78 BEAUFORT HUNT: PAST AND PRESENT. 



Just touching on Faston, he crosses the rail, 



Right over t.o Brinkvvorth he threads thro' the Vale ; 



The Brook, as you'll see, was full up to the brim, 



Cis Howard (a) got across without losing a "Limb ; " (6) 



While Candy (r) commenced a succession of i^lunges, 



That rendered himself and his pal like two sponges ; 



But brooks are like casks ('tis no figure of speech,) 



They are full when a Bung (d) is inserted in each. 



Now, those who lost start had both struggled and spurred, 



When a check, after fifty-five minutes, occurred ; 



And some of the horsemen,^ dispersed o'er the plain, 



Took leave of us here, and ne'er saw us again ; 



But Lord Worcester, our huntsman, soon hit off the scent, 



And onward to Somerford Common we went ! 



Hard by, the Duke addressing. 

 Ruck, (e) the stout yeoman, stands ; 



His hair was white. 



His farm rode light, 

 Well cultured were his lands ; 

 And with a voice prophetic, 

 Thus to the Master spake — 



" The fox I viewed 



This side the Wood, 

 My oath I'll hereby take ; 



He's earned a name. 



He's just the same 

 (Mark well the words I speak.) 



Tlu'ockmorton's (/) hounds 



To Blunsdon's grounds 

 Hunted last Thursday week. 



And when you stand 



With fox in hand. 

 If such shall be your luck. 



Then thank the powers. 



That made him yours, 

 And think on Edmund Ruck." 



He ceas'd — Red Lodge was past, and then the pack 



By Gospel Oak pursued the onward track ; 



In front old Sentinel and Sexton show'd. 



Close to the bridge they cross' d the Minety Road ; 



While, strangers to the country, on we pass, 



Straight to the glories of the Tadpole grass. 



But time had told its tale ; in dire despair, 



The " swells " perceiv'd no change of mount was there 1 



Said one, " The law which man from wife divorces 



Should never part us from our second horses." 



Alas ! no lagging groom can now avail 



To succour Jonas {g) in the Tadpole Wale. 



'Twas here, that, eating luncheon, 

 And stern as hardy Norseman, 



A heavy-weight (h) 



Sat on a gate. 

 And curs' d his second horseman. 

 To him another sportsman (<) spake, 



(a) The Hon. Cecil Howard. 



(6) The Hon. Greville Nugent. 



(c) Captain Henry Candy, late 9th Lancers. 



(d) Colonel the Hon. Charles Byng. 



(e) A Braydon yeoman farmer. 



(/) Sir William Throckmorton, the Master of the V.W.H. 



(fir) Captain Jona.s Hunt, late 4th Hussai-s. 



(h) Colonel Peter Miles. 



(i) Mr. Canning, of Clifton. 



