COURSING WITH THE GREYHOUND. 



75 



MONK BISHOP AND BOOMERANG IN SLIPS. 



" The greyhounds forth are brought for cours- 

 ing therein case, 



And choicly in the slips, one leadeth forth a 

 brace. 



The finder puts her up, and gives her courser's 

 law, 



And whilst the eager dogs upon the slip do draw, 



She riseth from her seat, as though on earth she 

 flew. 



Forced by some yelping cute to give the grey- 

 hounds view, 



Which are at length let slip, when gunning out 

 they go, 



As in respect of them, the swiftest wind were 

 slow ; 



When each man runs his horse, with fixed eyes 

 and notes 



Which dog first turns the hare, which first the 

 other cotes ; 



They wrench her once or twice ere she a turn 

 will take, 



What's offered by the first, the other good doth 

 make ; 



And turn for turn again with equal speed they 



ply, 



Bestirring their swift feet with strange agility. 

 A hardened ridge or way, when if the hare do 



win, 

 Then as a shot from bow she from the dogs 



doth spin, 

 That strive to put her off, but when he cannot 



reach 

 This giving him a cote, about again doth fetch 



her, 



To him that comes behind, which seems the 



horse to hear, 

 But with a nimble turn she casts them both 



arrear, 

 Till, oft for want of breath to fall to ground they 



make her, 

 The greyhounds both so spent that they want 



breath to take her." 



No sport can be more enjoyable or 

 more exhilarating than to be on a good 

 horse, a good stretch of country before 

 you, following a good brace of grey- 

 hounds, who have just started a hart-. 

 What wonderful speed the dogs display 

 in overtaking the now fairly flying hare; 

 and how nimbly she doubles back, caus- 

 ing them to overrun their mark ! Again 

 the hounds come up like a whirlwind, 

 only to be thrown off once more by a 

 sudden turn of the hare, which as yet 

 is confident of making good her 

 Again and again the hounds overtake 

 the hare, only to be as often thrown off 

 the scut by her continued turning and 

 wrenching. Having thus been repeat- 

 edly thrown, the hounds now come up 

 with apparently the same great burst of 

 speed, but just before reaching the hare, 

 slacken their speed, steady them- 



