The titillating joy. Thus on the air Depend the hunter's hopes. When ruddy streaks At eve forebode a bluftering formy day, Or lowering clouds blacken the mountain's brow, When nipping frofts, and the keen biting blafts Of the dry parching eaft, menace the trees. With tender bloffoms teeming, kindly spare Thy fleeping pack, in their warm beds of fraw Low-finking at their cafe; liftlefs they shrink Into fome dark recefs, nor hear thy voice Though oft invok'd; or haply if thy call Roufe up the flumbering tribe, with heavy eyes Glaz'd, lifeless, dull, downward they drop their 375
Inverted; high on their bent backs crect Their pointed briftles ftare, or 'mong the tufts Of tanker weeds, each ftomach-healing plant Curious they crop, fick, fpiritlefs, forlorn. Thele inaufpicious days, on other cares Employ thy precious hours; th' improving friend With open arms embrace, and from his hips Glean fcience, feafon'd with good-natur'd wit. But if th' inclement ikies 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 bless kind Hea- 39°
That Britain yet enjoys dear Liberty,
That balm of life, that fweeteft bleffing, cheap Though purchas'd with our blood. Well-bred, polite,
Credit thy calling. See! how mean, how low, The booklofs fauntering youth, proud of the skut That dignifies his cap, his flourish'd belt, And rufty couples gingling by his fide. Be thou of other mold; and know that fuch Transporting pleasures were by Heaven ordain'd Wildom's relief, and Virtue's great reward. 400
Of the power of instinct in brutes. Two remark- able initances in the hunting of the roebuck, and in the hare going to feat in the morning. Of the variety of feats or forms of the hare, according to the change of the feason, weather, or wind. Defcription of the hare hunting in all its parts, interfperfed with rules to be ob ferved by thofe who follow that chace. Tranfi- tion to the Afiatick way of hunting, particu- larly the magnificent manner of the Great Mogul, and other Tartarian princes, taken from Monfieur Bernier, and the hiftory of Genrifkan the Great. Concludes with a fhort repri of of tyrants and oppreffors of mankind. (OR will it lefs delight th' attentive fage T'obferve that Inftinét, which unerring guides
The brutal race, which mimicks reafon's lore, And oft tranfcends: Heaven-taught, the roebuck swift
Loiters at eafe before the driving pack
And mocks their vain purfuit, nor far he flies, But checks his ardour, till the teaming fcent That freshens on the blade, provokes their rage, Urg'd to their speed, his weak deluded foes Soon flag fatigued; ftrain'd to excefs each nerve, Each flacken'd finew fails; they pant, they foam; Then o'er the lawn he bounds, o'er the high hills Stretches fecure, and leaves the fcatter'd crowd To puzzle in the diftant vale below.
'Tis infind that directs the jealous hare 15 To chufe her foft abode: With step revers'd She forms the doubling maze; then, ere the morn Peeps through the clouds, leaps to her clofe re-
As wandering shepherds on th' Arabian plains No settled refidence obferve, but fhift Their moving camp, now, on fome cooler hill With cedars crown'd, court the refreshing breeze; And then, below, where trickling streams diftil From fome penurious fource, their thirst allay, And feed their fainting flocks: So the wife harcs Oft quit their feats, left fome more curious eye Should mark their haunts, and by dark treache rous wiles
Plot their deftruction; or perchance in hopes Of plenteous forage, near the ranker mead, Or matted blade, wary and close they fit. When spring fhines forth, feafon of love and joy, In the moist marsh, 'mong beds of rufhes hid, They cool their boiling blood: When fummer funs
