DUKE OF BEAUFORT 133 



that for once he could be persuaded to retrace his flight, and make 

 PhiHp " young and lusty as an eagle." There are, unfortunately for 

 him, other duties in a huntsman, which it is to be lamented that he 

 is scarcely able to perform. An epicure cannot judge of a cook by 

 the palate of another ; neither can a musician give an opinion of a 

 concert unless he hears the music. We can neither taste, hear, feel, 

 nor see by proxy ; neither can a huntsman tell what his hounds 

 have been doing unless he has been within sight of them himself. 

 Thus the painter in Sir Philip Sydney went into the hottest of the 

 battle to enable him to paint it correctly. 



It will of course be anticipated that Philip cannot ride up to his 

 hounds, and therefore cannot do justice to what is otherwise so 

 complete. This I am given to understand is unfortunately the case ; 

 and although Philip did some clever things this season, yet some 

 discontent, as may be expected, has been expressed on the subject. 

 Those gentlemen who keep hunters on each side of his Grace's 

 country have not too much hunting for their trouble ; and when 

 they do get it they are unwilling to throw a chance away. It is 

 indeed to be lamented that so fine a pack of hounds should not have 

 every advantage that can be given them, but the question is, what 

 is to be done ? for although he is supposed to have saved some 

 money, yet so deservedly respected is Philip by all who have hunted 

 with him, no one would wish to see him displaced, if they thought 

 he would be a sufferer by it. Sportsmen have ever shewn a kind 

 feeling towards sportsmen, whatever may be the grade between 

 them ; and nothing but a Stoic could have sung — 



" Life's but a feast, and when we die, 

 Horace would say if he were by — 

 Friend, thou hast eat and drunk enough, 

 'Tis time now to be marching off. 

 Thou, like a well-fed guest, depart 

 With cheerful look, and ease at heart ; 

 Bid all your friends good night, and say, 

 You've done the ius'ness of the day." 



There is nothing more striking in the Duke of Beaufort's hounds than 

 the brilliancy of their condition. This is in great part to be attributed 

 to Philip Payne's good feeding, although the general cleanliness of 

 the country they have to travel over has no small share in it ; and it 



