THE STAG. 93 



former times it was the custom that whoever, amons" 

 those w^ho took part in the sport, employed other than 

 the proper terms, should receive as punishment three 

 blows mth the broad blade of the hunting knife. 

 If, too, in breaking up the deer a fault was com- 

 mitted, the same penalty was the forfeit. The delin- 

 quent had to put off his long hunting-knife, and to lay 

 himself over the body of the dead stag, and then a hunter 

 of high rank delivered the three blows, saying 



" This is for my soyereign Prince and Lord; " 



at the second, 



" This is for knights, yeomen, and squires ;" 



at the third, 



" And this what the Noble Art requires." 



While this was 2:oinof on the huntsmen stood round 

 and blew a tra-la-la on their horns. 



But this and all the gay ceremony and paraphernalia 

 are part of a time gone by: the imperious Present 

 knows nothing of it. To read of those days when 

 Louis VIII. of Darmstadt was accompanied in his 

 "progress" to his hunting lodge with a retinue of 

 ninety-five persons ; or in Hesse Cassel, of the prince 

 riding forth with " numerous followers, to whom 

 not seldom several hundred cavaliers, and ladies, and 

 damsels, singers, and musicians, did consort ; " of the 