Bake the cleft earth, to thick wide-waving fields Of corn full-grown, they lead their helpless young: But when autumnal torrents and fierce rains Deluge the vale, in the dry crumbling Sank Their forms they delve, and cautiously avoid The dripping covert: Yet when winter's cold Their limbs benumbs, thither with speed return'd In the long grafs they fkulk, or fkrinking creep Among the wither'd leaves, thus changing ftill, As fancy prompts them, or as food invites. But every feafon carefully obferv'd, Th' inconflant winds, the fickle element, The wife experienc'd huntíman foon may find His fubtle, various game, nor waste in vain His tedious hours, till his impatient hounds, With difappointment vex'd, each springing lark Babbling purfue, far fcatter'd o'er the fields. 50 Now golden Autumn from her open lap Her fragrant bounties fhowers, the fields are fhorn;
Inwardly fmiling, the proud farmer views The rifing pyramids that grace his yard, And counts his large increafe; his barns are flor'd And groaning ftaddles bend beneath their load. All now is free as air, and the gay pack In the rough briftly stubbles range unbiam'd; Not widow's tears o'erflow, no fecret curfe Swells in the farmer's breaft, which his pale lips Trembling conceal, by his fierce landlord aw'd : But courteous now he levels every fence,
For all their toils. Stretch'd on the ground fhe lies | Till in the boundless line his fight is loft. A mangled corfe; in her dim glaring eyes Cold death exults, and fiffens every limb. Aw'd by the threatening whip, the furious hounds Around her bay; or at their matter's foot, Each happy favourite courts his kind applause, With humble adulation cowering low. All now is joy. With checks full-lown they wind Her folemn dirge, while the loud-opening pack The concert fwell, and hills and dales return The fadly-pleating founds. Thus the poor hare, A puny, dallard animal, but vers'd In fubtle wiles, diver's the youthful train. But if thy proud, afpiring foul disdains So mean a prey, delighted with the pomp, Magnificence, and grandeur of the chace; Hear what the Mule from faithful records fings.
Not greater multitudes in arms appear'd With mighty Porus in dread battle join'd, On thefe extended plains, when Animon's fon 350 The vallal 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;
Why on the banks of Gemna, Indian stream, Line within line rife the pavilions proud, Their fiiken ftreamers waving in the wind? Why neighs the warrior horfe? From tent to tent, 305
Why prefs in crouds the buzzing multitude? Why fhines the polifh'd helm, and pointed lance, This way and that far beaming o'er the plain? Nor Vifapour nor Golconda rebel;
Nor the great Sophy, with his numerous hoft, 310 Lays wafte the provinces; nor glory fires To rob, and to deftroy, beneath the name And fpecious guife of war, À nobler cause Calls Aurengzebe to arms. No cities fack'd, No mother's tears, no helpless orphan's cries, 315 No violated leagues, with fharp remorfe Shall fting the confcious victor: but mankind Shall hail him good and juft. For 'tis on beafts, He draws his vengefu! fword! on beafts of prey Full-fed with human gore. See, fee, he comes ! Imperial Delhi, opening wide her gates, Pours out her thronging legions, bright in arms, And all the pemp of war. Before them found Clarions and trumpets, breathing martial airs, And bold defiance. High upon his throne, 325 Borne on the back of his proud elephant, Sits the great chief of Tamur's glo ious race: Sublime he fits, amid the radiant blaze Of gems and gold. Omrahs about him crowd, And rein th' Arabian teed, and watch his nod: And potent Rajahs, who themfelves prefide O'er realms of wide extent; but here fubmifs Their homage pay, alternate kings and flaves. Next thefe, with prying eunuchs girt around, The fair fultanas of his court: a troop Of chofen beauties, but with care conceal'd From each intrufive eye; one look is death. Ah cruel Eastern law! (had kings a power But equal to their wild tyrannic will) To rob us of the fun's all-chearing ray, Were lefs fevere. The vulgar clufe the march, Slaves and artificers; and Delhi mourns
Her empty and depopulated streets.
