76 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



magnifique, et voild tout. 1 However, to give you an idea of their huntsmen 

 I must tell you that one day the stag, which is very unusual, broke cover, 

 and left the forest ; a circumstance which gave as much pleasure to me 

 as displeasure to all the rest : it put everything into confusion. I followed 

 one of the huntsmen, thinking he knew the country best ; but it was not 

 long before we were separated : the first ditch we came to stopped 

 him : I, eager to go on, hallooed out to him, ' Allans, Piqueur, sautez done.' 2 

 * Non pardi,' replied he, very coolly, ' Jest un double fosse je ne saute pas 

 les doubles fosses' * There was also an odd accident the same day, which, 

 as it happened to a great man, even to the king himself, you may think 

 interesting ; besides, it was the occasion of a bon mot worth your hearing : 

 The king, eager in the pursuit, 4 rode into a bog, and was dismounted: 

 he was not hurt : he was soon on his legs, and we were all standing round 

 him. One of his old generals, who was at some distance behind, no sooner 

 saw the king off his horse, than he rode up full gallop to know the cause. 

 ' Qu'est-ce que c'est ? qu'est-ce que c'est ? ' 6 cries the good old general, and 

 in he tumbles into the same bog. Count Kevenhuller, with great humour, 

 replied, pointing to the place, ' Voild ce que Jest ! voild ce que c'est I ' 6 

 With regard to the stag-hunting in this country, as I have already 

 told you that I know but little of it, you will, without doubt, think it a 

 sufficient reason for my being silent concerning it. 



* l It is magnificent and that's all. 



* 2 ' Come, huntsman, jump ! ' 



* 3 ' No fear ! It's a double ditch : I don't jump double ditches.' 



* 4 ' The etiquette here in hunting of not passing the king might displease a keen sports- 

 man. Whenever I saw Royalty I took another road.' Familiar Letters from Italy, by Peter 

 Beckford, 1805. 



* 5 ' What's the matter ? ' 



* 6 ' That's what's the matter I ' 



