Beasts of Chase. 231 



So supposing it to be autumn, and the crops all gathered 

 off the ground, he starts out with his harriers — 



" The gay pack 

 In the rough, bristly stubbles range unblamed : 

 No widow's tears o'erflow, no secret curse 

 Swells in the farmer's breast, which his pale lip?. 

 Trembling, conceal, by his fierce landlord awed : 

 But courteous now he levels every fence, 

 Joins in the common cry, and halloos loud, 

 Charmed with the rattling thunder of the field." 



The pack is thrown off; after a while the old hound, with 

 his " authentic voice, avows the recent trail," and away they 

 go. But a double gives them a check, and then they steady 

 down, working the fallow in a business-like way, and all of 

 a sudden the huntsman himself comes upon puss in her 

 form, and away she bolts. The hounds are laid on, and 

 " as winds let loose, from the dark caverns of the blustering 

 god, they burst away." 



" Now, my brave youths ! 

 Stripped for the chase, give all your souls to joy ; " 



for the hare "o'er plains remote now stretches far away." 

 The country side is up at the sound of the "clanging 

 horns;" the schoolboy, dreading no more the "afflictive 

 birch," runs out of school to see the hunt go by; the 

 travellers on the roads climb up to the highest spots ; the 

 shepherd and ploughman leave their work ; the peasants 

 "desert the unpeopled village." 



" And wild crowds 

 Spread o'er the plains, by the sweet frenzy seized." 



The hare doubles again, gets behind the pack, and " seems 

 to pursue the foe she flies." 



" Let cavillers deny 

 That brutes have reason : Sure 'tis something more. 

 'Tis heaven directs, and stratagems inspires, 

 Beyond the short extent of human thought." 



