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 madness; two forts of it defcribed, the dum and outra cous madness: its dreadful Hes. Burning of the wound recommended as preventing all ill confequences. The infectious hounds to be separated, and fed apart. The vanity of trusting to the many infallible cures for this malady. The difmal effects of the biting of a mad dog, upon man, described. Defcription of the otter hunting. The conclufion.

HATE'ER of carth is form'd, to earth re

WHATEERS

Diffolv'd: the various objects we behold,
Plants, animals, this whole material mafs,
Are ever changing, ever new. The foul
Of man alone, that particle divine,

Escapes the wreck of worlds, when all things

fail.

Hence great the diftance 'twixt the beafts that perish,

10

And God's bright image, man's immortal race.
The brute creation are his property,
Subfervient to his will, and for him made.
As hurtful thefe he kills, as ufeful thofe
Preferves; their fole and arbitrary king.
Should he not kill, as ert the Samian fage
Taught unadvis'd, and Indian brachmans now
As vainly preach; the teeming ravenous brutes 15
Might fill the feanty fpace of this terrene,
Incumbering all the globe: fhould not his care
Improve his growing ftock, their kinds might
fail,

Man might once more on roots and acorns feed, And through the deferts range, hivering, for lorn,

20

35

Select their mates, and on the leaflefs elm
The hoify rook builds high her wicker neft,
Mark well the wanton females of thy pack,
That curl their taper tails, and frifking court
Their pyebald mates enamour'd; their red eyes
Flash fires impure; nor reft, nor food they take, 40
Goaded by furious love. In feparate cells
Confine them now, left bloody civil wars
Annoy thy peaceful fate. If left at large,
The growlg rivals in dread battle join,
And rude encounter; on Scamander's freams 45
Heroes of old with far lefs fury fought,
For the bright Spartan dame, their valour's prize.
Mangled and toru thy favourite hounds fall he,
Stretch'd on the ground; thy kennel shall appear
A field of blood: like fome unhappy town
In civil broils confus'd, while Dilcord fhakes
Her bloody fcourge aloft, fierce parties fage,
Staining their impious hauds in mutual death.
And till the belt belov'd, and bravest fall:
Such are the dire effects of lawless love.

50

55

65

70

Obferve with care his fhape, fort, colour, fize.
Nor will fagacious huntsmen lefs regard
His inward habits: the van babbler thun,
Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong.
His foolish offspring fhall offend thy ears
With falfe alarms, and loud impertinence.
Nor lefs the fhifting cur avoid, that breaks
Illufive from the pack; to the next hedge
Devious he trays, there every mufe he tries:
If haply then he cross the tearing fcent,
Away he flies victorious; and exuits
As of the pack fupreme, and in
is fpeed
And ftrength unrivall'd Lo c En behind
His vox'd affociates pant, and lab urig train
To climb the fleep afcent. Soon as the reich
Th' infulting boafter, his falfe courag fails,
Behind he lags, doom d to the fatal noofs,
His mafter's hate, and fcern of all the field.
T.4
What

75

80

The marks of their renown'd progenitors,
Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come. All these
Select with joy; but to the merciless flood
Expofe the dwindling refufe, nor o'erload
Th' indulgent mother. If thy heart relent,
Unwilling to deftroy, a nurse provide,
And to the foreft-parent give the care
Of thy fuperfluous brood; she'll cherish kind
The alien offspring; pleas'd thou shalt behold Ivo
Her tenderness, and hofpitable love.

