86 



But Tortworth's home coverts he gallantly spurns, 



And ere we could reach him for Charfield he turns, 



Cross the railway, and brook where most of the field 



Still faintly pursuing, are destin'd to yield ; 



Then forwards to Ozleworth's coverts he bore. 



Where the hunting continues, tho' riding is o'er ; 



Like leeches on flesh did the blood-thirsty pack 



Up to Alderley hunt him, from Alderley, back ; 



Till near Wotton's old town, brave reynard dead beaten, 



Ean to ground in a drain, was dug out, and eaten — 



And now, who went best ? Time fails me to tell 



The separate deeds of each man that went well. 



We had all (as the classics observe) " quantum suff," 



Or in English, our horses had had quite enough. 



For the fences were tall and the lawyers not short. 



But one lawyer (4) disposed of them all (out of court) ; 



For leaving the merits of blood in abeyance. 



This lawj'^er possess'd a trustworthy conveyance. 



I shall ever remember that huge equine figure — 



May his shade ne'er grow less (it can never grow bigger). 



No ladies enlivened the scene with their faces, 



Which perhaps may account for the absence of" Graces;" 



But a skirter from Hill's wood beholding us, said, 



" Why, surely some Miles's (5) are some miles ahead !" 



Tho' the Banker,(6) on " All Fours," exclaimed," What 



a pity 

 These banlvs are not solid like those in the city ; 

 For tho' clever my horse is considered, by heavens 

 At one time ' All Fours ' was * all sixes and sevens.'" 

 Brave Charcoal (7) fell lame before reaching the goal. 

 But a Colonel (8) was there from a neighbouring Knole, 



4. Edward Burges, Esq. 



5. P. W. S. Miles, W. H. Miles, and R. H. Miles, Esqs. 



6. W. H. Miles, on "All Fours," a favourite hunter. 



7. " Charcoal," a favourite hunter of Colonel Berkeley's. 



8. Colonel William, master of Knole Park. 



