MR. MEYNELL 61 



Extra Stanzas 



But these hounds with a scent, how they dash and they fling ; 



To o'er-ride them is quite the impossible thing. 



At starting, descending that desperate vale, 



'Stead of skirting the hill, to fall could not fail. 



E'en regaining with Loadstone and Raven that hill, 



Was enough many country good horses to kill. 



Arrived at the top, and fast gulping for breath 



To avoid the mad staggers, or perhaps sudden death, 



To fall in with the hill nags when we could scarce creep, 



As they poured from around the amphitheatre's sweep, 



Slap-dash, seeming cloud-dropped, at three quarters speed, 



None of us could then compass e'en those thoroughbred ; 



Or from stage scenes behind, being all in the secret, 



By the trap-door from Coplow to Tilton to migrate. 



A rencounter so sudden, it put me in mind 



Of a flight of young pigeons, when right 'fore the wind, 



Or the whiz of an arrow shot out of a bow ; 



Now by them and their pace to be taken in tow 



Were enough to have shook stouter nerves than were mine, 



And disordered for ever the stout Palatine. 1 



While we sloped and were ploughing much deeper than hoof 



On the hill every Pegasus kept them aloof; 



Had they all been with us in the valley beneath 



They avoided so wise as the valley of death — 



With the hounds their ascension, I shrewdly suspect 



Would have proved most remarkably choice and select ; 



If many, indeed, perhaps famed on the flat 



Had not ended their sport there, or haply though late, 



They had managed to reach the steep height, their dim eye 



Might have viewed, not the hounds, but their fate only nigh. 



A few there were who had ridden the line yard for 

 yard with the hounds, and when they reached Tilton 

 with their horses in a lather and pretty well blown, 

 they must have been rather angry at finding so many 

 of the field cantering up with their horses not at all 

 distressed, since they had come by the road. At tin's 

 stage, however, the victory of the point rider and skirter 



1 The horse on which Mr. Lowth was mounted. 



