The Hunt in Literature 39 



The Sportsman ,^> .^> .<^ 



HUNT, fish, shoot, 

 Would a man fulfil life's duty ! 

 Not to the bodily frame alone 



Does Sport give strength and beauty. 



But character gains in — courage ? 



Ay, Sir, and much beside it ! 

 You don't sport, more's the pity : 



You soon would find, if you tried it, 



Good sportsman means good fellow, 

 Sound-hearted he, to the centre ; 



Your mealy-mouthed mild milksops 



— There's where the rot can enter ! . . . 



Still, tastes are tastes, allow me ! 



Allow, too, where there's keenness 

 For Sport, there's little likelihood 



Of a man's displaying meanness ' 



Robert Browning. 



