lo HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



pictures. To the hare-hunter, especially, his volume 

 must always be invaluable ; his instructions on kennel 

 and hound management are sound and practical, and 

 may be referred to with advantage even by the modern 

 master or huntsman. We pass with him, as it were, 

 from the Middle Ages to Modern England in the 

 palmiest days of sport. It is a supreme test of Somer- 

 vile's merit that Beckford, himself the greatest classic 

 on hunting down to the present day, so frequently 

 refers to " The Chace " and quotes so freely from it. 

 There can be no doubt whatever that the author of 

 " The Chace," although he describes with equal 

 facility, spirit, and truth fox-hunting and the chase 

 of stag and otter, loved hare-hunting beyond all other 

 forms of sport. In the second book of his poem are 

 to be found descriptions of a hare hunt which are 

 destined, probably, never to be surpassed. I cannot 

 refrain from quoting a few of his brilliant pictures. 

 After some opening lines he leads his reader to the 

 countryside : 



" Now golden autumn from her open lap 



Her fragrant bounty show'rs ; the fields are shorn ; 



Inwardly smiling, the proud farmer views 



The rising pyramids that grace his yard, 



And counts his large increase ; his barns are stor'd 



And groaning staddles bend beneath their load. 



All now is free as air, and the gay pack 



In the rough, bristly stubbles range unblam'd ; 



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



Swells in the farmer's breast, which his pale lips 



Trembling conceal, by his fierce landlord aw'd ; 



But courteous now he levels ev'ry fence, 



Joins in the common cry, and holloas loud, 



Charm'd with the rattling thunder of the field. 



Oh bear me, some kind power invisible ! 



... to those spacious plains, where the strain'd eye 



In the wide prospect lost, beholds at last 



Sarum's proud spire, that o'er the hill ascends. 



