24 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. :i807 



Tho burst (perhaps Melton will sniile while it reads) 

 Was so quick that it took something out of the steeds ; 

 Nay, to speak the whole truth, many found it too fast, 

 And some very crack riders were looking aghast. 



Sqiiire Kynaston,* mounted on Whalebone the tough, 

 Found he'd lost a fore-shoe — that's to say, had enough 5 

 And Cromie, who came just to see them throw off. 

 And at all that he saw predetermin'd to scoff. 

 Allow'd that for once his opinion was wrong, 

 And confess 'd, with a sigh, that they could go along ! 



Many others, contented, went quietly home. 



Little dreaming, I ween, of the pleasure to come ; 



And a few, whilst debating to stay or to go, 



For the former resolv'd when they heard " Tally ho ! " 



Tally ho with a vengeance — for strange to recount, 

 Scarce allowing us time our nags to remount, 

 Another stout reynard went boldly away. 

 For Winderton making most desperate play, 

 Now headed, and forc'd his first point to decline. 

 To Epwell push'd forward as straight as a line ; 

 Finding there nothing left for his Kfe but to ran, 

 He resolv'd to die game, and to show them some fun : 

 So through Swalcliffe's plantations intrepidly went, 

 Passing Hook Norton Heath with a fine burning scent ; 

 Where a few of the oldest put on a wry face, 

 And the young ones no longer comj^lain'd of the pace. 



From thence, quite determin'd to give lis our fill, 

 For Swarford he made, and went right up the hill ; 

 Cross'd the road at a pace that made some people stare ; 

 And was fatal — poor Fretwill,t alas ! — to your mare. 



Close press'd, towards Heythorpe despairing he roves, 

 But in vain, for the scent ev'ry moment improves ; 

 Till at length, having gone twenty miles right on end. 

 At a rate that the oldest man out never kenn'd. 

 Having fill'd the whole country with falls and disasters, 

 Nearly kill'd all the nags, and well pickled their masters, 

 He was kill'd in the Park when just going to ground, 

 Above twenty-three miles from the place he was found ! 



* Mr. R. Kynaston, near Chapel House, Oxfordshire. 



Mr. Fretwill was, at this period, well known in the Hunt. 



