BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



he had quahiis concerning the legitimacy, in a sporting sense, 

 of the methods employed by the otter-hunter of his day. 

 ' Give the otter a bad name and spear him,' seems to be the 

 keynote of the lines : and he blackened the quarry's character 

 by way of justifying the spear. Truly we had need be im- 

 pressed with a sense of the otter's iniquity ere we could share 

 the rejoicing when ' wriggling he hangs and grins and bites in 

 vain.' 



' This subtle spoiler of the beaver i^ind. 

 Far off, perhaps, wiiere ancient alders shade 

 The deep still pool, within some hollow trunk. 

 Contrives his wicker couch ; whence he surveys 

 His long purlieu, lord of the stream, and all 

 The finny shoals his own. But you, brave youths, 

 Dispute the felon^s claim ; try evVy root. 

 And evVy reedy bank ; encourage all 

 The busy-spreading pack, that fearless plunge 

 Into the flood, and cross the rapid stream. 

 Bid rocks, and caves, and each resounding shore. 

 Proclaim your bold defiance ; loudly raise 

 Each cheering voice, till distant hills repeat 

 The triumphs of the vale. On tlie soft sand 

 See there his seal impressed ! and on that bank 

 Behold the glitfring spoils, half-eaten fish. 

 Scales, tins and bones, the leavings of his feast. 

 Ah ! on that yielding sag-bed, see, once more 

 His seal I view. O'er yon dank, rushy marsh 

 The sly goose-footed prowler bends his course. 

 And seeks the distant shallows. Huntsman, bring 

 Thy eager pack, and trail him to his couch. 

 Hark ! the loud peal begins, the clam Vous joy, 

 The gallant chiding, loads the trembling air. 

 Ye Naiads fair, who o'er these floods preside. 

 Raise up your dripping heads above the wave. 

 And hear our melody. Th' harmonious notes 

 Float with the stream ; and ev'ry winding creek 

 And hollow rock, that o'er the dimpling flood 

 Nods pendant ; still improve from shore to shore 

 Our sweet reiterated joys. What shouts ! 

 60 



