KEEP NO BABBLERS 73 



down the wind, they seldom return : you then cannot push on your hounds 

 too much. When the game is sinking, you will perceive your old hounds 

 get forward : they then will run at head. 



Happy the man who with unrivall'd speed 



Can pass his fellows, and with pleasure view 



The struggling pack ; how in the rapid course 



Alternate they preside, and, jostling, push 



To guide the dubious scent ; how giddy youth, 



Oft babbling, errs, by wiser age reprov'd ; 



How, niggard of his strength, the wise old hound 



Hangs in the rear, till some important point 



Rouse all his diligence, or till the Chase 



Sinking he finds ; then to the head he springs, 



With thirst of glory fir'd, and wins the prize. SOMEEVILLE. 



Keep no babblers ; for though the pack soon find them out, and mind 

 them not, yet it is unpleasant to hear their noise ; nor are such fit com- 

 panions for the rest. 



Though the Spectator may make us laugh at the oddity of his friend 

 Sir Roger, for returning a hound which he said was an excellent bass, 

 because he wanted a counter-tenor ; yet I am of opinion, that if we attended 

 more to the variety of notes frequently to be met with in the tongues of 

 hounds, it might greatly add to the harmony of the pack. I do not know 

 that a complete concert could be attained ; but it would be easy to prevent 

 discordant sounds. 



Keep no hound that runs false : the loss of one hare is more than such 

 a dog is worth. 



It is but reasonable to give your hounds a hare sometimes : I always 

 give mine the last they killed, if I thought they deserved her. 



It is too much the custom, first to ride over a dog, and then cry, 'ware 

 horse f Take care not to ride over your hounds : I have known many a 

 good dog spoiled by it. In open ground, caution them first ; you may 

 afterwards ride over them, if you please ; but, in roads and paths, they 

 frequently cannot get out of your way : it surely, then, is your business, 

 either to stop your horse, or break a way for them ; and the not doing it, 

 give me leave to say, is not less absurd than cruel ; nor can that man 

 be called a good sportsman, who thus wantonly destroys his own sport. 

 Indeed, good sportsmen seldom ride on the line of the tail hounds. 



An acquaintance of mine, when he hears any of his servants say 

 ''ware horse ! halloos out, ' 'ware horse ! 'ware dog ! and be hang'd to you ! ' 



You ask, How my warren-hares are caught ? It shall be the subject of 

 my next Letter. 



10 



