And you, O Weft, with her your partner dear, Whom focial mirth and ufeful fenfe commend, With learning's feaft my drooping mind fhall chear, Glad to escape from love to fuch a friend. But why, to long my weaker heart deceive? Ah, foll Love, in pride and reafon's fpite, No books alas! my painful thoughts relieve, And while I threat, this Elegy I write.
ELEGY XV.
To Mr. George Grenville.
OH, form'd like to ferve us, and to plenes
Polite with honefty, and learn'd with eafe; With heart to act with genius to retire; Open, yet wife; though gentle, full of fire: With thee I fcorn the low constraint of art, Nor fear to truft the follies of my heart; Hear then from what my long defpair arofe, The faithful ftory of a lover's woes. When, in a fober melancholy hour, Reduc'd by fickness undet reafon's power, I view'd my ftate, too little weigh'd before,
d Love himfeif could flatter me no more, My Delia's hopes I would no more deceive, But whom my paffen hurt, through friendship leave; I chose the coldeft words my heart to hide, And cure her fex's weakness through its pride: The prudence which I taught, I il pursued, The charm my reafon broke, my heart renew d: Again fubmiffive to her feet I came, And prov'd too well my paflion by my fhame; While the fecure in colduefs, or difdain, Forgot my love, or triumph'd in its pain, Began with higher views her thoughts to raife, And fcorn'd the humble poet of her praife: She let each little lie o'er truth prevail, And ftrengthen'd by her faith each groundless tale, Believ'd the g offeft arts that malice try'd, Nor once in thought was on her lover's fide: Oh, where were then the fcenes of fancied life? Oh, where the friend, the miftrefs, and the wife? Her years of promis'd love were quickly paft, Not two revolving moons could fee them laft.- To Stow's delightful fcenes I now repair, In Cobham simile to lofe the gloom of care! Nor fear that he my weakness fhould defpife, In nature learned, and humanely wife. There Pitt, in manners foft, in friendship warm, With mild advice my liftening grief fha 1 charm, With fenfe to counfel and with wit to pleafe, A Roman's virtue with a courtier's eafe. Nor you, my friend whofe heart is ftill at reft, Contemn the human weaknefs of my breaft; Reafon may chide the faults the cannot cure, And pains, which long we fcorn'd, we oft endure; Though wifer cares employ your ftudious mind, Form'd with a foul 10 elegantly kind, Your breaft may icfe the can it long has known, And learn my woes to pity, by its own.
Where the gay moments which I once have known! From place to place I folitary roam, O, where that heart I fondly thought my own! Abroad uneafy, not content at home. I fcorn the beauties common eyes adore, The more I view them, feel thy worth the more; Unmov'd I hear them fpeak, or fee them fair, Ard only think on thee, who art not there. In vain would books their formal fuccour lend, Nor wit nor wifdom can relieve their friend; Wit can't deceive the pain I now endure, And wisdom fhews the ill without the cure. When from thy fight I waste the tedious day, A thousand schemes I form, and things to fay; But when thy prefence gives the time I seek My heart's fo full, I wifh, but cannot speak.
And could I fpeak with eloquence and eale, Till now not ftudious of the art to please, Could I, at woman who fo oft exc aim, Expofe (nor blush, thy triumph and my shame, Abjure those maxims I fo lately priz'd, And court that fex I foolishly defpis'd, Own thou haft foften'd my obdurate mind. And thus reveng'd the wrongs of womankind; In vain to tell thee, all I write in vain, Loft were my words, and fruitless all my pain, My humble fighs fhall only reach thy ears, And all my eloquence fhall be my tears.
And now (for more I never muft pretend) Hear me not as thy lover, but thy friend; Thousands will fain thy little heart cnfnare, For without danger none like thee are fair; But wifely choose who beft deferves thy flame, So fhall the choice ittelf become thy fame; Nor yet delpife, though void of winning art, The plain and honeft courtship of the heart: Though lefs it feels, will pleafe and flatter more, The skilful tongue in love's perfuafive lore, And, meanly learned in that guilty trade, Can long abufe a fond, unthinking maid. Thy unexperienc'd youth might foon believe; And fince their lips, fo knowing to deceive, And fince their tears, in falfe fubmiffion dreft, Might thaw the icy coldness of thy breast; O! fhut thine eyes to fu.h deceitful woe : Caught by the beauty of thy outward fhow, Like me they do not love, whate'er they seem, Like me-with paflion founded on esteem.
PROLOGUE
TO LILLO'S ELMERICK.
