MR. j^HTRLEY.— 18<2'2. 153 



THE SAME, BY VENATOR. 



' Early, tlie winding' Avon and tlie luintsnian's voice 

 Let loose the gen'ral chorus ; far around 

 Joy spreads his wings, and the gay morning smiles.' 



The morning tho' cloudy, and drizzling the rain, 

 The Field and the Master met joyful again ; 

 When our pulses beat high, gay faney will trace 

 Bright pleasures imknown l)ut to Sons of the Chase ! 



Had Neptune's Arioii, that famous old horse 

 Who won the grand prize on the Nemaean course 

 For Argos' great king, been amongst us to-day. 

 He'd not have won here, we may venture to say ; 

 With his old master Hercules, stout, on his back, 

 He'd had no more chance with our nags than a hack ; 

 The Field, if on turf or in clay to the hocks, 

 Would have shewn him the way to spank after a fox ! 



Found quick at Fir Grove — our iox was a game one. 

 Sportsmen prefer a wild fox to a tame one ; 

 To Alderminster Hills, and stoutly maintain'd 

 His speed till their summit he safely had gain'd. 

 By the glance of an eye down the hill he caught sight 

 Of the well-mounted Field, then turn'd to the right ; 

 Cross'd the lowlands beneath, then boldly swam thx-o' 

 The Avon which flows down the valley below. 

 Pass'd o'er Crimscott Downs, then diverging the chase, 

 Reach'd Ilmington Hills at a sharp rattling pace. 

 To Foxcote as soon as the hills he got o'er, 

 By the house of a Sportsman — a sportsman no more ! 

 Then reynard direct ran to Toddenham down ; 

 Soon after the Field, their day's labour to crown, 

 "View'd their game — Tallyho ! — the pack firm and good, 

 Threw him up in a field near to old Wolford Wood. 



