ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORTS. I3 



(hot, or fome falling rigging, which accident 

 fet him at hberty ; the feathered hero now 

 perched on the flump of the main-maft, which 

 had been carried away, continued crowing and 

 clapping his wings during the remainder of 

 the engagement, enjoying, to all appearance, 

 the thundering horrors of the fcene. 



To fpeak impartially of hunting, is to 

 touch a dangerous firing, and one which may 

 produce diibord : convinced I am performing a 

 duty, I fhall neverthelefs proceed, without the 

 fmalleft hefitation. The proper line of difcri- 

 mination lies (ita videtur) between the chace 

 of fierce and predaceous animals, and that of 

 fuch as are of a timid and harmlefs, or domef- 

 tic nature ; the former is a natural and rational 

 purfuit, a legitimate fport, and worthy of 

 kings and herpes ; the latter a mean and con- 

 temptible excrcife of cruelty, which a blind 

 and unreflefting obedience to cuftom alone, 

 can caufe to be produtlive of pleafure to gene- 

 rous minds. 



Cufiom which oft-times reafon over rules, 

 And is inftead of reafon to the tools : 

 Cuftom, which all the world to flavery brings, 

 The dull excufe for doing foolilh things. 



ROCHESTER. 



Alas ! what crime hath the timid hare com- 

 mitted, or the deer w^hich weeps, that they are 

 made to undergo the horrid punifhment of be- 

 ing 



