272 Somer'vile's [fourth 



The brute creation are his property, 

 Subfervient to his will, and for him made. 

 As hurtful thefe he kills, as ufeful thofc 

 Preferves ; their fole and arbitrary king. 

 Shou'd he not kill, as erft the Samian fage 

 Taught unadvis'd, and Indian Brachmans now 

 As vainly preach ; the teeming rav'nous brutes 

 Might fill the fcanty fpace of this terrene. 

 Incumbering all the globe ; Ihou'd not his care 

 Improve his growing flock, their kinds might fail, 

 Man might once more on roots and acorns feed. 

 And thro' the deferts range, fhiv'ring, forlorn. 

 Quite deftitute of ev'ry folace dear, 

 And ev'ry fmiling gaiety of life. 



The prudent huntfman, therefore, will fupply 

 With annual large recruits his broken pack. 

 And propagate their kind : as from the root 

 Frelh fcions ftill fpring forth, and daily yield 

 Kew blooming honours to the parent-tree. 

 Far (hall his pack be fam*d, far fought his breed. 

 And princes at their tables feafl thofe hounds 

 His hand prefents, an acceptable boon. 



Ere yet the fun thro' the bright ram has urg'd 

 His lleepy courfe, or mother Earth unbound 

 Her frozen bofom to the weftern gale ; 

 When feather'd troops, their focial leagues diflblv'd, 

 Seledt their mates, and on the leaflefs elm 

 The noify rook builds high her wicker neft; 

 Mark well the wanton females of thy pack, 



That 



