MR. SHIRLEY.— 18^24. 165 



One day in the season, we cannot say when, 

 A capital Field met the Master again. 1 

 Our fox from the covert in minntes a few 

 Broke forth, and wild over the country he flew 

 At a fine rattling pace, by way of Fir Grove, 

 Then push'd for the Stour from the uplands above. 

 Swam the river in style, and boldly pass'd on 

 By that cover known as the Bushes of Preston. 



When nags from these Bushes are led up Meon Hill, 

 At half pace, they appear to go quick, if not well ; 

 Thro' Quinton and Admington kept on the chase, 

 To th' top of Meon Hill, at the best of his pace. 

 The fences are here all so thick and so strong. 

 The nags, unless prime ones, can't bundle along • 

 The country up hill the best part of the way. 

 And so heavy they have not a chance to make play. 



1 The perfect Sportsman, it has been remarked by the intellig^ent 

 author of the Sportsman's Cabinet, whether the hounds are drawing 

 or running, is never seen in a place to incur disgrace by heading the 

 game, or obstructing the hounds ; the chase is a business in which he 

 is a proficient, and lie is never at a loss in the execution. From an 

 innate and invincible attachment to the sport, and implicit observance 

 of its strictest rules, he becomes constitutionally insensible to the less 

 attentive part of the company ; but is, nevertheless, incessantly alive 

 to every tongue of a hound. Not a promising whimper, an exhilarating 

 challenge, or a palpable hit, but vibrates sympathetically upon his 

 anxious ear, and his whole soul seems absorbed in the earnest and 

 eager hope of transmitting the enlivening signal of a view to his 

 distant friends who surround the covert in equal expectation. The 

 chase once conmienced, his utmost judgment is exerted to lay as well 

 to the hounds as the speed of his horse and the state of the country will 

 permit ; at which time he stands upon no specioTis ceremony with, or 

 servile subservience to, local superiors ; this alone is the happy spot, as 

 well as the critical and exulting moment, where all are equal, where 

 personal pride can assume no consequence, dignity can claim no prece- 

 dence, and where even an immensity of wealth is of no avail, but 

 superlatively happy he who can excel his peers, and take the lead. 

 L 3 