O labour'd fcenes to-night adorn our stage,
N Lillo's plain fenfe would here the heart en
He knew no art, no rule; but warmly thought From paffion's force, and, as he felt, he wrote. His Barnwell once no critic's teft could bear, Yet from each eye ftill draws the natural tear. With generous candour hear his latest fìrains, And let kind pity fhelter his remains. Depreft by want, afflicted by disease, Dying he wrote, and dying wifh'd to please. Oh, may that with be now hun anely paid, And no harth critic vex his gentle fhade. And bid one laurel grace his humble grave. 'Tis yours his unfupported fame to fave,
And honours due to deathlefs merit claim; loa weak Mufe a kind indulgence lend, Fond with just praise your labours to commend, And tell the world that Somervile's her friend.) Her incenfe guiltlefs of the forms of art Breathes all the huntfman's honefty of heart; Whofe fancy ftill the pleafing scene retains Of Edric's villa, and Ardenna's plains: Joys, which from change fuperior charms receiv'd, 1e horn hoarfe founding by the lyre reliev'd: When the day crown'd with rural chafte delight, keigns obfequious to the feftive night;
The feftive night awakes th' harmonious lay, And in fweet verfe recounts the triumphs of the day.
Strange that the British Mufe should leave fo long,
The Chace, the sport of Britain's kings, unfung! Dittinguish'd land! by Heaven indulg'd to breed The ftout, fagacious hound, and generous fteed; In vain! while yet no bard adorn'd our isle, To celebrate the glorious fylvan toil. For this what darling fon fhall feel thy fire, God of th' unerring bow, and tuneful lyre? Our vows are heard-Attend, ye vocal throng, Somervile meditates th' adventurous fong. Bold to attempt, and happy to excel, His numerous verfe the huntfman's art fhall tell. From him, ye British youths, a vigorous race, Imbibe the various fcience of the chace; And while the well-plann'd fyftem you admire, Know Brunswick only could the work inspire; A Georgick Mufe awaits Auguftan days, And Somerviles will fing, when Fredericks give the bays.
TO THE AUTHOR OF
THE CHACE.
NCE more, my friend, I touch the trembling lyre,
And in my bofom feel poetic fire.
For thee I quit the law's more rugged ways, To pay my humble tribute to thy lays. What, though I daily turn each learned sage, And labour through the unenlighten'd page : Wak'd by thy lines, the borrow'd flames I feel, As flints give fire when aided by the fleel.
Thy genius in fuch colours paints the chace, The real to fictitious joys give place. When the wild mufic charms my ravish'd ear, How dull, how taftelefs Handel's notes appear! Ev'n Farinelli's felf the palm refigns,
He yields-but to the mufick of thy lines. If friends to poetry can yet be found; Who without blushing fenfe prefer to found; Then let this foft, this foul-enfeebling band, Thefe warbling minstrels, quit the beggar'd land. They but a momentary joy impart,
'Tis you, who touch the foul, and warm the heart. How tempting do thy fylvan sports appear! Ev'n wild ambition might vouchsafe an ear, Might her fond luft of power a while compofe, And gladly change it for thy fweet repofe. No fierce, unruly fenates, threaten here, No axe, no fcaffold, to the view appear, No envy, difappointment, and despair. Here, bleft viciffitude, whene'er you please, You ftep from exercife to learned ease: Turn o'er each claffic page, each beauty trace, The mind unwearied in the pleasing chace. Oh! would kind Heaven fuch happiness bestow, Let fools, let knaves, be matters here below. Grandeur and place, thofe baits to catch the wife, And all their pageant train, 1 pity and despise. J. TRACY.
The fubje& propofed. Addrefs to his Royal Highnefs the Prince. The origin of hunting. The rude and unpolished manner of the first hunBeafts at firft hunted for food and facrifice. The grant made by God to man of the beafts, &c. The regular manner of hunting. first brought into this island by the Normans. The best hounds and beft horfes bred here.The advantage of this exercife to us, as iflanders. Addreis to gentlemen of estates. Situation of the kennel and its feveral courts. The diverfion and employment of hounds in the kennel. The different forts of hounds for each different chace. Defcription of a perfect hound. Of lizing and forting of hounds, the middlefized hound recommended. Of the large deepmouthed hound for hunting the ftag and otter. Of the lime-hound; their use on the borders of England and Scotland. A physical account of fcents. Of good and bad fcenting days. A fhort admonition to my brethren of the couples. HE Chace, I fing, Hounds, and their various
Though in fulphureous clouds of fmoke confin'd, TH
Thy rural fcenes 1pring fresh into my mind.
