330 



LA CHASSE ETRANGERE. 



La Chasse — when to this we annex the true 

 Enghsh construction, the chase, how does the heart 

 of a fox-hunter quicken in its pulsations at the magical 

 sound of those two brief words ! The valetudinarian 

 (if he has the true spirit in him) shakes off his aches 

 and pains, and at the sound of the horn, like the 

 veteran soldier at that of the trumpet, " dares again 

 the field." The victim of hypochondriacism rouses 

 from his apathy, and feels himself again giving the 

 rattling " tally-ho ! " Even the pale and heart-stricken 

 son of adversity forgets the freezing or supercilious 

 looks of the favourites of prosperity, and in his mind's 

 eye again welcomes the honest beaming countenance 

 of the true fox-hunter, that never allows the cloud of 

 misfortune that may lower o'er a brother sportsman 

 to shut out that jovial and warming smile from the 

 afflicted heart. 



Hail to thy name, Chase ! — hail ! doubly hail to 

 thy glorious reality ! — and ten-fold hail to my country, 

 honest England, land of the chase, thou only Elysium 

 of the lovers of true sport ! 



Let other nations slay their thousands by iho, 

 gun, where neither exertion or courage are the 

 requisite attributes of the sportsman, as children of a 

 younger growth immolate the defenceless fly who 

 vainly struggles for escape against the glazed divisions 

 of the window. Perish such ignominious sport ! The 

 scions of an honest stock of fine old English gentlemen 



