LORD MIDDLETON.— 1814. 105 



A stout good little fox, and who 

 Instantly broke away in view. 

 Close at his brush, the nimble pack 

 Did not the scent o'errun, nor slack 

 Their pace, in dashing him along 

 Over the meadows deep and strong, 

 By Preston Bushes ; here the pace 

 Was now the quickest in the chase. 

 To Admington, at this village 

 Reynard stopp'd not to rob and pillage. 

 Made th' foot of Meon Hill, and tried 

 In the earths at the top to hide. 

 Finding no refuge there, he stood 

 For Mickleton ; took through the wood ; 

 Touch' d Hitcote Coombs, and right across 

 The Campden road for the Burnt House ; 

 Pass'd Lord Harrowby's noble seat, 

 Then drove along at killing rate. 

 Skirted the park at Weston, then 

 By Farncombe ; and away again 

 O'er those heart-breaking hills ; and tried 

 The country on the other side 

 To Saintbury village ; and now 

 The hardy rogue began to shew 

 Symptoms of weakness — yet about 

 Another mile he still held out ; 

 The hounds in style up to hiin go, 

 And kill him in the flat below. 



The length and tlie pace of this run did not fail 

 To puzzle the head — while they bother'd the tail. 



The first meet, this season, was on November the 4th, 

 at Frizhill. 