105

If frolic now and playful they defert Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf With nerves improv'd, pursue the mimic chace, Courfing around: unto the choiceft friends Commit thy valued prize the rustic dames Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kiss Carefs, and dignify their little charge With fome great title, and refounding name 110 Of high import. But cautious here observe 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 firength unequal: the laborious chace Shall ftint his growth, and his rafh forward youth Contract fuch vicious habits, as thy care And late correction never fhall reclaim. When to full ftrength arriv'd, mature and bold,

120

125

Conduct them to the field; nor all at once
But as thy cooler prudence hall direct,
Select a few, and form them by degrees
To fricter difcipline. With thefe confort
The itaunch and steady fages of thy pack,
By long experience vers'd in all the wiles,
And fubtle doublings of the various chaco,
Rafy the effon of the youthful train,
When inftinct prompts, and when example guides.
If the too forward younker at the head 130
Prefs boldly on in wanton fportive mood,
Correct his hafte, and let him feel abash'd
The ruling whip. But if he ftoop behind
In wary modeft guife, to his own nose
Confiding fure; give him full scope to work 135
His winding way, and with thy voice applaud
His patience, and his care; foon fhalt thou view
The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe,
And all the liftening pack attend his call.

Oft lead them forth where wanton lambkins play,

And bleating dams with jealous eyes observe
Their tender care. If at the crowding flock
He bay prefumptuous, or with eager hafte
Purfue them fcatter'd o'er the verdant plain ¡.

140

In the foul fact attach'd, to the frong ram 148
Tie faft the rafh offender. See! at firit
His horn'd companion, fearful and amaz'd,
Shall drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground;
Then, with his load fatigu'd, shall turn a-head,
And with his curl'd hard front inceffant peal 150
The panting wretch, till, breathlefs and aftunn'd,
Stretch'd on the turf he lies. Then spare not thou
The twining whip, but ply his bleeding fides
Lash after lash, and with thy threatening voice,
Harfh-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud, 155
His vile offence. Sooner fhall trembling doves
Escap'd the hawk's sharp talons, in mid air
Affail their dangerous foe, than he once more
Disturb the peaceful flocks. In tender age
Thus youth is train'd; as curious artifts hend 16Q
The taper pliant twig, or potters form
Their foft and ductile clay to various shapes.

Nor is 't enough to breed; but to preserve, Must be the huntsman's care. The ftaunch old hounds,

Guides of thy pack, though but in number few,
Arc yet of great account; fhall oft untic
The Gordian knot, when
Cafon at a stand
Puzzling is loft, and all art is vain.
O'er clogging fallows, o'er dry plafter'd roads,
O'er floated meads, o'er plains with flocks dif
tain'd
179

Rank-fcenting, thefe must lead the dubious way.
As party-chiefs in fenates who prefide,
With pleaded reason and with well-turn'd speech,
Conduct the ftaring multitude; fo these
Direct the pack, who with joint cry approve, 175
And loudly boast discoveries not their own.

180

Unnumber'd accidents, and various ills, Attend thy pack, hang hovering o'er their heads, And point the way that leads to death's dark cave. Short is the fpan; few at the date arrive Of ancient Argus in old Homer's fong So highly honour'd: kind, fagacious brute! Not ev'n Minerva's wifdom could conceal Thy much lov'd mafter from thy nicer fenfe. Dying his lord he own'd, view'd him all o'er 185 With eager eyes, then clos'd thofe eyes, well pleas'd.

Of leffer ills the Mufe declines to fing, Nor ftoops fo low; of thefe each groom can tell The proper remedy. But O! what care, What prudence, can prevent madness, the work Of maladies? Terrific peft! that blafts The huntsman's hopes, and defolation fpreads Through all the unpeopled kennel unreftrain'd, More fatal than th' envenom'd viper's hite; Or that Apulian fpider's poifonous king, Heal'd by the pleafing antidote of founds.

195.

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, 200 The glouting hound refuse his wanted meal, Retiring to fome clofe, obfcure retreat, Gloomy, difconfolate: with speed remove The poor infectious wretch, and in strong chains Bind him fufpected. Thus that dire disease 205, Which art can't cure, wife caution may prevent.

Buta

210

But, this neglected, foon expect a change, A difmal change, confufion, frenzy, death. Or in fome dark recefs the fenfeless brute Sits fadly pining: deep melancholy, And black despair, upon his clouded brow Hang lowering; from his half-opening jaws The clammy venom, and infectious froth, Diftilling fall; 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; abject he lies, Dumb, fpiritlefs, benumb'd; till death at last Gracious attends, and kindly brings relief.

