Nor hounds alone this noxious brood destroy; The plunder'd warrener full many a while Deviles to entrap his greedy foe,
Fat with nocturnal fpoils. At clofe of day With filence drags his trail; then, from the ground Pares thin the close-graz'd turf; there with nice
Covers the latent death, with curious fprings Prepar'd to fly at once, whene'er the tread Of man or beaft unwarily thall prefs The yielding furface. By the indented fteel, With gripe tenaceous held, the felon grins, And struggles, but in vain: yet oft 'tis known, When ev'ry art has fail'd, the captive fox Has fhar'd the wounded joint, and with a limb Compounded for his life. But if perchance In the deep pit-fall plung'd, there's no escape: But unrepriev'd he dies, and bleach'd in air, The jeft of clowns, his recking carcafe hangs. Of thefe are various kinds : not ev'n the king Of brutes evades this deep-devouring grave; But by the wily African betray'd, Heedlefs of fate, within its gaping jaws Expires indignant. When the orient beam With bluthes paints the dawn, and all the race Carnivorous, with blood full gorg'd, retire Into their darkfome cells, there fatiate fnore O'er dripping offals, and the mangled limbs Of men and beafts, the painful forefter Climbs the high hills, whofe proud afpiring tops, With the tall cedar crown'd and taper fir, Affail the clouds; there, 'mong the craggy rocks And thickets intricate, trembling he views His footsteps in the fand, the difinal road And avenue to death. Hither he calls His watchful bands, and low into the ground A pit they fink, full many a fathom deep; Then in the midft a column high is rear'd, The butt of fome fair tree, upon whole top. A lamb is plac'd, just ravish'd from his dam; And next a wall they build, with ftones and earth Encircling round, and hiding from all view The dreadful precipice. Now when the fhades Of night hang lowring o'er the mountain's brow, And hunger keen, and pungent thirst of blood, Rouze up the flothful beaft, he shakes his fides, Slow-rifing from his lair, and stretches wide His rav'nous paws, with recent gore diftain'd. The foreft trembles as he roars aloud, Impatient to deftroy. O'erjoy'd he hears The bleating innocent, that claims in vain The fhepherd's care, and fecks with pitcous moan The foodful teat, himself, alas! design'd Another's meal. For now the greedy brute Winds him from far, and leaping o'er the mound To feize his trembling prey, headlong is plung'd Into the deep abyfs. Proftrate he lies, Aftunn'd and impotent, Ah! what avail Thine eyeballs flashing fire, thy length of tail That lafhes thy broad fides, thy jaws befinear'd With blood and offals crude, thy fhaggy mane, The terror of the woods, thy stately port, And bulk enormous, fince by ftratagem Thy ftrength is foil'd? Unequal is the ftrife When fov'reign reafon combats brutal rage,
On diftant Ethiopia's fun-burnt coafts The black inhabitants a pitfall frame, But of a diff'rent kind, and diff'rent ufe. With flender poles the wide capacious mouth, And hurdles flight, they clofe; o'er thefe is spread A floor of verdant turf, with all its flow'rs Smiling delufive, and from ftrictest search Concealing the deep grave that yawns below. Then boughs of trees they cut, with tempting fruit Of various kinds furcharg'd! the downy peach, The cluft'ring vinc, and of bright golden rind The fragrant orange. Soon as ev'ning grey Advances flow, befprinkling all around With kind refreshing dews the thirsty glebe, The ftately elephant from the clofe thade With ftep majeftic ftrides, eager to tafte The cooler breeze, that from the fea-beat fhore Delightful breathes, or in the limpid ftream To lave his panting fides, joyous he fcents The rich repaft, unweeting of the death That lurks within. And foon he fporting breaks The brittle boughs, and greedily devours The fruit delicious. Ah! too dearly bought; The price is life. For now the treach'rous turf, Trembling, gives way, and the unwieldy beaft, Self-finking, drops into the dark profound. So when dilated vapours, ftruggling, heave Th'incumbent earth, if chancethe cavern'd ground Shrinking fubfide, and the thin furface yield, Down finks at once the pond'rous dome in- gulplı'd
With all its tow'rs. Subtle, delusive Man! How various are thy wiles! artful to kill Thy favage focs, a dull unthinking race! Fierce from his lair fprings forth the fpeckled pard, Thirsting for blood, and eager to destroy; The huntfinan flies, but to his flight alone Confides not, at convenient distance fix'd, A polifh'd mirror ftops in full career The furious brute: he there his image views; Spots against Ipots with rage improving glow! Another pard his briftly whiskers curls, Grins as he grins, fierce menacing and wide Diftends his op'ning paws; himself against Himfelfoppos'd, and with dread vengeance arm'd, The huntíman, now fecure, with fatal aim Directs the pointed fpear, by which transfix'd He dies, and with him dies the rival shade. Thus man innum'rous engines form'd t'affail The favage kind; but most the docile horse, Swift, and confederate with man, annoys His brethren of the plains; without whose aid The hunter's arts were vain, unfkill'd to wage With the more active brutes an equal war; But borne by him, without the well-train'd pack Man dares his foc, on wings of wind secure.
