EARLY HISTORY OF THE HUNT. 25 



With Lascelles' and Patch 'tis so nearly who-op^ 



What late kept him back now can scarce keep him up. 



" Get out of the way there, you piteous sinner," 



Cries Boynton,== whilst cramming his horse at a spinner ; 



" I've a uniform on, my good friend, d'ye see, 



And the collar shall ne'er be dishonoured by me ;" 



But scarce had he uttered this valiant threat, 



Ere Obi and he took a grand somerset ! 



So fragile indeed are all our best joys. 



What one moment gladdens, another destroys ; 



Though the world, I acknowledge, has various ways 



With pleasure to sweeten life's tedious days, 



And each in his turn is content to appear, 



And preside at the head of his favourite sphere ; 



Yet pray, my friend Clough,^ do for once let me ask, 



When you mean to accomplish this arduous task r 



' Now Johnstone, ■* beholding the pack with delight, 

 Now eager to catch at the glorious sight, 

 Cries, " Tolstons and I sure no power shall part. 

 He's the prop of my fame, and the pride of my heart." 

 For the prize he's indebted, friend Perry, to you, 

 Such tributes of friendship are certainly due. 



'T has of late been the mode, and I will not retrench, 



In each entertainment to give something French ;'' 



You'\'e your soup a la Rcine, your crane a la France, 



But what French we had here was a la distance. 



In each different hunt some hard riders are found. 



And with Bramham's famed pack I believe they abound ; 



But it's easy to rise in the temple of fame, 



When hounds are a week in destroying their game; 



(i) Robert Lascelles, of Northallerton. Patch was the name of his grey 

 horse. 



(2) This was Sir Francis Boynton. His horse was black, and was called Obi. 



(3) Prima sii curarum, ut id quod fingimus fieri pussit. 



(4) George Johnstone, in the Fifth Dragoon Guards, then of Tavistock 

 Square, London. 



(5) Tolston. This horse was valued at five hundred guineas, and sold a 

 short time before the period of the run, by Mr. Wentworth, for the moderate 

 sum of eight)' guineas. 



(6) Captain French, of the Carabineers. 



