THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



training. Again, in another of the letters (V,), we have the 

 use of the word " tiresomeness " as an equivalent for fatiguing 

 which shows that the good Maittaire had not attained to an 

 equal mastery of the English language as of Greek and 

 Latin, and of this there are other signs in the letters. 



HI 



"1728. November 2\, Tuesday, 

 After some allusion to a recent indisposition of the Duke, 

 and wishes for his recovery : — 



" Your Grace hath by this time received the pack. I con- 

 sidered that dogs without a good horse would not be a com- 

 plete present, and therefore I have herein sent you one — the 

 best, I dare vouch, that ever was. This horse is of the highest 

 mettle, trimmed and dressed to the best advantage. Virgil, 

 the prince of Latin poets, hath employed the utmost skill of 

 his pencil to draw his picture, and the several perfections of 

 the beast are set off with the most expressive and pompous 

 elegancy of choice words. I have illustrated and explained 

 many expressions of that admirable writer by comparing 

 them with some parallel passages taken from other authors, 

 Greek and Latin, upon the same subject ; as the Greek his- 

 torian Xenophon, the Latins Varro and Columella, De Re 

 Rustica, the poets Lucan, Silius Italicus, and Claudian." 



IV 



"My Lord, 



" I hope your Grace enjoys entire health. The winter 

 begins to be very sharp with us here in the town, and I wish 

 it may agree with your constitution. I believe frost to be 

 very welcome to your country sports. I doubt not but that 

 Ovid's hounds and Virgil's horse have pleased you, and given 

 you some diversion without any fatigue or difficulty." 



V 



" 1728. November 30, Saturday. 

 "My Lord, 



" Your last, which your Grace favoured me with on the 

 29th instant, mentioning your design to spend much of this 

 season in wandering up and down in search of game. I 



30 



