FOX AND HOUND 



astonished traveller forsakes his road, lured by its 

 melody ; the listening plowman now stops his plow ; 

 and every distant shepherd neglects his flock, and 

 runs to see him break. — What joy ; what eagerness in 

 every face ! 



* Mark how he runs the cover's utmost limits, yet 

 dares not venture forth ; the hounds are still too near ! 

 — That check is lucky ! — Now, if our friends head him 

 not, he will soon be off— hark ! they halloo : by G — d 

 he's gone ! Now, huntsman, get on with the head 

 hounds ; the whipper-in will bring on the others after 

 you : keep an attentive eye on the leading hounds, 

 that, should the scent fail them, you may know at least 

 how far they brought it. Mind Galloper, how he leads 

 them ! — It is difficult to distinguish which is first, they 

 run in such a style ; yet he is the foremost hound. — 

 The goodness of his nose is not less excellent than his 

 speed : — how he carries the scent ! and when he loses 

 it, see how eagerly he slings to recover it again ! — 

 There — now he's at head again ! — see how they top 

 the hedge ! — Now, how they mount the hill ! — Observe 

 what a head they carry, and shew me if thou canst, 

 one shuffler or skirter amongst them all ; are they not 

 like a parcel of brave fellows, who, when they engage 

 in an undertaking, determine to share its fatigues and 

 its dangers equally amongst them ? It was, then, the 

 fox I saw as we came down the hill ; — those crows 

 directed me which way to look, and the sheep ran 

 from him as he passed along. The hounds are now on 



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