KEEP NO BABBLERS 131 



them. I remember, in a furzy country, that my 

 hounds chopped three hares in one morning ; for it is 

 the nature of those animals, either to leap up before 

 the hounds come near them, and steal away, as it is 

 called ; or else to lie close till they put their very 

 noses upon them. Hedges also are very dangerous : 

 if the huntsman beat the hedge himself, which is the 

 usual practice, the hounds are always upon the watch ; 

 and a hare must have good luck to escape them all. 

 The best way to prevent it, is to have the hedge well 

 beaten at some distance before the hounds. 



Hares seldom run so well as when they do not 

 know where they are. They run well in a fog, and 

 generally take a good country. If they set off down 

 the wind, they seldom return : you then cannot push 

 on your hounds too much. When the game is 

 sinking, you will perceive your old hounds get for- 

 ward : they then will run at head. 



Happy the man who with unrivall'd speed 



Can pass his fellows, and with pleasure view 



The struggling pack ; how in the rapid course 



Alternate they preside, and, jostling, push 



To guide the dubious scent ; how giddy youth, 



Oft babbling, errs, by wiser age reprov'd ; 



How, niggard of his strength, the wise old hound 



Hangs in the rear, till some important point 



Rouse all his diligence, or till the Chase 



Sinking he finds ; then to the head he springs, 



With thirst of glory fir'd, and wins the prize. — SOMERVILLE. 



Keep no babblers ; for though the pack soon find them 

 out, and mind them not, yet it is unpleasant to hear 

 their noise ; nor are such fit companions for the rest. 

 Though the Spcctatoi' may make us laugh at the 



