CHARACTERIZED BY CERVANTES 5 



therefore that amuse, and are at the same time innocent ; that promote 

 exercise, and conduce to health ; though they may appear trifles in the 

 eyes of others, certainly are not so to those who enjoy them. Of this num- 

 ber, I think I may reckon hunting ; and I am particularly glad that the 

 same author furnishes a quotation in support of it : ' For my own part,' 

 says this elegant writer, ' I intend to hunt twice a week, during my stay 

 with Sir Roger ; and shall prescribe the moderate use of this exercise to all 

 my country friends, as the best physic for mending a bad constitution, and 

 preserving a good one.' The inimitable Cervantes also honourably men- 

 tions this diversion : he makes Sancho say ' Mercy on me, what pleasure 

 can you find, any of ye all, in killing a poor beast that never meant any 

 harm ! ' that the Duke may reply ' You are mistaken, Sancho : hunting 

 wild beasts is the most proper exercise for knights and princes ; for in the 

 chase of a stout noble beast, may be represented the whole art of war, 

 stratagems, policy, and ambuscades, with all other devices usually prac- 

 tised to overcome an enemy with safety. Here we are exposed to the 

 extremities of heat and cold : ease and laziness can have no room in this 

 diversion. By this we are inured to toil and hardship ; our limbs are 

 strengthened, our joints made supple, and our whole body hale and active : 

 in short, it is an exercise that may be beneficial to many, and can be pre- 

 judicial to none.' Small, indeed, is the number of those who, in the course 

 of five thousand years, have employed themselves in the advancement of 

 useful knowledge. Mankind have been blest with but one Titus, that we 

 know of ; and, it is to be feared, he has had but few imitators. Days and 

 years fly away ; nor is any account taken of them ; and how many may 

 reasonably be supposed to pass, without affording even amusement to 

 others, or satisfaction to ourselves ? Much more, I think, might be said 

 in favour of the Wimbles ; but it must be confessed, that the man who 

 spends his whole time in trifles, passes it contemptibly, compared with those 

 who are employed in researches after knowledge useful to mankind, or in 

 professions useful to the state. 



I am glad to find that you approve of the plan I propose to observe in 

 the course of these Letters ; wherein it shall be my endeavour not to omit 

 anything which it may be necessary for you to know ; at least, as far as 

 my own observation and experience will give me leave. The experience 

 that I have had may be of use to you at present : others, perhaps, hereafter, 

 may write more judiciously and more fully on the subject : you know it is 

 my interest to wish that they would. The few who have written on hunt- 

 ing, refer you to their predecessors, for great part of the information you 

 might expect from them ; and who their predecessors were, I have yet to 

 learn. Even Somerville is less copious than I could wish, and has purposely 

 omitted what is not to be found elsewhere ; I mean receipts for the cure of 

 such diseases as hounds are subject to : he holds such information cheap, 



