Some Poets Dogs. 327 



" See the deep-mouthed beagles catch 

 The tainted mazes, and on eager sport 

 Intent, with emulous impatience try 

 Each doubtful trace," 



is one of Armstrong's counsels for " Preserving Health," 

 and Allan Ramsay asks — 



" What sweeter music wad ye hear 

 Than hounds and beagles crying ? 

 The started hare runs hard wi' fear 

 Upon her speed relying." 



Now and again the poets draw a sad moral from the chase, 

 as Pope, after admiring the beagles on the track, inter- 

 polates in brackets — 



" Beasts, urged by us, their fellow-beasts pursue. 

 And learn of man each otiier to undo." 



There are " wolf-dogs " in Leyden, Byron, and Words- 

 worth ; and the boar-hound — not a favourite with the 

 poets — being the " dastard curres " of Spenser, the defeated 

 assailants in Venus and Adonis — is a frequent species — 



" Here kennelled in a brake she finds a hound. 

 And asks the weary caitiff for his master. 

 And there another licking of his wound 

 'Gainst venomed sores the only sovereign plaster ; 

 And here she meets another sadly scowling 

 To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling. 

 When he hath ceased his ill-resounding noise, 

 Another flap-mouthed mourner, black and grim, 

 Against the welkin volleys out his voice. 

 Another and another answer him, 

 Clapping their proud tails to the grormd below, 

 Shaking their scratched ears, bleeding as they go." 



Bloodhounds, " sure-nosed as fasting tigers " (Davenant) 



