366 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



From some not too near neighbour's gorse ; 

 While in thciv woods without remorse 

 Sir Velveteens — takes precious care 

 No vixen lays up litter there ! 



His wreath should fairer fingers twine 



To sound of loftier harp than mine ; 



Yet, if sometimes my straining steed 



Diana's' path to trace succeed, 



If sometimes smiling he rehearse 



A fragment from my feeble verse, 



Oh 1 let the latest words I write 



This prince of fox-preservers loudest praise recite. 



But hark ! to what blithe strain is set 

 Cheerful^ and Melody's duet, 

 And soon the echoing wood resounds 

 With the full chorus of the hounds ; 

 The fox their piercing notes arouse. 

 To '^ boatman and his buxom spouse 

 He tarries not to whisk his brush ; 

 He hears an angry Tempest-s rush, 

 On flight fixes his keenest wit, 

 For Landlord's notice is to quit ; 

 And when, impatient for the fray, 

 We catch the welcome, " gone away ! " 



Horses fly fast ; a faster beat 

 Our hearts with ecstacy repeat, 

 As each essays to bear his part 

 In the wild struggle for a start. 



' Mr. Arkwright's mare. 



- The names of the hounds are printed in heavier type throughout ; I must 

 ask Mr. Green's kind permission to have a tia'xed -pack out on this occasion. 

 '' One of Mr. Arkwright's gamekeepers. 