Him the fierce Arab mounts, and with his troop Of bold compeers ranges the defarts wild, Where, by the magnet's aid, the traveller Steers his untrodden corufe, yet oft on land Is wreck'd, in the high-rolling waves of fand Immers'd and loft; while thefe intrepid bands. Safe in their horfes fpeed, outfly the storm, And fcouring round, makes men and beafts their The grifly boar is fingled from his herd, [prey.
As farge as that in Erimanthean woods, A match for Herculus. Round him they fly In circles wide, and each, in paffing, fends His feather'd death into his brawny fides; But perilous th'attempt; for if the steed Haply too near approach, or the loofe earth His footing fail, the watchful angry beaft Th'advantage fpies, and at one fidelong glance Rips up his groin. Wounded he rears aloft, And plunging, from his back the rider hurls Precipitant; then, bleeding, spurns the ground, And drags his reeking entrails o'er the plain. Meanwhile the furly monfter trots along, But with unequal fpeed; for ftill they wound, Swift-wheeling in the fpacious ring. A wood Of darts upon his back he bears; adown His tortur'd fides the crimson torrents roll From many a gaping font ; and now at last Staggering he falls, in blood and foam expires.
But whither rolls my devious Mufe, intent On antique tales, while yet the royal ftag Unfung remains? Tread with refpectful awe, Windfor's green glades, where Denham, tuncful bard!
Charm'd once the lift'ning Dryads with his fong, Sublimely fweet. O! grant ine, facred fhade, To glean fubmifs what thy full fickle leaves. The morning fun that gilds with trembling rays
Windfor's high tow'rs, behold the courtly train, Mount for the Chace, nor views in all his courfe A fcene fo gay: heroic noble youths, In arts and arms renown'd, and lovely nymphs, The fairest of this ifle where beauty dwells Delighted, and deferts her Paphian grove For our more favour'd fhades; in proud parade These shine magnificent, and press around The royal happy pair. Great in themfelves, They fmile fuperior, of external fhow Regardless, while their inbred virtues give A luftre to their pow'r, and grace their court With real fplendors, far above the pomp Of Eastern kings in all their tinfel pride. Like troops of Amazons, the female band Prance round their cars, not in refulgent arms As thofe of old; unfkill'd to wield the fword Or bend the bow, these kill with furer aim. The royal offspring, fairest of the fair, Lead on the fplendid train. Anna, more bright Than fummer funs, or as the lightning keen, With irrefiftible effulgence arm'd,
Fires ev'ry heart: he must be more than man Who unconcern'd can bear the piercing ray. Amelia, milder than the blushing dawn, With fweet engaging air, but equal pow'r, Intenfibly fubdues, and in foft chains Her willing captives leads. Illuftrious maids! Ever triumphant! whofe victorious charms, Without the needlefs aid of high defcent, lords Had aw'd mankind, and taught the world's great To bow and fue for grace. But who is he, Fresh as a rofebud newly blown, and fair As op'ning lilies, on whom ev'ry eye With joy and admiration dwells? See, see !
