230 TJie Poets Beasts. 



Gay was not much of a sportsman, as he himself confesses, 

 for, finding himself committed to the subject of rural sports, 

 he feels that he cannot do less than, at any rate, refer, in 

 passing, to hunting as one of them ; but he pulls himself up 

 with pleasing frankness and a " what on earth do I know 

 about it " sort of apology — 



" The theme demands a more experienced lay. 

 Ye mighty hunters ! spare this weak essay." 



Fishing was his weakness, with a fly by preference ; but still 

 he breaks out into an artless linnet-chirrup about "the 

 chase, a pleasing task." He confines his remarks to hare- 

 hunting, and thus abruptly finishes Wat off — 



" New stratagems and doubling wiles she tries — 

 Now circling turns, and now at large she flies — 

 Till, spent at last, she pants and heaves for breath, 

 Then lays her down and waits devouring death ! " 



Somerville is, however, par excellence " the poet of the 

 chase," and the second book of his poem, which is mainly 

 concerned with hare-hunting, cannot be passed over without 

 becoming notice. 



Commencing with some general remarks about " that 

 instinct which, unerring, guides the brutal race, which 

 mimics reason's lore, and oft transcends," he passes on to 

 the special instinct " that directs the jealous hare to choose 

 her soft abode" and "oft quit her seat, lest some curious 

 eye should mark her haunt." He then describes the 

 changes which she makes, according to the season, "as 

 fancy prompts her or as food invites," and counsels the 

 huntsman to make a note of them, as otherwise his labours 

 will be wasted in looking for hares in places they arc not 

 likely to be, and " his impatient hounds, with disappoint- 

 ment vexed, each springing lark, babbling pursue, far scat- 

 tered o'er the fields." 



