WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 135 



enjoyment of wild sport. Hunting and head-aches don't go well 

 together j and he who would really enjoy the former must forego 

 the indulgence of " cakes and ale " for the time ; must imitate, 

 by his moderation and early habits, the example of that " Prime 

 Minister " of the North, the Rev. John Russell, who though 



" So prone to the chase that he followed each scent, 

 From the stag in the forest to bubble-a-vent," 



Yet the poet adds 



" Not a lover of wine, 

 He was sure to be fast on his pillow at nine ; " * 



and, like the student who would attain his object, he must be 

 careful to keep body and mind in healthy condition ; to abstain 

 from all that tends to enervate either ; or the goal will not be 

 gained. It is impossible to carouse and at the same time enjoy 

 the charms of the chase ; nor ever in classic legend do we find 

 Bacchus and Diana associated together. 



Notwithstanding St. Prix's hounds were appointed to meet 

 some four leagues off at eight in the morning, the wassail was still 

 going on merrily long after midnight. Prominent among the 

 nightingales, too, was the chairman, the Louvetier himself. The 

 popular peasant song of the country he sang with great effect ; 

 it was called "Ann hini goz," and declared the passion of a young 

 man for an old woman for the sake of her wealth ; the refrain, in 

 which every Breton joined heartily, creating roars of merriment. 

 The chairman's power appeared to be imperative j and, on whom- 

 soever he called for a song, that person was bound to sing. 

 Shafto and myself responded to the request as well as we could ; 

 he, by singing, " 'Twas on a dark day in December ; " and I, the 

 " Kilruddery Fox-chase." But when Kergoorlas was appealed to, 

 he proved a recusant ; and no solicitation could induce him to 

 change his mind : he was willing to make a speech, though ; and 

 this commutation being accepted by the chairman, he commented 



* That poet was his friend, Mr. George Templer, of Stover. 



