THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 2C 



ill the eyes of others, certainly are not so to those who 

 enjoy them. Of this number, I think I may reckon hunting; 

 and I am particularly glad that the same author furnishes 

 a quotation in support of it : " For my own. part," says 

 this elegant writer, " I intend to hunt twice a week, during 

 *' my stay with Sir Roger ; and shall prescribe the mode- 

 " rate use of this exercise to all my country friends, as the 

 " best physic for mending a bad constitution, and pre- 

 " serving a good one." — The inimitable Cervantes also 

 honourably mentions this diversion : he makes Sancho 

 say — " Mercy on me, _ what pleasure can you find, any of 

 " ye all, in killing a poor beast that never meant any 

 *' harm !" that the Duke may reply — " You are mistaken, 

 " Sancho: hunting wild beasts is the most proper exercise 

 " for knights and princes ; for in the chace of a stout 

 " noble beast, may be represented the whole art of war, 

 " stratagems, policy, and ambuscades, with all other 

 " devices usually pradised to overcome an enemy with 

 " safety. Here we are exposed to the extremities of heat 

 " and cold : ease and laziness can have no room in this 

 " diversion. By this we are inured to toil and hardship; 

 " our limbs are strengthened, our joints made supple, and 

 '' our whole body hale and adive : in short, it is an exer- 



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