140 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



possible, persuade those who wish to halloo the 

 fox off, to stand quiet under the cover-side, and 

 on no account to halloo him too soon : if they do, 

 he most certainly will turn back again. Could you 

 entice them all into the cover, your sport, in all 

 probability, would not be the worse for it. 



How well the hounds spread the cover! the 

 huntsman, you see, is quite deserted, and his horse, 

 who so lately had a crowd at his heels, has not now 

 one attendant left. How steadily they draw! you 

 hear not a single hound ; yet none are idle. Is not 

 this better than to be subject to continual disappoint- 

 ment, from the eternal babbling of unsteady hounds ? 



See ! how they range 

 Dispers'd, how busily this way and that 

 They cross, examining with curious nose 

 Each likely haunt. Hark ! on the drag I hear 

 Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry 

 More nobly full, and swell'd with every mouth. — SOMERVILLE. 



How musical their tongues ! and as they get nearer 

 to him, how the chorus fills ! Hark, he is found ! 

 Now, where are all your sorrows, and your cares, ye 

 gloomy souls ! or where your pains and aches, ye 

 complaining ones ! one halloo has dispelled them all. 

 What a crash they make ! and echo seemingly takes 

 pleasure to repeat the sound. The astonished 

 traveller forsakes his road, lured by its melody : the 

 listening ploughman now stops his plough ; and every 

 distant shepherd neglects his flock, and runs to see 

 him break — what joy, what eagerness, in every face ! 



How happy art thou, Man, when thou'rt no more 

 Thyself ! when all the pangs that grind thy soul, 



