Appendix I 



To catch them again ; but, though famous for speed, 

 She never could touch ^ them, much less get a lead. 

 So dishearten'd, disjointed, and beat, home he swings, 

 Not much unlike a fiddler hung upon strings. 



An H. H. 2 who in Leicestershire never had been, I 



So of course such a tickler ne'er could have seen, | 



Just to see them throw off, on a raw horse was mounted, , 



Who a hound had ne'er seen, nor a fence had confronted. j 



But they found in such style, and went off at such score, i 



That he could not resist the attempt to see more : i 



So with scrambling, and dashing, and one rattling fall, I 



He saw all the fun, up to Stretton's white Hall. | 



There they anchor'd, in plight not a little distressing — 

 The horse being raw, he of course got a dressing. ^ 



That wonderful mare of Vanneck's, who till now : 



By no chance ever tired, was taken in tow : \ 



And what's worse, she gave Van such a devilish jog 

 In the face with her head, plunging out of a bog, ; 



That with eye black as ink, or as Edward's famed Prince, i 



Half blind has he been, and quite deaf ever since. j 



But let that not mortify thee, Shackaback; ^ i 



She only was blown, and came home a rare hack. 1 



i 

 There Craven too stopp'd, whose misfortune, not fault, | 



His mare unaccountably vex'd with string-halt ; ' 



And when she had ceased thus spasmodic to prance, ^ 



Her mouth 'gan to twitch with St. Vitus's dance. \ 



^ Melton dialect for " overtake." ^ 



2 These initials may serve either for Hampshire hog or Hampshire j 



Hunt. I 



•^ A name taken from Blue Beard, and given to Mr. Vanneck by his \ 



Melton friends. ,| 



152 'I 