Now at the camp arriv'd with ftern review, Through groves of fpears, from file to file he
His fharp experienc'd eye; their order marks, Each in his ftation rang'd, exact and firm,
That bridg'd the Hellefpont from shore to fhore, And drank the rivers dry. Mean while in troops The bufy hunter train mark out the ground, A wide circumference; full many a league In compass round; woods, rivers, hills, and plains,
Large provinces; enough to gratify Ambition's higheft aim, could reafon bound Man's erring will. Now fit in close divan The mighty chiefs of this prodigious hoft. He from the throne high-eminent prefides, Gives out his mandates proud, laws of the chace, From ancient records drawn. With reverence low,
And proftrate at his feet, the chiefs receive To vary is to die. Then his brave bands His irreversible decrces, from which Each to his ftation leads; encamping round, 370 Till the wide circle is compleatly form'd. Where decent order reigns, what thefe command, Thofe execute with Tpeed, and punctual care ; In all the stricteft difcipline of war:
As if fome watchful foe, with bold infult, That flies on wings through all th' encircling line, Hung lowering o er their camp. The high refolve Each motion fteers, and animates the whole. So by the fun's attractive power controll'd, The planets in their fpheres roll round his orb: Ou all he fhines, and rules the great machine. Ere yet the morn difpels the fleeting mifts, The fignal given by the loud trumpet's voice, Now high in air th' imperial standard waves, Emblazon'd rich with gold, and glittering gems; Streaming meteorous. And like a fheet of fire, through the dun gloom The foldiers' fhouts,
And all the brazen inftruments of war, With mutual clamour, and united din, Fill the large concave. While from camp to camp They catch the varied founds, floating in air, Round all the wide circumference, tigers fell Shrink at the 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 roule 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; ftrong dogs, that match in fight The boldeft brute, around their matters wait, A faithful guard. No haunt unfearch'd, they
Gleam from the mountain tops; the forest seems One mingling blaze: like flocks of theep they Дy, Before the flaming brand: fierce lions, pards, Boars, tigers, bears and wolves; a dreadful crew Of grim blood-thirfty foes: growling along. They talk indignant; but fierce vengeance still Hangs pealing on their rear, and pointed fpears Prefent immediate death. Soon as the night Wrapt in her fable veil forbids the chace, 415 They pitch their tents, in even ranks, around The circling camp. The guards are plac'd, and fires At proper dittances afcending rife,
And paint th' horizon with their ruddy light. So round fome ifland's fhore of large extent, 420 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 howlings, and what hideous roar, Dikurb thofe peaceful thades! where erit the bird That glads the night had chear'd the listening groves With fweet complainings. Throu h the filent gloom Oft they the guards affail; as oft repell'd They fly reluctant, with hot boiling rage Stung to the quick, and mad with wild despair. Thus day by day they ftill the chace renew, At night encamp; till now in freighter bounds The circle leffens, and the beafts perceive The wall that hems them in on every fide. 435 And now their fury bursts, and knows no mean; From man they turn, and point their ill-judged
Against their fellow-brutes. With teeth and claws The civil war begins; grappling they tear. Lions on tigers prey, and bears on wolves: Horrible difcord! till the crowd behind Shouting purfug, and part the bloody fray. At once their wrath fubfides; tame as the lamb The lion hangs his head, the furious pard, Cow'd and fubdued, flies from the face ofman, 445 Nor bears one glance of his commanding eye. So abject is a tyrant in diftrefs!
