2i6 The Chase 



When the fruit has been gathered, the tale been told, 



And the dog has had his day. 

 But chance and change 'tis folly to me. 



Say I, the devil may care ! 

 Nor grey nor blue is so bonny and true 



As the bright brown eye of my mare. 



It is good for the heart that's chilled and sad 



With the death of a vain desire, 

 To borrow^ a glow that shall make it glad 



From the warmth of a kindred fire. 

 And I leap to the saddle a man indeed ! 



For all I can do or dare. 

 In the power and speed that are mine at need 



While I sit on the back of my mare. 



With the free wide heaven above outspread, 



The free, wide plain to meet. 

 With the lark and his carol high over my head 



And the bustling pack at my feet, 

 I feel no fetter, I know no bounds, 



I am free as a bird in the air. 

 While the covert resounds in a chorus of hounds 



Right under the nose of the mare. 



We are in for a gallop ! Away, away ! 



I told them my beauty could fly. 

 And we'll lead them a dance ere they catch us to-day. 



For we mean it — my lass and I ! 

 She skims the fences, she scours the plain, 



Like a creature winged, I swear, 

 With snort and strain on the yielding rein ; 



For I'm bound to humour the mare. 



They have pleached it strong, they have dug it wide. 

 They have turned the baulk with the plough, 