And no lefs various ufe. O thou Great Prince ! When
Whom Cambria's towering hills proclaim their lord,
Deign thou to hear my bold, inftructive fong. While grateful citizens with pompous fhew, Rear the triumphal arch, rich with th' exploits Of thy illustrious houfe; while virgins pave Thy way with flowers, and, as the Royal Youth Paffing they view, admire and figh in vain; While crowded theatres, too fondly proud Of their exotic minfrels, and fhrill pipes, The price of manhood, hail thee with a fong, And airs foft-warbling; my hoarfe-founding horn Invites thee to the Chace, the fport of kings; Image of war without its guilt The Mufe 15 Aloft on wing fhail foar, conduct with care Thy foaming courfer o er the steepy rock, Or on the river bank receive thee fafe, Light-bounding o'er the wave from fhore to fhore. Be thou our great protector, gracious Youth! 20 And if in future times, f me envious prince, Careless of right and guileful, fhould invade Thy Eritain's comm rce, or should stive in vain To wreft the balance from thy equal hand; The hunter-train, in chearful green array'd, 25 (A band undaunted, and inur'd to toils) Shall compass thee around, die at thy feet, er hew thy paffage through th' embattled foe, And cicur thy way to fame: infpir'd by thee The nobler chace of glory fhall pursue
Yet without guilt. For the green herb alone. Unequal to fuftain man's labouring race, Now every moving thing that lived on earth Was granted him for food. So just is Heaven, To give us in proportion to our wan's
Or chance or induftry in after-time Some few improvements made, but short as yet Of due perfection. In this ifle remote Our painted ancestors were flow to learn, To arms devote. of the politer arts
Nor kill'd nor ftudious; till from Neuftria's coafte Victorious William, to more decent rules 75 Subdu' our Saxon fathers, taught to speak The proper dialect, with horn and voice To cheer the bufy hound, whofe well-known cry His ifening peers approve with joint acclaim. From him fucceffive huntsmen learn'd to join 8 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 favour'd isle, And Heav'n's peculiar care to thee 'tis given 85 To train the fprightly steed, more fleet than those Begot by winds, or the celeftial breed
hat bore the great Pelides through the prefs Of heroes arm'd, and broke their crowded ranks; Which proudly neighing, with the fun begins 90 Chearful his courfe? and ere his beams decline, Has meafur'd half thy furface unfatigu'd.
Through fire, and fmoke, and blood, and fields of In thee alone, fair land of liberty!
Nature, in her productions flow, afpires By just degrees to reach Perfection's height: So mimic Art works leifurely, till Time Improve the piece, or wife Experience give The proper finishing. When Nimrod bold, That mighty hunter, first made war on beasts, And ftain'd the woodland green with purple dye, New, and unpolifh'd was the huntfman's art; No ftated rule, his wanton will his guide. With clubs and ftones. rude implements of war, He arm'd his favage bands, a multitude Untrain d; of twining ofters form'd, they pitch Their artlels toils, then range the defert hills, -4fcower the plains below; the trembling herd Start at tn nu al found, and clamorous fhout Unheard before; Surpriz dalas! to find
Man new their foe, whom erft they deem'd their lord,
But mild and gentle, and by whom as yet Secure they graz'd. Death fretches o'er the plafi Wide-wafting, and grim flaughter red with blood: Urg'd on by hunger keen, they wound, they kill, Their rage licentious knows no bound; at last, Incumber'd with their spoils, joyful they bear Upon their fhoulders broad the bleeding prey. 55 Part on their altars fmoke a facrifice Tothat all-gracious power, whose bounteous hand Supports his wide creation; what remains On living coals they broil, inelegant Of tafte, nor skill'd as yet in nicer arts Of pamper'd luxury. Devotion pure, And strong neceflity, thus firft began
The chace of beafts: though bloody was the deed,
