B easts of Chase. 235 



most friendly relations with the fox, who helps it against 

 their common enemy, the wolf. 



It is almost needless to say that many poets condemn 

 fox-hunting, " which rural gentlemen call sport divine," and 

 perhaps superfluous to add that their reasons hardly justify 

 their condemnation. To them the sportsman appears some- 

 thing rather less than human — 



" To the field he flies, 

 Leaps every fence but one, then falls and dies 

 Like a slain deer ; the tumbril brings him home, 

 Unmissed but by his dogs and by his groom.". 



Especially does this class of poet detest to see women in 

 the field — 



" Far be the spirit of the chase from them ! 

 Uncomely courage, unbeseeming skill, 

 To spring the fence, to rein the prancing steed." 



They hope "such horrid joy" will never "stain the bosom 

 of the British fair." 



Nor when they come to discriminate between one kind of 

 sport and another is their argument such as to increase 

 respect for their opinion. When Venus implores her darling 

 not to hunt fierce beasts, but, if he iiiust hunt, to go after 

 the " timid hare," there is womanly reason enough in what 

 she says. But when Thomson begs " ye Britons " not to 

 hunt the poor " dappled " stag with the " chequered " sides, 

 nor the " flying hare," but, if they must hunt, to ride after 

 the fox, " the nightly robber of the fold," and, " pitiless, 

 pour their sportive fury " upon it, the fustian of his senti- 

 ment is neither masculine nor feminine. 



This idea, that Englishmen hunt the fox because it 

 eats ducks, is quite a common one with the poets, and 

 justifies, to their minds, the chase of it. So that it seems 

 incredible that they could ever have seen a fox-hunter, 

 still less have heard him speak with admiration, pride, even 