He reins his docile barb with manly grace. Is it Adonis for the chace array'd? Or Britain's fecond hope? Hail, blooming youth! May all your virtues with your years improve, Till in confummate worth you fhine the pride Of thefe our days, and to fucceeding times A bright example. As his guard of mutes On the great Sultan wait with eyes deject And fix'd on earth, no voice no found is heard Within the wide serail, but all is hush'd, And awful filence reigns; thus ftand the pack Mute and unmov'd, and cow'ring low to earth, While pafs the glitt'ring court and royal pair: So difciplin'd thofe hounds, and fo referv'd, Whofe honor 'tis to glad the hearts of kings: But foon the winding horn and huntfinan's voice Let loofe the gen'ral chorus; far around Joy fpreads its wings, and the gay morning fmiles. Unharbour'd now, the royal ftag forfakes His wonted lair; he thakes his dappled fides, And toffes high his beamy head; the copfe Beneath his antlers bends. What doubling fhifts He tries! not more the wily hare; in thefe Would ftill perfift, did not the full-mouth'd pack With dreadful concert thunder in his rear. The woods reply, the hunter's cheering fhouts Float through the glades, and the wide foreft rings. How merrily they chant! their noftrils deep Inhale the grateful fteam. Such is the cry, And fuch th'harmonious din, the foldier deems The battle kindling, and the statefiman grave Forgets his weighty cares: each age, each fex, In the wild transport joins: luxuriant joy, And pleasure in excefs, fparkling exult On ev'ry brow, and revel unreftrain'd. How happy art thou,Man' when thou'rt no more Thyfelf! when all the pangs that grind thy foul, In rapture and in fweet oblivion loft, Yield a fhort interval and eafe from pain!
See the fwift courfer ftrains; his fhining hoofs Securely beat the folid ground. Who now The dang'rous pitfall fears, with tangling heath High-overgrown? or who the quiv'ring bog, Soft-yielding to the ftep? All now is plain, Plain as the ftrand fea-lav'd, that stretches far Beneath the rocky fhore. Glades croffing glades, The foreft opens to our wond'ring view: Such was the king's command. Let tyrants fierce Lay wafte the world; his the more glorious part To check their pride; and when the brazen voice Of war is huth'd (as erft victorious Rome) T'employ his ftation'd legions in the works Of peace, to fimooth the rugged wilderness, To drain the ftagnate fen, to raise the flope Depending road, and to make gay the face Of nature with th'embellishments of art.
How melts my beating arts as I behold Each lovely nymph, our island's boast and pride, Pufh on the gen'rous fteed, that strokes along O'er rough, o'er fmooth, nor heeds the steepy hill, Nor falters in th’extended vale below; Their garments loofely waving in the wind, And all the flush of beauty in their checks! While at their fides their penfive lovers wait, Y Direct
Direct their dubious courfe, now chill'd with fear | Some prying eye furprise him, foon he rears Solicitous, and now with love inflam'd. O grant, indulgent Heav'n, no rifing form May darken with black wings this glorious fcene! Should fome malignant pow'r thus dampour joys, Vain were the gloomy cave, fuch as of old Betray'd to lawless love the Tyrian queen : For Britain's virtuous nymphs are chatte as fair; Spotless, unblam'd, with equal triumph reign In the dun gloom as in the blaze of day. Now the blown ftag thro' woods, bogs, roads, and ftreams,
Has meafur'd half the foreft: but, alas! He flies in vain; he flies not from his fears. Tho' far he caft the ling'ring pack behind, Eis haggard fancy ftill with horror views The fell deftrover: ftill the fatal cry Infults his ears, and wounds his trembling heart. So the poor fury-haunted wretch (his hands In guiltlefs blood diftain'd) ftill feems to hear The dying fhrieks, and the pale threat'ning ghoft Moves as he moves, and as he flies purfues. See here his flot; up yon green hill he climbs, Pants on his brow a while, fadly looks back On his purfuers, cov'ring all the plain; But wrung with anguish, bears not long the fight, Shoots down the fteep, and fweats along the vale; There mingles with the herd, where once he reign'd
Proud monarch of the groves, whofe clafhing beam His rivals aw'd, and whofe exalted pow'r Was ftill rewarded with fuccefsful love. But the bafe herd have learn'd the ways of men: Averfe they fly, or with rebellious aim [deed, Chace him from thence needlefs their impious The huntfiman knows him by a thoufand marks, Black and imboft; nor are his hounds deceiv'd; Too well distinguish'd thefe, and never leave Their once devoted foe : familiar grows His fcent, and Arong their appetite to kill. Again he flies, and with redoubled speed Skims o'er the lawn; ftill the tenacious crew Hang on the track, aloud demand their prey, And puth him many a league. If haply then Too far escap'd, and the gay courtly train Behind are caft, the huntfinan's clanging whip Stops full their bold carcer: paffive they ftand, Unmov'd, an humble and obfequious crowd, As if by ftern Medufa gaz'd to fones. So at their gen'ral's voice whole armies halt In full purfuit, and check their thirst of blood. Soon at the king's command, like hafty ftreams Damm'd up a while, they foam, and pour along With fresh recruiting might. The itag, who hop'd
