!)4 Sporting tj?id Rural Records of the Cheveley Estate. 



Saxton Hall. And now awhile the well-strain'd coursers breathe ; 



And now, my Muse, prepare 



Sydney Earl of Of olive leaves a twisted wreath 



Godolphin. To bind the victor's hair. 



Pallas, in care of human-kind. 

 The fruitful olive first design'd ; 

 Deep in the glebe her spear she lanc'd, 

 When all at once the laden boughs advanced. 

 The gods with wonder view'd the teeming earth, 

 And all, with one consent, approv'd the beauteous birth. 



This done, earth-shaking Neptune next essay'd. 

 In bounty to the world, 

 To emulate the blue-ey'd maid : 



And his huge trident hurl'd 

 Against the sounding beach ; the stroke 

 Transfix'd the globe, and open broke 

 The central earth, whence, sw-ift as light. 



Forth rush'd the first-born horse- Stupendous sight ! 



Neptune for human good the beast ordains, 



Whom soon he tam'd to use, and taught to bear the reins. 



The Hon. Roger North, in his life of the Lord Keeper 

 Guildford, says : 



" Mr. Godolphin was a courtier at kirgf, bred a page of honour ; lie had 

 by his study and diligence mastered, not only all the classical learning, but 

 all the arts and entertainments of the court ; and, being naturally dark and 

 reserved, he became an adept in court politics. But his talent of unravel- 

 ling intricate matters, and exposing them to an easy view, was incom- 

 parable. He was an expert gamester, and capable of all business in which 

 a courtier might be employed. All which, joined with a felicity of wit, and 

 the communicative part of business, made him be always accounted, as he 

 really was, a rising man at Court." 



Burnet says he loved gaming the most of any man he ever 

 knew ; and Pope confirms the testimony in the lines in the Moral 

 Essays which he has devoted to his character : — 



" Who would not praise Patricio's high desert. 

 His hand unstain'd, his uncorrupted heart. 

 His comprehensive head ! All interests weigh'd 



