BOOK.] Chace, 219 



Which, proudly neighing, with the fun begins 



Chearful his courfe, and ere his beams decline 



Has meafured half thy furface unfatigued. 



In thee alone, fair land of liberty ! 



Is bred the perfedt hound, in fcent and fpeed 



As yet unrival'd, while in other climes 



Their virtue fails, a weak degen'rate race. 



In vain malignant fleams and winter fogs 



Load the dull air, and hover round our coafts; 



The huntfman, ever gay, robuft, and bold. 



Defies the noxious vapour, and confides 



In this delightful exercife, to raife 



His drooping head, and chearhis heart with joy. 



Ye vig'rous youths, by Imiling fortune blefl 

 With large demefnes, hereditary wealth, 

 Heap'd copious by your wife fore-fathers care. 

 Hear and attend ! while I the means reveal 

 T'enjoy thofe pleafures, for the weak too ftrong. 

 Too coflly for the poor ; to rein the fleed 

 Swift-flretching o'er the plain ; to chear the pack 

 Opening in concerts of harmonious joy. 

 But breathing death. What, tho' the gripe fevere 

 Of brazen-fifted Time, and flow difeafe 

 Creeping thro' ev'ry vein, and nerve unflrung, 

 Afflidt my fhatter'd frame, undaunted ftill, 

 Fix'd as a mountain afh, that braves the bolts 

 Of angry Jove •, tho' blafted, yet unfallen ; 

 Still can my foul in fancy's mirror view 

 Deeds glorious once, recal the joyous fcene 



In 



