Il8 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING, 



Madnefs, thou dreadful malady ; what Ihall i 

 fay to thee ! or what prefervative ihall I find 

 againfl thy envenomed fang ! Somervile, who 

 declines writing of lefTer ills, is not lilent on the 

 fubjecl of this : 



" Of lefTer ills the mufe declines to fing, 



Nor ftoops fo low ; of thefe each groom can tell 



The proper remedy." 



I wifh til is worthy gentleman, to whom we have 

 already been fo much obliged, had been lefs fpar- 

 ing of his inf!ru61ions ; fince it is poffible grooms 

 may have all the knowledge he fappofes them to 

 have, and their maflers may ftand in need of it. 

 No man, I believe, will complain of being too 

 well informed: nor is any knowledge unnecef- 

 fary which is likely to be put in practice. The 

 executive part is fully fufficient to truft in the 

 groom*s hands. Somervile's advice on the fub- 

 jedl of madnefs, is worthy your notice : 



*' When Sirius reigns, and the fun's parching beams 



Bake the dry gaping fuiface, vifit thou 



Each ev'n and morn, with quick obfervant eye, 



The panting pack. If in dark fullen mood, 



The gloating hound refufe his wonted meal, 



Retiring to fome clofe obfcure retreat, 



Gloonry, difconfolate; with fpeed remove 



The poor infectious wretch, and in ftrong chains 



Bind iiim lufpeded. Thus ttiat dire difeafe 



"Which art can't cure, wife caution may prevent." 



Plenty 



