CHIEFLY HISTORICAL ii 



Andlpierces thro' the clouds. Or to thy downs 

 Fair^Cotswold, where the well-breath'd beagle climbs, 

 With matchless speed, thy green aspiring brow, 

 And leaves the lagging multitude behind." 



Somervile, in addition to his Warwickshire property, 

 had an estate — that of Somervile-Aston — in Gloucester- 

 shire, and it is certain frequently hunted there. All his 

 touches are lifelike and most natural, even to the 

 casual reader of 1903. Hunters saddled up and rode 

 forth earlier in 1735 — the date of the poem — than they 

 do at the present day. They loved the long trailing 

 of the hare to her seat, a part of the chase long since 

 abandoned. He continues : 



" Farewell, Cleora,* here deep sunk in down. 

 Slumber secure, with happy dreams amus'd. 

 Till grateful steams shall tempt thee to receive 

 Thy early meal, or thy officious maids, 

 The toilet plac'd, shall urge thee to perform 

 The important work. Me other joys invite. 

 The horn sonorous calls, the pack awak'd 

 Their matins chant, nor brook my long delay." 



Now comes the meet : 



" Delightful scene ! 

 Where all around is gay, men, horses, dogs. 

 And in each smiling countenance appears 

 Fresh blooming health and universal joy." 



They throw off, and presently hounds find a trail. 

 The hare is put off gently from her seat : 



" Here huntsman bring 

 (But without hurry) all thy jolly hounds. 

 And calmly lay them on. How low they stoop. 

 And seem to plough the ground ; then all at once 

 With greedy nostrils snuff the fuming steam. 



* A fancy name, one may take it, for his wife, a member 

 of the Bethell family in Yorkshire. 



