Hounds, 91 



fbrward, and keep it warm; their exadtnefs 

 often renders them trifling and tedious; and 

 they are like feme nice Dames, who fland 

 picking out every duft and mote, whilft they 

 might drefs the meat. By this means, though 

 the hunt be finer, yet the prey (which is by 

 feme thought necelTary to complete the 

 fport) very often efcapes, the length of the 

 chace takes up the time, and expofes them to 

 numerous hazards of loling. 



The North Country Beagle is nimble and 

 ■vigorous, and does his bufinefs as furioufly 

 as Jehu himfelf can wifh him : he purfues 

 Pufs with the moil impetuous eagernefs, 

 gives her no time to breathe or double, and, 

 if the fcent lies high, will ealily demolish 

 a lealh, or two brace, before dinner *. But 



f All other kind of Hounds are now entirely laid aUdc 

 by thofe who afFeft to hunt in ftyle, though Somerville gives 

 his teftimony againft this pradtice in the following animated 

 lines : 



** A different Hound for every different chace 

 " Seledl with judgment, nor the timorous Hare 

 •* O'er-match'd deflroy, but leave that vile offence 

 " To the mean, murderous, courling crew, intent 

 ** On blood and fpoil ; O blafl their hopes, jufl Heaven '. '* 



SomervilLe's Chace, 



this 