Is bred the perfc& hound, in fcent and speed As yet unrival'd, while in other clines Their virtue fails, a weak degenerate race. In vain malignant teams and winter foga Load the dull air, and hover round our coafts, The huntfman ever gay, robuft, and bold, Defics the noxious vapour, and confides In this delightful exercife, to raise tiis drooping herd, and chear his heart with joy. Ye vigorous youths, by fmiling fortune bleft With large demeines, hereditary wealth, Heap'd copious by your wife forefathers' care, 105 Hear and attend! while I the means reveal T'enjoy thofe pleafures, for the weak too frong, Too collly for the poor. To rein the feed Swift-ftretching o'er the plain, to chear the pack Opening in conforts of harmonious joy, But breathing death. What though the gripe fevere Of brazen-fiited Time, and flow disease Creeping through every vein, and nerve unftrung, Afflict my hattered frame, undaunted still, Fix'd as a mountain afh, that braves the bolts 115 Of angry Jove; though blified, yet unfallen; Still can my fool in Fancy's mirror view Deeds glorious once, recai the joyous fcene In all its fplendor deck'd, o'er the full bow Recount ny triumphs paft, urge others on With hand and voice and point the winding way: Pleas'd with that focial sweet garrulity, The poor disbanded veteran's fole delight. First let the Kennel be the huntsman's care, Upon fome little eminence erect,
And fronting to the ruddy dawn; its courts On either hand wide opening to receive
The fun's all-chearing beams, when mild he
And gilds the mountain tops. For much the pack
(Rous'd from their dark alcoves) delight to stretch And bafk in his inv gorating ray:
Warn'd by the fire ming light and merry lark, Forth ruth the jolly clan; with tuneful throats They carol loud, and in gr nd 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 ved the refulgent brow, In vain the Mufes aid; untouch'd unflrung, 140 Lie my muse harp, and thy defponding bard Sits darkly mufing o'er th' unfinish'd lay. Let no Corinthian Pillars prop the dome, Avin expence, on charitable deeds
Better difpos'd, to clothe the tatter'd wretch, 145 Who fhrinks beneath the blit, to feed the poor Pinch'd with afflictive want: For ufe, not ftate, Gratefully plain, let each apartment rise. O'erall let cleanlineís prefide, no fcraps Behrew the pavement, and no half-pick'd bones To kindle fierce debate, or to disgust That nicer lenfe, on which the sportsman's hope, And all his future triumphs, muft d pend. Soon as the prowling pack with eager joy Have lapp'd their fmoking viands, morn or eve, From the full ciftern lead the ductile ftreams, To wash thy court well pay'd, nor fpare thy pais,
For much to health will cleanlinefs avail.
keek'it thou fer hounds to climb the rocky fleep, And brush th' entangled covert, whofe nice fcent O er greafy fallows and frequented roads Can pick the dubious way? Banifh far off. Each noisome stench, let no offenfive fmell Invade thy wide inciofure, but admit The nitrous air and purifying breeze.
Water and fhade no less demand thy care: In a large fquare th' adjacent field inclofe, There p-ant in equal ranks the ipreading elm, Or fragrant lime; moft happy thy design, If at the bottom of thy fpacious court A large canal, fed by the cryftal brook, From its tranfparent bofon hall ref & Downward thy ftructure and inverted grove. Here when the fun's too potent gleams annoy The crowded kennel, and the drooping pack, 175 Retiefs, and faint, loll their unmoiften'd tongues, And drop their feeble tails, to cooler fhades Lead forth the panting tribe; foon fhalt thou
The cordial breeze their fainting hearts revive: Tumultuous foon they plunge into the ftream, There lave their reeking fides, with greedy joy Gulp down the flying wave, this way and that From hore to fhore they fwim, while clamour Loud
And wild uproar torments the troubled flood:
Then on the funny bank they roll and ftretch 185. Ther dripping limbs, or elfe in wanton rings Courfing around, purfuing and pursued, The merry multitude difporting play.
But here with watchful and obfervant eye, Attend their frolicks, which too often end 190 In bloody broils and death. High o'er thy head Wave thy refounding whip, and with a voice Fierce-menacing, o'er-rule the fern debate, And quench their kindling rage; for oft in fport Begur, combat enfues, growling they fnarl, 195 Then on their haunches rear'd, rampant they
Each other's throats, with teeth and claws in gore Befmear'd, they wound, they tear, till on the ground,
Panting, half dead the conquer'd champion lies: Then fudden all the bafe ignoble crowd Loud-clamour.ng feize the helplets worried wretch And thirsting for his blood, dr: g different ways His mangled carcafe on th' enfanguined plain. O breafts of pity void! t'opprels the weak, To point your vengeance at the friendless head, And with one mutual cry infult the fail'n! Emblem too juft of man's degenerate race.
