i64 STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



savage ideal of beauty was the lion, type of mere massive 

 force. That was succeeded by an over-civilised ideal — say 

 the fawn — type of delicate grace. By cunning breeding and 

 choosing, through long centuries, man has combined both, 

 and has created the fox-hound, lion and fawn in one ; just 

 as he might create noble human beings, did he take half as 

 much trouble about politics (in the true old sense of the 

 word) as he does about fowls. Look at that old hound, 

 who stands doubtful, looking up at his master for advice. 

 Look at the severity, delicacy, lightness of every curve. His 

 head is finer than a deer's ; his hind-legs tense as steel 

 springs ; his fore-legs straight as arrows ; and yet see the 

 depth of chest, the sweep of loin, the breadth of paw, the 

 mass of arm and thigh ; and, if you have an eye for form, 

 look at the absolute majesty of his attitude at this moment. 

 Majesty is the only word for it. If he were six feet high 

 instead of twenty-three inches, with what animal on earth 

 could you compare him ? Is it not a joy to see such a thing 

 alive? It is to me at least. I should like to have one in 

 my study all day along, as I would have a statue or a 

 picture ; and when Mr. Morrell gave (as they say) two 

 hundred guineas for Hercules alone, I believe the dog was 

 well worth the money, only to look at.' The last sentence 

 would have delighted Captain Cook, a great authority in 

 his day. In his book published in 1826, the Captain 

 complained that, while people thought nothing of giving 

 three hundred guineas for a hunter, they would not give 

 money enough for hounds ; ' whereas,' says the Captain, 

 excited into italics, ' everything depends upon a jxick of 

 hounds.' I do not like the prose so much as the verse. It 

 is a little excessive, and the ' breadth of paw ' will not do 

 for Peterborough. 



But old Virginal has hit it of!", and Kingsley turns the 

 mare's head homewards. This is a capital description of 



