1834] THE DEBDALE HUNT. 115 



THE DEBDALE HUTSTT. 



Attributed to the Hon. E. Plunkett, Princethorpe, Jan. llth, 1834, 



Air — " One Bumper at Parting." 



Come, Clio, delighting in story, 



Come, sing we of Bobby, and how 

 He was only the next thing in glory 



To Sir Guy, or his famous dun cow ! 

 Let the wizard of Abbotsford tell us. 



How they could not come up with their stag ; 

 He thought that perhaps he might sell us, 



By killing Pitzjames's grey nag. 



Chorus — May merry Old England then nourish 



Her pristine affection for sport ; 

 For Foxhunting ever shall flourish, 



While our Squires lend their ready support. 

 Here's a health, then, to all the true lovers 



Of the Chase, while the wine goes the rounds, 

 To Sir Biddulph, who gave us the covers, — 



To Thoenhill himself, and the hounds. 



But I sing the last days of Bobby, 



Te Gods ! what a classical name ! 

 Perhaps I am wrong, but my hobby 



My Pegasus thinks just the same. 

 Princethorpe was the meet, but the cover 



Was Debdale, the gift of Sib The ; 

 At first, we all thought the red rover 



Had determin'd " at home " not to be. 



Chorus, ad lib. 



But I beg to observe that the greeting 



He gave us was just what we ought ; 

 From the very first gate not retreating, 



He remained till we came to the spot. 

 O ! his heart, who can yet feel emotion 



At the soul-stirring sound " Gone away," 

 Can alone form an adequate notion, 



Of the feelings that swayed us that day. 



Chorjis. 



" And now a fair field and no favour," 



Thought Biddulph, is all that I ask ; 

 Many others might think so, but waver, 



Unhke him, when put to the task. 



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