i84 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



Hares have been tamed as domestic pets, but it has never become a 

 common jjractice as with rabbiis. The affectionate interest which the poet 

 Co\vp-jr took in his pet liares will be known to all. A graphic account of 

 them was supplied b)' Cowper in the Gcntknian' s i\/a^a::ine. 



COWPER'S EPITAPH ON A HARE. 



Here lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, A Turkey carpet was his lawn, 



Nor swifter greyhound follow. Whereon he loved to bound, 



Whose foot ne'er tainted morning dew. To skip and gambol like a fawn, 



Nor ear heard huntsman's hallo. And swing his rump around. 



Old Tiny, surliest of his kind His frisking was at evening hours, 



Who, nurs'd with tender care, For then he lost his fear. 



And to domestic bounds confined. But most before approaching showers, 



Was still a wild Jack hare. Or when a storm drew near. 



Though duly from my hand he took Eight j-ears and five round rolling 



His pittance ev'ry night. He thus saw steal away, [moons 



He did it with a jealous look, Dozing out all his idle noons. 



And when he could, would bite. And ev'ry night at play. 



His diet was of wheaten bread. But now, beneath his walnut shade. 



And milk, and oats, and straw. He finds his long last home. 



Thistles or lettuces instead. And waits in snug concealment laid, 



With sand to scour his maw. Till gentler Puss shall come. 



He, still more aged, feels the shocks. 



From which no care can save, 

 And. partner once of Tiny's box 



Must soon partake his grave. 



■ff3arc*1[3untint}. 



" The hunt is up, the morn is bright and gray, 

 The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green. 

 Uncouple here ; and let us make a hay, 

 And wake the emperor and his lovely bride, 

 And rouse the prince ; and ring a hunter's peal, 

 That all the court may echo with the noise." 



Tiiiis Ancironic7is, net ii, scene 2. 



Although, at the present day, hare-hunting must yield the j)alm to fox- 

 hunting, in the early days of English history the hare was considered a proper 

 ■" beast of the chase," along with deer, when the fox was looked upon as 

 " vermin," and destroyed as such by all and sundry. Chaucer writes: — 



Of pricking and of hunting for the hare, 

 \\'as all his lust ; for no cost would he spare. 



And further : — 



Aha ! the fox ! and after him they ran ; 

 And eke with staves many another man.; 

 Ran Colle, our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland, 

 And jMalkin with her distaff in her hand. 



