other beautiful Cuts. Price is. 6d.

4. The Hiftory of a Schoolboy, with other Pieces.
Price IS. bound.

5. The Children's Mifcellany, in one Volume, il-
luftrated with a beautiful Frontifpiece. Price 3s. 6d.
bound.

6. Select Stories, for the Inftru£tion and Entertain-
ment of Children. By M. Berquin. Infcribed to Mr.
Kailces. Neatly printed in one Volume, containing 300
Pages of Letter-Prefs, illuftrated with four Copper-
plates. Price only ^s. bound.

7. The Children's Friend, tranflated from the French
of M. Berquin, complete in four Volumes, and orna-
mented with fouj" beautiful Frontifpieces. Price only
los. bound.

8. L'Ami des Enfans, par M. Berquin, complete in
four Volumes, with Frontifpieces. Pi ice only 12s. bound.

9. The Friend of Youth, tranflated from the French of
M. Berquin ; complete in two Volumes, and ornament-
ed with beautiful Frontiipieces. Price only 6s. bound.

10. The Hiftory of Sandford and Merton. A Work
intended for theUfe of Children, embellifhed with beau-
tiful Frontifpieces, in two Volumes. Price 7s. bound.

II. Sandford et Merton, Traduilion libre de I'An-
plois, par M. Berquin, embeili de Froniifpices, in two
Volumes. Price ys. bound.

12. "1 he Adventures of Numa Pompilius, feconj
JCing of Rome, in two Volume?. Price 6s. in boards.

13. The Vifion of Columbus. By Joel Bariow? Efq,

Price 3s, bound.

7^^^