In lights or shades by nature's pencil drawn, Reflects the various tints; his ears and legs Fleck'd here and there, in gay enamell'd pride, Rival the speckled pard; his rush-grown tail O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch; On shoulders clean, upright and firm he stands ; His round cat-foot, strait hams, and wide-spread thighs,
And his low-dropping chest, confess his speed, His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill, Or far-extended plain; in every part
So well proportion'd, that the nicer skill Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. Of such compose thy pack. But here a mean Observe, nor the large hound prefer, of size Gigantic; he in the thick-woven covert Painfully tugs, or in the thorny brake
Torn and embarrass'd bleeds: but if too small, The pigmy brood in every furrow swims; Moil'd in the clogging clay, panting they lag Behind inglorious; or else shivering creep Benumb'd and faint beneath the sheltering thorn. For hounds of middle size, active and strong, Will better answer all thy various ends, And crown thy pleasing labours with success. As some brave captain, curious and exact, By his fix'd standard forms in equal ranks His gay battalion; as one man they move Step after step, their size the same, their arms, Far-gleaming, dart the same united blaze: Reviewing generals his merit own;
How regular! how just! and all his cares Are well repaid if mighty George approve. So model thou thy pack, if houour touch
Thy generous soul, and the world's just applause. But above all take heed, nor mix thy hounds Of different kinds; discordant sounds shall grate Thy ears offended, and a lagging line
Of babbling curs disgrace thy broken pack. But if the amphibious otter be thy chase, Or stately stag, that o'er the woodland reigns; Or if the harmonious thunder of the field
Delight thy ravish'd ears; the deep-flew'd hound Breed up with care, strong, heavy, slow, but sure; Whose ears, down-hanging from his thick round head,
Shall sweep the morning dew, whose clanging voice Awake the mountain-echo in her cell,
And shake the forests: the bold talbot kind Of these the prime, as white as Alpine snows; And great their use of old. Upon the banks Of Tweed, slow-winding through the vale, the seat Of war and rapine once, ere Britons knew The sweets of peace, or Anna's dread commands To lasting leagues the haughty rivals awed; There dwelt a pilfering race, well train❜d and skill'd In all the mysteries of theft, the spoil
Their only substance, feuds and war their sport: Not more expert in every fraudful art The arch felon was of old, who by the tail Drew back his lowing prize: in vain his wiles, In vain the shelter of the covering rock, In vain the sooty cloud, and ruddy flames That issued from his mouth; for soon he paid His forfeit life: a debt how justly due To wrong'd Alcides and avenging Heaven!
2 Cacus, Virg. Æn. lib. viii.
Veil'd in the shades of night they ford the stream, Then, prowling far and near, whate'er they seize Becomes their prey; nor flocks nor herds are safe, Nor stalls protect the steer, nor strong-barr'd doors Secure the favourite horse. Soon as the morn Reveals his wrongs, with ghastly visage wan The plunder'd owner stands, and from his lips A thousand thronging curses burst their way : He calls his stout allies, and in a line
His faithful hound he leads, then, with a voice That utters loud his rage, attentive cheers : Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail Flourish'd in air, low bending plies around His busy nose, the steaming vapour snuffs Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untried, Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart Beats quick; his snuffling nose, his active tail Attest his joy; then, with deep-opening mouth That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims The audacious felon; foot by foot he marks His winding way, while all the listening crowd Applaud his reasonings. O'er the watery ford, Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills, O'er beaten paths, with men and beasts distain'd, Unerring he pursues; till at the cot
Arrived, and seizing by his guilty throat The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey : So exquisitely delicate his sense!
Should some more curious sportsman here inquire Whence this sagacity, this wondrous power Of tracing step by step or man or brute? What guide invisible points out their way O'er the dank marsh, bleak hill, and sandy plain ? The courteous Muse shall the dark cause reveal.
The blood that from the heart incessant rolls In many a crimson tide, then here and there In smaller rills disparted, as it flows Propell'd, the serous particles evade
Through the open pores, and with the ambient air Entangling mix. As fuming vapours rise, And hang upon the gently purling brook, There by the incumbent atmosphere compress'd, The panting chase grows warmer as he flies, And through the net-work of the skin perspires; Leaves a long-streaming trail behind, which by The cooler air condensed, remains, unless By some rude storm dispersed, or rarefied By the meridian sun's intenser heat. To every shrub the warm effluvia cling, Hang on the grass, impregnate earth and skies. With nostrils opening wide, o'er hill, o'er dale, The vigorous hounds pursue, with every breath Inhale the grateful steam, quick pleasures sting Their tingling nerves, while they their thanks repay, And in triumphant melody confess
The titillating joy. Thus on the air
Depend the hunter's hopes. When ruddy streaks At eve forbode a blustering stormy day,
Or lowering clouds blacken the mountain's brow; When uipping frosts, and the keen biting blasts Of the dry parching east, menace the trees With tender blossoms teeming; kindly spare Thy sleeping pack, in their warm beds of straw Low-sinking at their ease: listless they shrink Into some dark recess, nor hear thy voice Though oft invoked; or haply if thy call Rouse up the slumbering tribe, with heavy eyes Glazed, lifeless, dull, downward they drop their tails
Inverted; high on their bent backs erect Their pointed bristles stare, or 'mong the tufts Of ranker weeds, each stomach-healing plant Curious they crop, sick, spiritless, forlorn. These inauspicious days, on other cares Employ thy precious hours; the improving friend With open arms embrace, and from his lips Glean science, season'd with good-natured wit. But if the inclement skies and angry Jove Forbid the pleasing intercourse, thy books Invite thy ready hand, each sacred page Rich with the wise remarks of heroes old. Converse familiar with the illustrious dead; With great examples of old Greece or Rome Enlarge thy free-born heart, and bless kind Heaven That Britain yet enjoys dear liberty,
That balm of life, that sweetest blessing, cheap, Though purchased with our blood. Well-bred, polite,
Credit thy calling. See! how mean, how low, The bookless sauntering youth, proud of the scut That dignifies his cap, his flourish❜d belt, And rusty couples jingling by his side.
Be thou of other mould; and know that such Transporting pleasures were by Heaven ordain'd Wisdom's relief, and virtue's great reward.
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