At last, within the narrow plain confin'd, A lifted field, mark'd out for bloody deeds, An amphitheatre more glorious far
Than ancient Rome could boat, 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' affert their royal race, And prove by glorious deeds their valour's growth Mature, ere yet the callow down has fpread Its curling fhade. On bold Arabian steeds With decent pride they fit, that fearless hear The lion's dreadful roar; and down the rock 460 Swift-fhooting plunge, or o'er the mountain's' ridge
Stretching along, the greedy tiger leave Panting behind. On foot their faithful flaves With javelins arm'd attend; each watchful eye Fix'd on his youthful care, for him alone He fears, and, to redeem his life, unmov'd Would lofe his own, The mighty Aurengzebe,
From his high-elevated throne, beholds His blooming race; revolving in his mind What once he was, in his gay fpring of life. 470 When vigout ftrung his nerves. Parental joy Melts in his eye, and fiufhes in his check. Now the loud trumpet founds a charge. The fhouts
Of eager hots, through all the circling line,. And the wild howlings of the beafts within 475 Rend wide the welkin, flights of arrows wing'd With death, and javelius launch'd from every arm, Call fore the brutal bands, with many a wound Gor'd through and through. Despair at last pre- vails,
When fainting nature shrinks, and roufes all 480 Their drooping courage. Swell'd with furious rage,
Their eyes dart fire; and on the youthful band They rush implacable. They their broad fhields Quick interpofe; on each devoted head Their flaming falchions, as the holts of Jove, 485 Defcend unerring. Proftrate on the ground The grining monsters lie, and their foul gore Defiles the verdant plain. Nor idle ftand The truly flaves; with pointed fpears they pierce Through their tough hides; or at their gaping
An eafir paffage find. The king of brutes In broken roarings breathes his laft; the bear Grumbles in death; nor can his spotted skin, Though leek it fhine, 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, hot fes, dogs. fierce beafts of every kind, Aftrange prom feuous carnage, drench'd in blood, And heaps on heaps amals'd. What yet remain Alive, with vain affault contend to break Th' impenetrable line. Others, whom fear Infpires with felf-preferving wiles, beneath The bodies of the flain for fhelter creep. Aghaft they fly, or hide their heads difpers'd. 505 And now perchance had Heaven 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 fultanas of his court Appear, and to his ravifh'd eyes difplay Thole charms but rarely to the day reveal'd. Lowly thy bend, and humbly fue, to fave The vanquifi'd hoft. What mortal can deny When fuppliant beauty begs? At his command, Opening to right and left, the well-train'd troops Leave a large void for their retreating foes. Away they fly, on wings of fear upborn, To feck on diftant hills their late abodes.
Ye proud oppreffors, whofe vain hearts exult In wantonnels of power, 'gainst the brute race, 520 Fierce robbers like yourfelves, a guiltles war Wage uncontroll'd: here quench your thirit of blood;
But learn from Aurengzebe to spare mankind.
Of King Edgar, and his impofing a tribute of wolves heads upon the kings of Wales; from hence a tranfition to fox-hunting, which is defcribed in all its parts Cenfure of an over-numerous pack. Of the feveral engines to destroy foxes and other wild beafts. The feel-trap defcribed, and the manner of using it. Defcription of the pitfall for the lion; and another for the elephant. The ancient way of hunting the tiger with a mirror. The Arabian manner of hunting the wild boar. Defcription of the royal ftag-chace at Windfor l'oreft. Concludes with an addrefs to his Majesty, and an eulogy
IN Albion's ife, when glorious Edgar reign'd,
He, wifely provident, from her white cliffs Launch'd half her forefts, and with numerous fleets Cover'd his wide domain: there proudly rode Lord of the deep, the great prerogative Of British monarchs. Each invader bold, Dane and Norwegian, at a distance gaz'd, And, difappointed, gnafh'd his teeth in vain. He fcour'd the feas, and to remotest shores With fwelling fails the trembling corfair fled. Rich commerce flourish'd; and with busy oars Dash'd the refounding furge. Nor less at land His royal cares: wife, potent, gracious prince! His fubjects from their cruel foes he fav'd, And from rapacious favages their flocks: Cambria's proud kings (though with reluctance) paid
Their tributary wolves; head after head, In full account, till the woods yield no more, And all the ravenous race extinct is loft. In fertile paftures, more fecurely graz'd The focial troops; and foon their large increase With curling fleeces whiten'd all the plains. But yet, alas! the 'wily fox remain'd, A fubtle, pilfering foe, prowling around In midnight fhades, and wakeful to destroy. In the full fold, the poor defenceless lamb, Seiz'd by his guileful arts, with sweet warmblood Supplies a rich repast. The mournful ewe, Her dearest treafure loft, through the dun night Wanders perplex'd, and darkling bleats in vain. 30 While in th' adjacent bush, poor Philomel, (Herfelf a parent once, till wanton churls Defpoil'd her neft) joins in her loud laments, With fweeter notes, and more melodious woe."
