THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



To say 'all Rome') will in the circus sweat: 

 Echoes already to their shouts repeat ; 

 Methinks 1 hear the cry — Away! away! 

 The green has won the honour of the day. 

 Oh ! should the sports be for one year forborne, 

 Rome would, in tears, her loved diversion mourn ; 

 And that would now a cause of sorrow yield, 

 Great as the loss of Cannae's fatal field." 



Did not Lateranus, tlie consul, drive his own cliariot by night, 

 and, when the year of liis office was out, publicly in the streets 

 of Rome, by day ? 



' But really, uncle, Joking apart — for I have seen you smile 

 at my panegyric on ancient coachmen — I think you must admit 

 that the fashion for gentlemen driving their own coaches, which 

 is now becoming so prevalent, will, in time, do much good. It 

 has caused them to notice and take under their protection 

 public, or " road-coachmen," as they are called, a most useful 

 body of men, " scientific " in their calling — you may smile at 

 the epithet, and yet it is their due — who will be nmch the better 

 for coming more in collision with their superiors, and receiving, 

 whilst imparting, instruction. It is (|uite evident, and I have 

 heard not only my father, but Dr. Chapman and ]\Ir. Egerton 

 say, the coachmen on our road are wonderfully improved since 

 Sir John and the Hon. Mr. Conolly have been so much at work 

 amongst them with their own teams. The latter, indeed, has put 

 together and pul^lished a few general maxims, not only relating 

 to their situation and practice, as coachmen, but to their 

 conduct as men ; and they will, no doubt, be the means of 

 saving the lives of many pei'sons who travel in the course of the 

 year. Now, if lie were not himself a coachman, he could not 

 have done this — at least witli any effect.' 



' Certainly not, I admit,' replied Mr. Raby, ' any more than 

 ./Eschylus could have celebrated the triumphs of his country on 

 the stage so perfectly as he has done, had he not fouglit and 

 bled on the plains of Marathon ; for I suppose I must be 

 classical here as well as yourself. But tell me, Frank, do you 

 mean to be an amateur coachman, as well as a fox-hunter ? ' 



' I should like it,' answered Franlc, ' if my means allowed me, 

 but not else ; for we should pay too dear for an}' pleasure, I 

 should think, if it Inings us into pecuniary difficuUies.' 



'Good, my dear Frank,' resumed the uncle; ' tliese are 

 honeyed words of yours to my ears.' 



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