Others apart, by native inftinct led, Knowing iuftructor! 'mong the ranker grafs Cull each falubrious plant, with bitter juice 210 Concoctive for'd, and potent to allay
Each vicious ferment. Thus the hand divine Of Providence, beneficent and kind To all his creatures, for the brutes prefcribes A ready remedy, and is himfelf Their great phyfician. Now grown fliff with age, And many a painful chace, the wife old hound, Regardless of the frolick pack, attends His mafter's fide, or flumbers 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 speed, Bounds o'er the lawn to feize his panting prey: And in imperfect whimperings fpeaks his joy. 225
A different hound for every different chace Select with judgment; nor the timorous hare O'ermatch'd deftroy, but leave that vile offence To the mean, murderous, courfing crew; intent On blood and spoil. O blaft their hopes, just
And his low-drooping cheft, confefs his fpeed, His ftrength, his wind, or on the steepy hill, Or far-extended plain; in every part So well proportion'd, that the nicer skill Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. Of fuch compofe thy pack. But here a mean Obferve, nor the large hound prefer, of fize Gigantick; he in the thick-woven covert Painfully tugs, or in the thorny brake Torn and embarrass'd bleeds: But if too fmall, The pigmy brood in every furrow swims; Moil'd in the logging clay, panting they lag Behind inglorious; or elle fhivering creep Benumb'd and faint beneath the sheltering thorn For hounds of middle fize, active and strong, 265 Will better anfwer all thy various ends, And crown thy pleafing labours with fuccefs.
As fome brave captain, curious and exact, By his fix'd ftandard forms in equal ranks His gay battalion, as one man they move Step after step, their fize the fame, their arms Far-gleaming, dart the fame united blaze: Reviewing generals his merit own; How regular! how juft! And all his cares Are well repaid, if mighty George approve. 275 So model thou thy pack, if honour touch Thy generous foul, and the world's just applause. But above all take heed, nor mix thy hounds Of different kinds; difcordant founds fhall grate Thy ears offended, and a lagging line 280 Of babbling curs difgrace thy broken-pack. But if th' amphibious otter be thy chace, Or ftately flag, that o'er the woodland reigns; Or if the harmonious thunder of the field Delight thy ravifh'd cars, the deep-flew'd hound Breed up with care, ftrong, heavy, flow, but fure; Whofe ears down-hanging from his thick round
In vain the shelter of the covering rock, In vain the footy cloud, and ruddy flames That iffued from his mouth; for foon he paid His forfeit life: a debt how juftly due To wrong'd Alcides, and avenging Heaven! Veil'd in the fhades of night they ford the ftream, Then prowling far and near, whate'er they feize Becomes their prey; nor flocks nor herds are safe, Nor ftalls protect the fteur, nor ftrong-barr'd
Secure the favourite horfe. Soon as the morn | Reveals his wrongs, with ghaftly vifage wan The plunder'd owner lands, and from his lips A thousand thronging curfes burst their way: He calls his ftout allies. and in a line
His faithful hound he leads, then with a voice That utters loud his rage, attentive chears: Soon the fagacious brute, his curling tail Flourish'd in air, low bending plies around His bufy nofe, the fleaming vapour fnuffs Inquifitive, nor leaves one turf untried, Tiil, confcious of the recent ftains, his heart Beats quick; his fnuffling nofe, his active tail, Atteft his joy; then with deep opening mouth, That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims Th' audacious felon; foot by foot he marks His winding way, while all the liftening crowd Applaud his reasonings. O'er the watery ford, Dry fandy heaths, and ftony barren hilis, 330 O'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 sense !
Should fome more curious fportsman here en quire
Whence this fagacity, this wondrous power Of tracing step by step, or man or brute? What guide invifible points out their way, O'er the dark marsh, bleak hill, and fandy plain? The courteous Mufe fhall the dark caufe reveal. The blood that from the heart inceffant rolls In many a crimson tide, then here and there In fmaller rills difparted, as it flows Propell'd, the ferous particies evade Through th' open pores, and with the ambient
And hang upon the gently purling brook, Entangling mix. As fuming vapours rife, There by th' incumbent atmosphere comprefs'd. The panting chace grows warmer as he flies, 350 And through the net-work of the skin perfpires; Leaves a long-ftreaming trail behind, which by The cooler air condens'd, remains, unless By fome rude ftorm difpers'd, or rarified By the meridian fun's intenfer heat. To every fhrub the warm effluvia cling, Hang on the grafs, impregnate earth and skies. With noftrils fpreading wide, o'er hill, o'er dale The vigorous hounds purfue, with every breath Inhale the grateful steam, quick pleasures fting Their tingling nerves, while they their thanks
repay, And in triumphant melody confefs
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