For these nocturnal thieves, huntsman, prepare Thy fharpeft vengeance. Oh! how glorious 'tis To right th' appressed, and bring the felon vilę To juft difgrace! Ere yet the morning peep, Or ftars retire from the first blush of day, With thy far-echoing voice alarm thy pack, And roufe thy bold compeers. Then to the copfe, Thick with entangling grafs, or prickly furze, With filence lead thy many-coloured hounds, In all their beauty's ride. See! how they range Dispers'd, how busily this way, and that, They cross, examining with curious nose, Each likely haunt. Hark! on the drag I hear
Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry More nobly full, and fwell'd with every mouth. Prefs to their ftandard; hither all repair, As fraggling armies, at the trumpet's voice, Rustling, and full of hope; now driven on heaps And hurry through the woods; with hasty step They pufh, they ftrive; while from his kennel fneaks The confcious villain. See! he skulks along, 55 Sleek at the fhepherd's cot, and plump with meals
Purloin'd. So thrive the wicked here below.
Though high his bruth he bear, though tipt with
It gaily fhine! yet ere the fun declin'd Recal the fhades of night, the pamper'd rogue 60 Shall rue his fate revers'd; and at his heels Behold the juft avenger, fwift to feize His forfeit head, and thirsting for his blood. Heavens! what melodious strains! how best our hearts,
Big with tumultuous joy! the loaded gales Breathe harmony; and as the tempeft drives From wood to wood, through every dark recefs The foreft thunders, and the mountains shake. The chorus fwells; lefs various, and less sweet, The trilling notes, when in thofe very groves, 70 The feather'd choristers falute the spring. And every bush in concert joins; or when The master's hand, in modulated air, Bids the loud organ breathe, and all the powers Of mufick in one inftrument combine, An univerfal minstrelly. 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 through the groves! he breaks away. 80 al Shrill horns proclaim his flight. Each straggling
Strains o'er the lawn to reach the distant pack. 'Tis triumph all and joy. Now, my brave youths, Now give a loofe to the clean generous fteed; Flourish the whip, nor fpare the galling fpur; 85 But, in the madnefs of delight, forget
Your fears. Far o'er the rocky hills we range, And dangerous our courfe; but in the brave True courage never fails. In vain the stream In foaming eddies whirls; in vain the ditch Wide-gaping threatens death. The craggy steep, Where the poor dizzy fhepherd crawls with care, And clings to every twig, gives us no pain; But down we fweep, as tloops the falcon bold To pounce his prey. Then up th' opponent hill,95 By the swift motion flung, we mount aloft: So fhips in winter-feas now fliding fink Adown the steepy wave, then tofs'd on high Ride on the billows, and defy the ftorm.
