18681 THE GREAT RADBTJRXE RUN. 269 



SONG OF THE RADBURNE RUN. 



Let Billesdon Coplow hide its head, 



And Pytchley men grow pale, 

 While here I sing the run we had 



Within the Derby Vale. 



'Twas February the sixth, eighteen sixty-eight, 

 Long will Derbyshire sportsmen remember the date. 

 At Radburne the hounds were appointed to meet 

 Where the Poles have for years had their family seat : 

 In red coats or black, full two hundred or more 

 Good sportsmen assembled before the hall door. 

 Yet of all these hard riders, it seems very clear. 

 Not ten at the end of the run did appear. 



It was just twelve o'clock on this notable day. 



When from Radburne decoy he was halloa'd away ; 



For the first forty minutes a ring they ran round, 



And many a sportsman was seen on the ground. 



Back through the decoy, our fox now changed his plan, 



And straight up the Brailsford Plantations he ran. 



Here we checked, but Tom quickly recovered the scent, 



And on o'er the grass we to Kedleston went. 



At that our fox took a very short look, 



Then forward away, he crossed over the brook. 



Back over again, just by way of a lark. 



Like pigeons they flew over Kedleston Park. 



Our numbers had dwindled to scarcely two score. 



When at Langley we viewed the sly villain once more, 



Yet to prove the old proverb that " pace alone kills," 



This stout fox set his head for the Derbyshire hills. 



Mansell Park saw the stoppage of many a horse. 



And scanty the number who passed Jarratt's Gorse, 



Till at Hulland Ward village just live we espy. 



Left alone with the hounds going on in full cry. 



To surmount Blackwall Hill vainly two of those tried, 



There a noble lord stopped,* and Tom Leedham's horse died. 



This ascent overcome, Reynard found it was vain 



To hope any longer the hills to regain. 



Back he turned straight down wind, and it now became clear, 



That his strength being exhausted, the end must be near ; 



* Lord Berkeley Paget, on Lady Grace, -who had carried liira brilliantlyl from 

 the beginning till now. 



