THE FATE OF ACT^^ON. 81 



Or^ oppressed with sliop-bo3's, heat, and spleen, 

 In a half-price pit let me watch the scene ; 

 Or, as iisher^ in vain endeavour to rnle 

 The imps at a thriving- ^' Commercial School ;" 

 Or swallow the speeches^ meats, and creed, 

 Brought out at a g-rand political feed — 

 Come, what you will, anywhere and when, 

 But a sportman's trade with sporting men. 



To resume — friend Action, a plain country squire, 



AVith a love for the rural that nothing could tire ; 



With a nice little income, in money paid down, 



Quite enough for a man not "a man about townj" 



Hung out in a cottage, snug*, cosy, and neat, 



In the market, no doubt, they would call it "a seat;" 



A cottage content to sport some such a label 



As, ^'a o'ood eio'ht-room house, with a sixteen-stall 



stable." 

 Here he shot, hunted, fished, taking season for season, 

 But ne'er marking his game at a price beyond reason ; 

 Made his purse fit his pleasures, his pleasures his purse. 

 Feared no bills overdue, need no property '^ nurse ;" 

 And in short managed all on that capital plan. 

 With his bankers '-a safe," with the sex ^^ a sweet 



man." 

 Aye ! despite dogs and horses, crowds of mothers and 



daughters, 

 Looked at Tally-ho Lodge as " uncommon nice " quarters. 

 Hinted, joking of course, with an eye slightly slanting. 

 There was one piece of furniture sadly yet wanting — 

 And then Jane played the chorus, Emmy sang ^* Chanti- 

 cleer," 

 Or Fan larked her pony — ''such a sweet little dear ;" 



G 