What lengths we pafs! where will the wandering chace
Lead us bewilder'd! fmooth as fwallows fkim The new-fhorn mead, and far more swift, we fly. See my brave pack; how to the head they preis, Joftling in clofe array, then more diffufe Obliquely wheel, while from their opening mouths The vollied thunder breaks, So when the cranes
Their annual voyage fteer, with wanton wing Their figure oft they change, and their loud clang Frem: cloud to cloud rebounds. How far behind The hunter-crew, wide straggling o'er the plain! The panting courfer now with trembling nerves Begins to feel; urg'd by the goring spur,
Makes many a faint effort: he fnorts, he forms, The big round drops run trickling down his fides, With fweat and blood distain'd. Look back and view
The frange confufion of the vale below Where four vexation reigns; fee yon poor jade, In vain th' impatient rider frets and swears; With galling fpurs harrows his mangled fides; He can no more: his ftiff unpliant limbs Rooted in earth, unmov'd and fix'd he stands, For every cruel curfe returns a groan, And fobs, and faints, and dies. Who without grief Can view that pamper'd fteed, his master's joy, His minion, and his daily care, well cloath'd, 125 Well fed with every nicer cate; no coft, No labour fpar'd; who, when the flying chace Broke from the copfe, without a rival led The numerous train: now a fad fpectacle Of pride brought low, and humble innocence, 130 Drove like a pannier'd afs, and fcourg'd along. While thefe, with loofer'd reins and dangling heels, Hang on their recling palfreys, that fearce bear Their weights; another in the treacherous bug Lies floundering half ingulph'd. What biting thoughts
Torment the abandon'd crew! Old age laments His vigour spent: the tall, plump, brawny youth
Curfes his cunaberous bulk! and cavies now The fhort pygmean race, he whilom kenn'd With proud infulting 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? 145 See! there he creeps along; his brush he drags, And sweeps the mire impure; from his wide jaws His tongue unmoiften'd hangs; fymptoms too fure Of fudden death. Ha! yet he flies, nor yields To black defpair But one loofe morc, and all 150 His wiles are vain. Hark! through yon village now The rattling clamour rings. The barns, the cots, And leafelefs elms return the joyous founds. Through every homeftall, and through every yard, His midnight walks, panting, forlorn, he flies; 155 Through every hole he fneaks, through every jakes Plunging he wades befmear'd, and fondly hopes In a fuperior tench to lose his own:
But, faithful to the track, th' unerring hounds With peals of echoing vengeance clofe purfue. 160 And now diftrefs'd, no fheltering covert near, Into the hen-rooft creeps, whose walls with gore Diftain'd atteft his guilt. There, villain, there Expect thy fate deferv'd. And foon from thence The pack inquifitive, with clamour loud, 165 Drag out their trembling prize; and on his blood With greedy tranfport feast. In bolder notes Each founding horn proclaims the felon dead :
Cenfure that numerous pack, that crowd of ftate, With which the vain profufion of the great Covers the lawn, and thakes the trembling cople. Pompous incumbrance! a magnificence Ufelefs, vexatious! For the wily fox, Safe in th' increasing number of his foes, Kens weil the great advantage: flinks behind, And flyly creeps through the fame beaten track, And hunts them ftep by step: then views, escap'd, With inward extafy, the panting throng
In their own footsteps puzzled, foil'd and loft. So when proud Eaftern kings fummon to arms Their gaudy legions, from far diftant climes 190 They flock in crowds, unpeopling half a world: But when the day of battle calls them forth To charge the well-train`d foe, a band compact Of chofen veterans; they prefs blindly on, In heaps confus'd, by their own weapons fall 195 A fmoking carnage scatter'd o'er the plain.
Nor hounds alone this noxious brood dearoy: The plunder'd warrener full many a wile Fat with nocturnal fpoils. At clofe of day, 200 Devises to entrap his greedy foe, With filence drags his trail; then from the ground Pares thin the close-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 all press The yielding furface. By th' indented fcel And ftruggles, but in vain: yet oft 'tis known, With gripe tenacious held, the felon grins, When every art has fail'd, the captive fox Has fhar'd the wounded joint, and with a limb 210 Compounded for his life. But, if perchance In the deep pitfall plung'd, there's no efcane; But unrepriev'd he dies, and beach in air. The jet of clowns, bis reeling carcass hangs,
Of thefe are various kinds; not even 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 beam With blushes paints the dawn; and all the race 229 Carnivorous, with blood full-gorg'd, retire Into their darkfome cells, their fatiate Inore O'er dripping offals, and the mangled limbs Of men and beafts; the painful forester Climbs the high hills, whofe proud aspiring tops With the tall cedar crown'd, and taper fir, Affail the clouds. There 'mong the craggy rocks, And thickets intricate, trembling he views His footsteps in the fand; the dismal road And avenue to death. Hith he calls
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