The Hounds 115 



play'd on a very fine Harpsichord. 'Tis the fashion 

 [you know] for every one to commend ; and the 

 most insensible Auditor, for fear of discovering his 

 ovi^n Ignorance, must seem to be in Raptures. The 

 Lady performed to Admiration ; one stared, another 

 talked of Angels and the Spheres, a third wept, 

 a fourth was ready to drop into a trance. At last 

 a very honest Gentleman that sat by in a musing 

 posture, having his Ears shaken with a longer and 

 louder quiver than ordinary, look'd abroad, and gave 

 me a nod and a wink, with this ingenious remark — 

 " By Jingo^ I never heard anything better but a Cry of 

 Dogs ; she draws out her note like my old TolerT 



The Lady herself was not unacquainted with the 

 Attractions of Hunting, and [as she told me after- 

 wards] she was more proud of this sincere com- 

 pliment from Tolers master than all the rest she 

 received on the occasion. 



A Squire'' s Essay on Hunting. 



The Sportsman's Distress o o 



I'VE lost my friend, my dog, and wife. 

 Saved only horse and purse ; 

 Yet when I think on human life, 

 Thank heaven it is no worse. 



My friend was sickly, poor, and old. 

 Was peevish, blind, and crippled ; 



My wife was ugly and a scold, — 

 I rather think she tippled. 



My dog was faithful, fond, and true. 



In sporting gave me pleasure ; 

 I shouldn't care for t'other two. 



If I had saved this treasure. 



Anon. 



