164 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



His vex'd associates pant, and lab'ring strain 

 To climb the steep ascent. Soon as tliey reach 

 Th' insulting boaster, his false courage fails, 

 Behind he lags, doom'd to the fatal noose, 

 His master's hate, and scorn of all the field. 

 What can of such be hoped but a base brood 

 Of coward curs, a frantic, vagrant race ? 



See there, with count'nance blithe, 

 And with a courtly grin, the fawning hound 

 Salutes thee cow'ring ; and his wide-op'ning nose 

 Upward he curls, and his large sloe-black eyes 

 Melt in soft blandishments and humble joy : 

 His glossy skin, or yellow pied, or blue, 

 In lights or shades by Nature's pencil drawn, 

 Reflects the various tints ; his ears and legs, 

 Fleck'd here and there, in gay enamell'd pride 

 Rival the speckled pard ; his rush-grown tail 

 O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch : 

 On shoulders clean, upright, and firm he stands : 

 His round cat-foot, straight hams, and wide-spread thighs. 

 And his low-dropping chest, confess his speed. 

 His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill 

 Or far-extended plain ; in ev'ry part 

 So well proportioned, that the nicer skill 

 Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. 

 Of such compose thy pack. Sumci'vilc. 



When the puppies are three or four months old they are sent out to 

 their " walks." JNIany of the farmers of the district are quite pleased to 

 receive one, or a couple of young hounds, to keep till tlie next spring, when 

 they are returned to the kennels and join the pack. One of the advantages 

 of sending the puppies out to walk is that they may get over the di.stemper 

 while separate from the others, and so not have the disease run through the 

 kennels : they are also sent away for their own sake, as puppies do not seem 

 to thrive if kept with the other hounds. Distemper does not now seem to 

 be so serious a disease as it was in olden times ; it usually attacks puppies at 

 from four to twelve months' old, and is easily treated with simple remedies. 



If frolicsome and playful they desert 

 Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf, 

 With nerves improv'd, pursue the mimic chase. 

 Coursing around, unto thy choicest friends 

 Commit thy valu'd prize ; the rustic dames 

 Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps 

 Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kiss 

 Caress, and dignify their little charge 

 With some great title, and resounding name 

 Of high import. But cautious here observe 

 To check their youthful ardour, nor permit 

 Th' iucxperienc'd youiiker, immature, 



