ANECDOTES OF THE TED WORTH HUNT. 179 



these could not recognize their own animals when the 

 latter headed the field with Tom Smith in the saddle. To 

 have seen him on Ham Ashley, Netheravon, Kory O'More, 

 or Jack-o'-Lantern, would remind us of that splendid 

 passage in Shakspeare's "Yenus and Adonis/' in reading 

 which we almost fancy our immortal bard must have 

 acquired his knowledge of horseflesh with the South 

 Warwickshire hounds : — 



" Look where a painter would surpass the life 

 In limning out a well-proportioned steed, 

 His art with Nature's workmanship at strife. 



As if the dead the living should exceed : 

 So did this horse excel a common one, 

 In shape, in courage, colour, pace, and bone. 



Eound-hoofed, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, 

 Broad breast, full eyes, small head, and nostril wide. 



High crest, short ears, straight legs, and passing strong : 

 Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide. 



Look what a horse should have, he did not lack, 



Nor a proud rider on so proud a back." 



In the last line we have taken a liberty with the poet, in 

 substituting the word ?ior for save, to make the picture 

 exactly represent the squire and his steed. 



The following anecdotes of some runs with the Tedworth, 

 Hunt have been furnished by an old member of it. The 

 de^riptive powers of the writer do ample justice to his 

 theme. 



"A fox stole aw^ay from Lower Conholt Hanger, and 

 waited for us at Mexcombe Wood. I viewed him going 

 away, and it was one of those splendid hunting days when 

 hounds can run as if tied to a fox. JJp and down the per- 

 petually undulating hills we rode, pointing first for Wilster 

 Wood, through that, and straight for Netherton Hanger, 

 down the steep pitch, through the churchyard, and up to 

 Faccombe Wood^ leaving the village to the left, and Privet 



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