His foes were loft, now once more hears aftunn'd The dreadful din: he fhivers ev'ry limb; He forts, he bounds; each bufh prefents a foe. Prefs'd by the fresh relay, no paufe allow'd, Breathlefs and faint he falters in his pace, And lifts his weary limbs with pain, that fearce Suftain their load: he pants, he fobs appall'd; Drops down his heavy head to earth, beneath His cumbrous beams opprefs'd. But if perchance
Erect his tow'ring front, bounds o'er the lawn With ill-diffembled vigour, to amuse The knowing forefter, who inly fimiles At his weak thifts and unavailing frauds. So midnight tapers wafte their last remains, Shine forth a while, and as they blaze expire. From wood to wood redoubling thunders roll, And bellow thro' the vales; the moving ftorm Thickens amain, and loud triumphant fhouts, And horns fhrill warbling in each glade, prelude To his approaching fate. And now in view, With hobbling gait and high, exerts amaz'd What ftrength is left: to the laft dregs of life Reduc'd, his fpirits fail, on ev'ry fide Hemm'd in, befieg'd; not the leaft op'ning left To gleaming hope, th'unhappy's last reserve. Where fhall he turn or whither Ay! Despair Gives courage to the weak. Refolv'd to die, He fears no more, but rushes on his foes, And deals his deaths around; beneath his feet Thefe grov'lling lie, thofe by his antlers gor'd Defile th'enfanguin'd plain. Ah! sce diftrefs'd He ftands at bay against yon knotty trunk, That covers well his rear; his front prefents An hoft of foes. O fhun, ye noble train! The rude encounter, and believe your lives Your country's due alone. As now aloof They wing around, he finds his foul uprais'd To dare fome great exploit; he charges home Upon the broken'pack, that on each fide Fly diverfe; then as o'er the turf he strains, He vents the cooling fiream, and up the breeze Urges his courfe with eager violence, Then takes the foil, and plunges in the flood Precipitant: down the mid ftream he wafts Along, till (like a ship diftrefs'd, that runs Into fome winding creck) close to the verge Of a fmail ifland, for his weary feet Sure anchorage he finds, there fculks immers'd; His nofe alone above the wave, draws in The vital air; all elfe beneath the flood Conceal'd and loft, deceives each prying eye Of man or brute. In vain the crowding pack Draw on the margin of the ftream, or cut The liquid wave with oary feet that move In equal time. The gliding waters leave No trace behind, and his contracted pores But fparingly perfpire: the huntfiman strains His lab ring lungs, and puffs his cheeks in vain: At length a blood-hound bold, ftudious to kill, And exquifite of fenfe, winds him from far; Headlong he leaps into the flood, his mouth Loud op'ning fpends amain, and his wide throat Swells ev'ry note with joy; then fearlefs dives Beneath the wave, hangs on his haunch, and
Th'unhappy brute, that flounders in the stream, Sorely diftrefs'd, and struggling, strives to mount The iteepy fhore. Haply once more escap'd, Again he ftands at bay amid the groves Of willows, bending low their downy heads. Outrageous tranfport fires the greedy pack; [pain Thefe twim the deep, and thofe crawl up with
The flipp'ry bank, while others on firm land Engage: the ftag repels each bold affault, [turns. Maintains his poft, and wounds for wounds reAs when fome wily Corfairs boards a fhip Full-freighted, or from Afric's golden coafts Or India's wealthy ftrand, his bloody crew Upon her deck he ilings; thefe in the deep Drop fhort, and swin to reach her steepy fides, And clinging, climb aloft, while those on board Urge on the work of fate; the master bold, Prefs'd to his last retreat, bravely refolves To fink his wealth beneath the whelming wave, His wealth, his foes, nor unreveng'd to die. So fares it with the ftag; fo he refolves To plunge at once into the flood below, Himfelf, his foes, in one deep gulph immers'd. Ere yet he executes this dire intent, In wild diforder once more views the light; Beneath a weight of woe he groans diftrefs'd, The tears run trickling down his airy cheeks: He weeps, nor weeps in vain. The king beholds His wretched plight, and tenderness innate Moves his great foul. Soon at his high command Rebuk'd, the disappointed hungry pack Retire fubmifs, and, grumbling, quit their prey. Great Prince, from thee what may thy fubjects So kind and fo beneficent to brutes! [hope, O Mercy, heav'nly born! fweet attribute! Thou great, thou best, prerogative of pow'r ! Juftice may guard the throne, but join'd with thee, On rocks of adamant it ftands fecure, And braves the ftorm beneath; foon as thy fmiles Gild the rough deep, the foaming waves fubfide, And all the noify tumult finks in peace.
