406 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



And the housemaids has closely watch'd, 

 And when he has the slatterns catch'd 

 In bed — who've left their hearth unswept, 

 Or not all things in order kept, 

 Slyly beneath the yielding clothes 

 Has pok'd his little saucy nose, 

 Pinch'd their soft arms quite black and blue, 

 And other softer places too ! 



The feath'iy race, in wood and grove, 

 Renew their pledges sweet of love. 

 The speckl'd thrush, the throstle bold. 

 Blackbird with beak margin'd with gold ; 

 The modest linnet, green and brown. 

 The goldfinch proud in coat of down ; 

 The soaring lark, whose tuneful song 

 Is not excell'd the birds among ; 

 The ring dove shy — the pigeon wild, 

 And every little chirping child 

 Of harmony — the gairish jay, 

 And garr'lous pie their tribute pay ; 

 With cuckoo of two-noted song ; 

 But none of all the sprightly throng 

 Can charm the ear like Philomel, 

 Who nightly doth her love song tell ; 

 And swallow swift, on tireless wing, 

 Hail thy return — O lovely Spring ! 



The partridge now, in courtsliip's race, 

 By hedgerows do each other chase ; 

 Answ'ring, at eve, ere night debate, 

 In love the lovecall of their mate. 



The hare — coy, harmless, tim'rous thing, 

 Will rest in safety thro' the Spring; 

 And teach her furry brood, beside. 

 To run'and double, squat and hide. 



What pow'rs to thee, Reynard, belong! 

 Vig'rous, active, fleet, and strong. 

 Artful, resolute, and bold, 

 With wond'rous nerve and frame to hold — 

 We owe to thy stout ferine race 

 The high diversion of the Chase! 



