SUCCESS OF THE SOIS^G. 143 



" Six crafty earth-stoppers, in hunter's green drest, 

 Supported poor Tom to an earth made for rest. 

 His horse, which he styled his ' Old Soul/ next appear'd, 

 On whose forehead the hrush of his last fox was rear'd : 

 Whip, cap, hoots, and spurs, in a trophy were bound, 

 And here and there followed an old straggling hound. 

 ^ ! no more at his voice yonder vales will they trace ! 

 Nor the welkin resound his burst in the chase ! 

 With high over ! Xow press him ! Tally-ho ! Tally-ho ! 



*' Thus Tom spoke his friends ere he gave up his breath : 

 ' Since I see you're resolved to be in at the death, 

 One favour bestow — 'tis the last I shall crave, 

 Give a rattling view-halloo thrice over my grave ; 

 And unless at that warning I lift up my head. 

 My boys, you may fairly conclude I am dead ! ' 

 Honest Tom was obeyed, and the shout rent the sky, 

 For every one joined in the tally-ho cry ! 

 TaUy-ho! Hark forward! TaUy-ho ! TaUy-ho ! " 



On leaving Willey, Mr. Forester asked Dibdin 

 what he could do to discharge the obKgation he felt 

 himself under for his services ; the great ballad 

 writer, whom Pitt pensioned, replied " l^othing ; " 

 he had been so well treated that he could not accept 

 anything. Finding artifice necessary, Mr. Forester 

 asked him if he would deKver a letter for him per- 

 sonally at his banker's on his arrival in London. 

 Of course Dibdin consented, and on doing so he 

 found it was an order to pay him £100 ! 



When the song first came out Charles Incledon, 