215

220

225

Qr, if outrageous grown, behold, alas! A yet more dreadful scene; his glaring eyes Redden with fury, like fome angry boar Churning he foams; and on his back erec His pointed bristles rife; his tail incurv'd He drops, and with harth broken howlings rends The poifon-tainted air, with rough hoarfe voice Inceffant bays; and fnuffs th' infectious breeze; This way and that he ftares ag haft, and starts At his own fhade: jealous, as if he deem'd 230 The world his foes. If haply towards the ftream He caft his roving eye, cold horror chills His foul; averse he flies, trembling, appall'd, Now frantic to the kennel's utmost verge Raving he runs, and deals deftruction round. 235 The pack By diverse; for whate'er he meets Vengeful he bites, and every bite is death.

If now perchance through the weak fence ef-
cap'd,

Par up the wind he roves, with open mouth
Inhales the cooling breeze; nor man, nor beast,
He fpares implacable. The hunter-horse,
Once kind associate of his fylvan toils,
(Who haply now without the kennel's mound
Crops the rank mead, and listening hears with joy
The chearing cry, that morn and eve falutes 245
His raptur'd fenfe) a wretched victim falls.
Unhappy quadruped! no more, alas !
Shall thy fond mafter with his voice applaud
Thy gentleness, thy speed; or with his hand
Stroke thy foft dappled fides, as he each day 250
Vifits thy fall, well pleas'd; no more shalt thou
With sprightly neighings, to the winding horn,
And the loud opening 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 hafte
Baleful he bends his courfe: the village flies
Alarm'd; the tender mother in her arms
Hugs close the trembling babe: the doors are
barr'd,

260

And flying curs by native inftinct taught
Shun the contagious bane; the ruftic bands
Hurry to arms, the rude militia i ze
Whate'er at hand they find; clubs, forks, or guns,
From every quarter charge the furious foc,
In wild diforder, and uncouth array :·
Till, now with wounds on wounds opprefs'd and
gor'd,

265

At one short poifonons gasp he breathes his last. Hence to the kennel, Muse, return, and view

300

Sing, philofophic Mufe, the dire effects Of this contagious bite on hapless man. The ruftic fwaius, by long tradition taught Of leaches old, as foon as they perceive The bite imprefs'd, to the fea-coaft repair. Pluug'd in the briny flood, th' unhappy youth Now journeys home fecure; but foon fhall with The feas as yet had cover'd him beneath The foaming furge, full many a fathom deep. A fate more difmal, and superior 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 the fhines High in the vault of heaven; the lurking peft Begins the dire affault. The poisonous foam Through the deep wound instill'd with hoftile

310

315

320

Invades th' arterial fluid, whofe red waves
Fermenting boil; inteftine war enfues,
Tempestuous heave, and, their cohesion broke,
And order to confusion turns embroil'd.
Now the diftended veffels fcarce contain
The wild uproar, but prefs each weaker part
Unable to refift: the tender brain
And ftomach fuffer moft; convulfions fhake
His trembling nerves, and wandering pungent
Pinch fore the fleepless wretch; his fluttering
pains

pulle

Oft intermits; penfive, and fad, he mourns His cruel fate, and to his weeping friends

325

Laments

Laments in vain; to hafty anger prone,
Refents each flight offence, walks with quick ftep,
And wildly flares; at laft with boundless fway
The tyrant frenzy reigns for as the dog
(Whofe fatal bite convey'd th' infectious 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 actions all canine.
So (as old Homer fung) th' affociates wild
Of wandering Ithacus, by Circe's charms

335

The bufy-fpreading pack, that fearless plunge
Into the flood, and crofs the rapid fiream.
Bid rocks, and caves, and each refounding there,
Proclaim your bold defiance; loudly raise
Each cheering 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 glittering fpoils, half-eaten fish, 395
Scales, fins, and bones, the leavings of his
feait.

Ah! on that yielding fag-bed, fee once more

groves,

Dreadful example to a wicked world!

