2 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



my courser at a gate than " to put my life upon 

 a cast;^^ and if we may judge by the crooked- 

 backed heroes speech before the memorable morning 

 dawned^ he would just as soon have seen and hunted 

 one game fox there as the six Richmonds he talks 

 about ; and, if I mistake not, about half-past two 

 on the eighteenth of June, in the year of grace 

 one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, there were 

 some on the other plain who would have felt quite 

 as well pleased with the certainty of sleeping at 

 Leicester or Melton as in not knowing whether 

 they should sleep or die where they were. 



Our Field is here of far different intent and 

 purpose ; and, though composed of souls that 

 " dare do all that ma^ become a man," our vul- 

 pine war brings no sigh of regret to any one, but 

 adds health, vigour, high spirits, and good fellow- 

 ship to all who partake in it, and is, moreover, 

 one of the few pursuits and pleasures of this life 

 that " leaves no sting behind." 



Hail, then, thou mimic field of war ! and thou, 

 chaste goddess, hail ! thou whose bright example 

 has tempted so many of the high and noble 

 bright-eyed fair ones of our land to add a brighter 

 tint to beauty by the fresh morning^s breeze. 

 Interesting as woman ever is, and interesting as 

 is the fair creature whose attenuated and fragile 

 form tells the true tale of the sad havoc of a 

 fashionable life, the interest she excites must ever 



