Appendix. 359 



What a study the Field is ! just see how the bold ones 

 Sit down in their saddle and draw to the fore ; 



"While the faint and false-hearted, the cowardly and cold ones, 

 Vote discretion a virtue and valour a bore. 



Look at Shirker ! I own his get-up is perfection^ 



And the tint of his leathers a triumph of art, 

 His boots, irreproachable, challenge correction ; 



Superb, too, his pink, but how craven his heart ! 



Just watch him ! He falters, inviting disaster, 



With the weakest of make-believes plain to the eye ; 



The chestnut has measured the length of his master. 

 And with animal instinct, disdains to comply ! 



Forward, forward, they go ; seven horses are over ; 



There are two without riders, and four in the brook ; 

 While the rest, taking warning, disperse to discover 



A ford, or a place with an easier look. 



See Languish and Lucy — two comelier ladies 



The heart of an M.F.H. cannot desire ; 

 And the Vanquisher puppy, well up at the head, is 



A model of form in the mould of his sire. 



Who is that on a brute with an " oxer " before him ? 



He means it, and sends him along like a man ; 

 But the high-mettled hei^etic's temper comes o'er him, 



And he's bent upon shirking, if shirk it he can. 



It's no use, he must have it ; the man has the best of it. 

 There's no bend in the blackthorn, no break in the ash ; 



He hesitates — ^jumps — you may guess at the rest of it, 

 They are down in the ditch with a terrible crash ! 



There's a flash through the brain — there's a whirl of confusion — 

 A struggling of hoofs — and a tangling of rein ; 



Gallant Jack's on his legs, with a trifling contusion : 

 He is up on his horse, and they're at it again. 



Under Sunderland Wood, and just threading the Spinney, 



And touching at Langboro' forward they go ; 

 So sharp is the pace, you might venture a guinea. 



He will scarce save his brush on this side '^ Tally-ho 