340 See there diftrefs'd he lies! parch'd up with thirft, But dares not drink. Till now at last his foul Trembling efcapes, her noifome dungeon leaves, And to fome purer region wings away.

One labour yet remains, celeftial Maid! 345 Another element demands thy fong. No more o'er craggy fteep, through coverts thick With pointed thern, and briars intricate, Urge on with horn and voice the painful pack: But fkim with wanton wing th' irriguous vale, Where winding freams amid the flowery meads Perpetual glide along; and undermine The cavern'd banks, by the tenacious roots Of hoary willows arch'd; gloomy retreat Of the bright fcaly kind; where they at will 355 On the green watery weed their pasture graze, Suck the moist foil, or flumber at their cafe, Rock'a by the reftlefs brook, that draws aflope Its humid train, and laves their dark abodes. Where rages not oppreflion? Where, alas! Is innocence fecure? Rapine and spoil Haunt ev'n the loweft deeps; feas have their fharks,

360

Rivers and ponds inclose the ravenous pike;
He in his turn becomes a prey; on him
Th' amphibious otter feafts. Juft is his fate 365
Deferv'd but tyrants know no bounds;
Spears,

nor

370

375

That brille on his back, defend the perch
From his wide greedy jaws; nor buruifh'd mail
The yellow carp, nor all his arts can fave
Th' infinuating eel, that hides his head
Beneath the flimy mud; nor yet escapes
The crimson-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 huntsman's early call, and hears with joy
The jovial crew, that march upon its banks
In gay parade, with bearded lances arm'd.
The fubtle fpoiler of the beaver kind,
Far off perhaps, where ancient alders fhade
The deep ftill pool; within fome hollow trunk
Contrives his wicker couch; whence he furveys
His long purlieu, lord of the ftream, and all
The finny fhoals his own. But you, brave
youths,
385
Difpute the felon's claim; try every root,
And every reedy bank; encourage all

380

The fly goole footed prowler bends his course, And feeks the diftant fhallows. Huntsman, bring

400

Thy eager pack, and trail him to his couch. Hark! the loud peal begins, the clamorous 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, 405 And hear our melody. Th' harmonious notes Float with the ftream; and every winding creek And hollow rock, that o'er the dimpling flood Nods pendant; ftill improve from shore to fhore Our sweet reiterated joys. What shouts! What clamour loud! What gay heart-chearing

founds

410

Urge through the breathing brafs their mazy way! Nor quires of Tritons glad with fprightlier ftrains The dancing billows! When proud Neptune rides In triumph o'er the fteep. How greedily 415 They fnuff the fifhy fteam, that to each blade Rank-fcenting clings! See! how the morning dews

They sweep, that from their feet besprinkling drop

Difper'd, and leave a track oblique behind.
Now on firm land, they range, then in the flood
They plunge tumultuous, or through reedy pools
Rufiling they work their way: no hole efcapes
Their curious fearch. With quick fenfation now
The funing vapour ftings; flutter their hearts,
And joy redoubled burfs from every mouth 425
In louder fymphonies. Yon hollow trunk,
That with its hoary head incurv'd falutes
The paffing wave, must be the tyrant's fort,
And dread abode. How thefe impatient climb,
While others at the root inceffant bay! 43

They put him down. See! there he dives along!
Th' afcending bubbles mark his gloomy way.
Quick fix the nets, and cut off his retreat
Into the sheltering deeps. Ah! there he vents!
The pack plunge headlong, and protended fpears
Menace deftruation while the troubled furge
Indignant foams, and all the fcaly kind,
Affrighted, hide their heads. Wild tumult reigns,
And loud up par. Ah! there once more he vents!
See, that bold hound has feiz'd him; down they
fink

440

Together loft: but foon fhall he repent
His rafh afïault. See there efcap'd, he flies
Half-drown'd, and clambers up the flippery bank
With ouze and blood diftain'd. Of all the brutes,
Whether by nature form'd, or by leng ufe, 445