3[Ir. Egerton Warburton 



Well thence with such a prompter's aid 

 Till Reynard's death her part she play'd. 



Then Isaac from the chase withdrew 

 (A horse is Isaac, not a Jew), 

 Outstretch 'd his legs, and shook his back 

 Right glad to be relieved of Jack ; 

 And Jack, right glad his back to quit, 

 Gives Beatrice a benefit. 



Moisture and mud the ' Fungus ' suit. 

 In boggy ditch he, taking root, 

 For minutes ten or thereabout, 

 Stood planted, till they pluck'd him out. 

 By application of spur rowel 

 Charles rubb'd him dry without a towel. 



Say, as the pack by Kelmcote sped, 

 Say who those horsemen cloth 'd in red ? 

 Spectators of the chase below. 

 Themselves no sign of movement show ; 

 No wonder — they were all aghast 

 To see the pace at which it past ; 

 The ' White Horse Vale ' — well known to Fame 

 The pack to which it gives a name ; 

 And there they stood as if spellbound. 

 Their morning fox as yet unfound ; 

 Borne from that wood, their Huntsman's cheer 

 Drew many a Tar Wood straggler near. 

 And he who felt the pace too hot 

 There gladly sought a resting spot ; 

 Himself of that White Horse availing. 

 When conscious that his own was failing. 



59 



