FOX-HUNTING 



shalt have enough of it in the next hour. For as 

 the Etruscans (says Athenseus) were so luxurious 

 that they used to flog their slaves to the sound 

 of the flute, so shall luxurious Chanter and ChalleU' 

 ger^ Sweet-lips and Melody^ eat thee to the sound 

 of rich organ-pipes, that so thou mayest 



"Like that old fabled swan, in music die." 



*And now appear, dim at first and distant, but 

 brightening and nearing fast, many a right good 

 fellow and many a right good horse. I know three 

 out of the four of them, their private histories, 

 the private histories of their horses; and could tell 

 you many a good story of them : but shall not, 

 being an English gentleman, and not an American 

 litterateur. They are not very clever, or very 

 learned or very anything, except gallant men : but 

 they are good enough company for me, or any 

 one; and each has his own specialite, for which I 

 like him. That huntsman I have known for fifteen 

 years, and sat many an hour beside his father's 

 deathbed. I am a godfather to that whip's child. 

 I have seen the servants of the hunt, as I have 

 seen the hounds grow up round me for two gen- 

 erations, and I look on them as old friends, and 

 like to look into their brave, honest, weather-beaten 

 faces. That red coat there, I knew him when he 

 was a school-boy ; and now he is a captain in the 

 guards, and won his Victoria Gross at Inkermann: 



39 



