6 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1715 to 



Poet of the Hunt, were regularly sung ; the 

 first introduces three or four of the regular 

 attendants with Mr. Ridge and the Kilmiston 

 Hunt. 



Kilmiston Draw near, ye frail mortals of every degree, 

 Hunt Who heartily sigh and complain, 



songs. We'll find you a medicine, without any fee, 



Shall quickly alleviate your pain. 

 Would you drive away care, 

 To the Wheatsheaf repair, 

 Where mirth and good humour embrace, 

 Our Hampshire Hunt join, 

 While young mirth and old wine, 

 Enliven the jo}-s of the chase ! 



The squabbles for party and contest for power 



We leave to the great ones at court, 

 The fox-hunter wishes to charm the dull hours 

 With vigour to keep up the sport. 

 Here the soldier forgets 

 His old wounds and his debts, 

 The sailor his rocks, sands, and storms, 

 The priest his solemn face, 

 The doctor his grimace, 

 The lawyer his pleas and grave forms. 



Would you drive away care, &c. 



A soldier* accomplished appears in our front, 



Whose valour no danger can check; 

 With the same eager spirit he leads on the hunt, 

 As Wolfe led him on at Quebec. 

 Here he meets with new toils, 

 Other conquests and spoils, 

 War and hunting pursue the same ends ; 

 Yet his laurels fresh bloom, 

 In the field a like doom, 

 On Montcalm, sly Eeynard attends. 



Would you drive away care, &c. 



A chieftainf intrepid now crowds to the van, 



His canvas wide spread to the gale ; 

 With the ardour displayed on the sea of Japan 



He gallops o'er mountain and vale. 



* The soldier alluded to was General Shirreff of Upton House,^ Old 

 Alresford, father of, then Captain, afterwards Admiral, Shirreff,£who 

 resided at Ropley Cottage. 



f The chieftain was Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, who distinguished 

 himself in the action with the Dutch on the Dogger-Bank, August 5, 

 1781. 



