THOUGHTS UPON HlTNTHsTG. IzJ 



Iportfrnen know leaft about ; and, to ufe the 

 words of a great clallic writer; 



Hocjum contentus, quod eflam ft quo quidqiie fiat 

 Ignorem, quid fiat intelhgo.'—C'ic. de d-iv. 



Soniervile, who, as I have before obferved, is 

 the only one I know of, who has thrown any 

 light on the fubjeA of hunting, fays, I think, 

 but Httle about fcent ; I fend you his words ; I 

 ihall afterwards add a few of my own. 



*' Should fome more curious fportfmen here inquire,^ 



"Whence this fagacity, this wond'rous power 



Of tracing ftep by ftep, or man, or brute? 



What guide invincible points out their way. 



O'er the dark marlh, bleak hill, and tkndy plain ? 



The courteous mufe fhall the dark caufe reveal. 



The blood that from the heart inceflant rolls 



In many a crinifon tide, then here, and there 



In fmaller rills difparted, as it flows 



Propell'd, the ferous particles evade. 



Thro' th* open pores, and with the ambient air 



Entangling mix, as fuming vapours rife, 



And hang upon the gently purling brook, 



There by the incumbent atmofphere comprefs'd 



The panting chace grows warmer as he flies, 



And thro' the net-work of the fkin perfpires ; 



Leaves a long — fteaming— trail behind ; which by 



The cooler air condens'd remains, unlefs 



By fome rude florm difpers'd, or rarefy'd 



By the meridian fun's intenfer heat, 



To every (hrub the warm effluvia cling, 



Hang on the grafs, impregnate earth and fkies. 



Witii 



