1 6 The Chase 



upon a dumb Bell that is placed in a corner of my 

 Room, and pleases me the more because it does 

 everything I require of it in the most profound 

 Silence. My Landlady and her Daughters are so 

 well acquainted with my hours of exercise, that 

 they never come into my Room to disturb me 

 whilst I am ringing. 



When I was some Years younger than I am at 

 present, I used to employ myself in a more laborious 

 Diversion, which I learned from a Latin Treatise 

 of Exercises that is written with great Erudition ; 

 it is there called the Fighting with a Man's own 

 Shadow ; and consists in the brandishing of two 

 short Sticks grasped in each hand, and Loaden with 

 Plugs of Lead at either end. This opens the chest, 

 exercises the Limbs, and gives a Man all the 

 Pleasures of Boxing, without the blows. I could 

 wish that several Learned Men would lay out that 

 time which they employ in Controversies and Dis- 

 putes about nothing, in this method of fighting 

 with their own Shadows. It might conduce very 

 much to evaporate the Spleen, which makes them 

 uneasy to the Publick as well as to themselves. 



To conclude. As I am a Compound of Soul and 

 Body, I consider my self as obliged to a double 

 scheme of Duties ; and think I have not fulfilled the 

 Business of the Day, when I do not thus employ 

 the one in Labour and Exercise, as well as the other 

 in Study and Contemplation. 



Addison ( 1 6 7 2- 1 7 1 9) . 



Rural Sports ^^^ o* >£> 



SOON as Aurora drives away the night, 

 And edges eastern clouds with rosy light, 

 The healthy huntsman, with the cheerful horn. 

 Summons the dogs, and greets the dappled morn ; 