$41. The Chace. SOMERVILLE. BOOK IV.
THE ARGUMENT.
Of the neceffity of deftroying fome beafts, and preferving others for the ufe of man. Of breeding of hounds; the feafon for this business. The choice of the dog of great moment. Of the litter of whelps. Of the number to be reared. Of Jetting them out to their feveral walks. Care to be taken to prevent their hunting too foon. Of entering the whelps. Of breaking them from running at Sheep. Of the difeafes of hounds. Of their age. Of madness; two forts of it defcribed, the dumb and outrageous madness: its dreadful effects. Burning of the wound recommended as preventing all ill confequences. The infectious hounds to be feparated, and fed apart. The vanity of trufting to the many infallible cures for this malady. The difmal effects of the biting of a mad dog upon man defcrib'd. De fcription of the method of otter hunting. The conclufion.
WH HATE'ER of earth is form'd -to earth
Diffolv'd: the various objects we behold, Plants, animals, this whole material mafs,
Are ever changing, ever new. Of man alone, that particle divine, Efcapes the wreck of worlds, when all things fail: Hencegreat the diftance'twixt the beasts that perifh And God's bright image, man's immortal race. The brute creation are his property, Subfervient to his will, and for him made: As hurtful these he kills, as ufeful those Preferves; their fole and arbitrary king. Should he not kill as erft the Samian fage Taught unadvis'd, and Indian Brachmans now As vainly preach, the teeming rav'nous brutes Might fill the fcanty space of this terrene, Incumb'ring all the globe: fhould not his care Improve his growing stock, their kinds might fail, Man might once more on roots and acorns feed, And thro' the defarts range, fhiv'ring, forlorn, Quite deftitute of ev'ry folace dear, And ev'ry fmiling gaiety of life.
The prudent huntfman therefore will supply With annual large recruits his broken pack, And propagate their kind. As from the root Fresh fciens ftill fpring forth, and daily yield New blooming honors to the parent tree; Far fhall his pack be fam'd, far fought his breed, And princes at their tables feat thofe hour.ds His hand prefents, an acceptable boon.
Ere yet the fun thro' the bright Ram has urg'd His fteepy courfe, or mother Earth unbound Her frozen bofom to the western gale; When feather'd troops, their focial leagues dif- folv'd,
Select their mates, and on the leaflefs elm The noify rook builds high her wicker neft, Mark well the wanton females of thy pack That curl their taper tails, and frisking court Their pie-bald mates enamour'd; their red eyes Flash fire impure; nor reft nor food they take, Goaded by a furious love. In feparate cells Confine them now, left bloody civil wars Annoy thy peaceful state. If left at large, The growling rivals in dread battle join, And rude encounter: on Scamander's ftreams Heroes of old with far lefs fury fought For the bright Spartan dame, their valour's prize. Mangled and torn thy fav'rite hounds fhall lie Stretch'd on the ground; thy kennel shall appear A field of blood: like fome unhappy town In civil broils confus'd, while Discord fhakes Her bloody fcourge aloft, fierce parties rage, Staining their impious hands in mutual death; And ftill the best belov'd and bravest fall : Such are the dire effects of lawless love.
Huntfinan! thefe ills, by timely prudent care, Prevent: for ev'ry longing dame felect Some happy parainour; to him alone In leagues connubial join. Confider well His lineage; what his fathers did of old, Chiefs of the pack, and first to climb the rock, Or plunge into the deep, or thread the brake With thorns fharp-pointed, plash'd, and briers inwoven.
Obferve with care his fhape, fort, colour, fize : Nor will fagacious huntsmen less regard
His inward habits. The vain babbler fhun, Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong: His foolith offspring fhall offend thy ears With falfe alarms and loud impertinence. Nor lets the thifting cur avoid, that breaks Illufive from the pack; to the next hedge Devious he trays, there ev'ry mufe he tries; If haply then he crofs the fteaming fcent, Away he flies vainglorious, and exults As of the pack fupreme, and in his speed And ftrength unrivall'd. Lo! caft far behind, His vex'd affociates pant, and lab'ring ftrain To climb the steep afcent. Soon as they reach Th'infulting boafter, his falfe courage fails, Behind he lags, doom'd to the fatal noofe, His mafter's hate, and fcorn of all the field. What can from fuch be hop'd but a bafe brood Of coward curs, a frantic, vagrant, race!
