THE BEL VOIR COUNTRY 

 A Run from Thorpe Arnold.^ i860. 



To his friend, Cecil Fane,^ says my Lord,' " Do you know 

 That at Burbidge's covert the waters o'erflow ? 

 Come along ! we can stand on the top of a ridge, 

 O'erlooking the covert, and close to a bridge. 



'Tis certain the fox will swim over the stream, 

 And we shall be first is as certain, I deem ; 

 O'er the grass at our ease we can gallop along. 

 Neither hustled nor prest at the start by a throng." 



" Go wherever you like," to him Cecil replies, 

 " My way with the hounds and no other way lies, 

 For don't you remember what laughter arose 

 When I lost a good run the last season at Hose ? 



By Jove, 'tis a man who his place never yields 

 To any in crossing the Leicestershire fields, 

 But hates in the ploughs of Belvoir to dodge. 

 'Tis the Earl.* 'Tis the owner of Egerton Lodge. 



By Stapleford Spinnies we hurry along. 

 The pace is so good the hounds hardly give tongue ; 

 For Ranksboro covert our fox seems inclined, 

 But changes his purpose and turns down the wind. 



Over fences and fields pretty quickly we strode. 



Till we crossed, near Leesthorpe, the Melton high road, 



And passing by Barton and Dalby, we gain 



The covert of Gartree before checking rein. 



For years in my court I a race have been running 

 'Gainst all sorts of artifice, dodging and cunning ; 

 In the chase I have made up my mind to go straight — 

 Not to skirt, or to crane, or to ride to a gate. 



The left is my way here, and yours is the right, 

 Remember my warning — I pity your plight ; 

 When you see me afar in the very first flight, 

 Then you will be left, my Lord, I shall be right." 



Good luck to a covert that finds us such game, 

 Four foxes afoot are the least I can name ; 

 Two scarlets are seen on the opposite hill, 

 Regarding the start with forebodings of ill. 



^ Lays of Belvoir, p. 6i. ^ Commissioner in Bankruptcy. 



' Lord Forester. * Earl of Wilton. 



275 



