gS Obfervatkm on 



on that fubje£l, and, upon my making hirct 

 a compliment on his perfect knowledge in^ 

 the art, " Oh, Sir," (fays he,) '' the life 

 " of man is too fhort." This fage decla- 

 ration was received as a jeft by fome of the 

 company, but I have lince found it a ferious 

 truth. I am an old man myfelf, the wiles- 

 of the Hare have been all along the fludy of 

 my leifure hours, and yet I am puzzled and- 

 outwitted by the fubtil creature. When I 

 think myfelf fure, fhe often puts fome un- 

 expefted trick upon me, and hardly do I 

 ever lofe her in tolerable fcenting weather^ 

 but, like a General after the lofs of a battle, 

 I can afterwards difcern that it was the ef- 

 fect of fome overlight, or want of pro- 

 vilion for fuch or fuch a contingency. For 

 the conqueft of a Hare, like that of an 

 cnemy^, does not depend on vigorous attacks 

 or purfuits, but there are a hundred acci- 

 dents to which the fuccefs of the field is ob- 

 noxious, and v/hich ought always to be in 

 the head of the Huntfman, if he would 

 come oiF with glory. 



It is not enough, with good judgment, 

 to cliufe our forces, to raife their courage 



v/ith. 