When now the third revolving moon appears, With tharpen'd horns, above the Horizon's brink, Without Lucina's aid, expect thy hopes
Are amply crown'd: fhort pangs produce to light
The fmoking litter, crawling, helpless, blind; Nature their guide, they feck the pouting teat That plenteous ftreams. Soon as the tender dam Has form'd them with her tongue, with pleafure The marks of their renown'd progenitors, [view Sure pledge of triumphs yet to come. All thefe Select with joy, but to the merciless flood Expofe the dwindling refufe, nor o'erload Th'indulgent mother. If thy heart relent, Unwilling to deftroy, a nurfe provide, And to the fofter-parent give the care Of thy fuperfluous brood; the'll cherish kind The alien offspring; pleas'd, thou shalt behold Her tenderness and hospitable love.
If frolic now and playful they defert Their gloomy cell, and on the verdant turf, With nerves improv'd, purfuc the inimic Chace, Courfing around, unto thy choiceft friends Commit thy valu'd prize the ruftic dames Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps Receive thy growing hopes, with many a kifs Carefs, and dignify their little charge With fome great title, and refounding name Of high import. But cautious here obferve To check their youthful ardour, nor permit Th'unexperienc'd younker, immature, Alone to range the woods, or haunt the brakes Where dodging conies fport: his nerves unftrung, And ftrength unequal, the laborious Chace Shall fint his growth, and his rath forward youth Contract fuch vicious habits as thy care And late correction never thall reclain.
When to full ftrength arriv'd, mature and bold, Conduct them to the field; not all at once, But as thy cooler prudence fhall direct, Select a few, and form them by degrees To ftricter difcipline. With thefe confort The ftanch and fteady fages of thy pack, By long experience vers'd in all the wiles And fubtle doublings of the various Chace. Eafy the leffon of the youthful train
When inttinet prompts, and when example guides. If the too forward younker at the head Preis boldly on in wanton sportive mood, Correct his hafte, and let him feel abath'd The ruling whip; but if he ftop behind, In wary modeft guife, to his own nofe Confiding fure, give him full fcope to work His winding way, and with thy voice applaud His patience and his care; foon fhalt thou view The hopeful pupil leader of his tribe,
And all the lift'ning pack attend his call. [play, Oft lead them forth where wanton lambkins And bleating dams with jealous eyes obferve Their tender care. If at the crowding flock He bay prefumptuous, or with eager hafte Pursue them fcatter'd o'er the verdant plain, In the foul fact attach'd, to the ftrong ram Tie faft the rafh offender. See! at firft His horn'd companion, fearful and amaz'd, Shall drag him trembling o'er the rugged ground; Then with his load fatigu'd, fhall turn a-head, And with his curl'd hard front inceflant peal The panting wretch, till breathlefs and aftunn'd, Stretch'd on the turf he lie. Then spare not thou The twining whip, but ply his bleeding fides, Lafh after lafh; and with thy threat'ning voice, Harth-echoing from the hills, inculcate loud His vile offence. Sooner fhall trembling doves, Efcap'd the hawk's fharp talons, in mid air Affail their dang'rous foe than he once more Difturb the peaceful flocks. In tender age Thus youth is train'd, as curious artists bend The taper pliant twig, or potters form Their foft and ductile clay to various fhapes.
Nor is't enough to breed, but to preferve Muft be the huntfman's care. The stanch old hounds,
Guides of thy pack, tho' but in number few, Are yet of great account; fhall oft untie The Gordian knot when reafon at a stand, Puzzling, is loft, and all thy art is vain. O'er clogging fallows, o'er dry plafter'd roads, O'er floated meads, o'er plains with flocks dif- tain'd, Rank-fcenting, thefe muft lead the dubious way. As party chiefs in fenates who prefide With pleaded reafon and with well-turn'd speech Conduct the ftaring multitude, fo these Direct the pack, who with joint cry approve, And loudly boaft difcoveries not their own. Unnumber'd accidents and various ills Attend thy pack, hang hov'ring o'er their heads, And point the way that leads to Death's dark cave. Short is their span; few at the date arrive Of ancient Argus, in old Homer's fong So highly honor'd: kind, fagacious, brute! Not ev'n Minerva's wifdom could conceal Thy much-lov'd mafter from thy nicer fenfe: Dying, his lord he own'd, view'd him all o'er. With eager eyes, then clos'd thofe eyes, well pleas'd.
Of leffer ills the mufe declines to fing, Nor floops fo low; of thefe each groom can tell The proper remedy. But, Of what care,
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