Beneath the leaves of Sloth's enchanting In fome old coat, that whilom charm'd the eye, Till time had worn it into flovenry, With dufky weapon, all by ruft conceal'd, Thro' rainy fervice in the fportive field, He iffues to the plain, fecure to kill, And founds his glory on fuperior skill. CANTO III. PATRIDGE. THE night recedes, and mild AURORA now Waves her gay banner on the Eastern brow, Light float the misty vapours o'er the sky, And dim the blaze of Phoebus' glarifh eye; The flitting breeze juft Airs the restling brake, And curls the chryftal furface of the lake: Th' expectant sportsman, urg'd by anxious hafte, Snatch the refreshment of a short repast: Their weapons feize, their pointers callaround, And fally forth impatient to the ground. -Here, where the yellow wheat away is drawn, And the thick ftubble clothes the ruffet lawn, Begin the fport, eager, and unconfined, As when bold Lolus unchains the wind. The active pointer from his thong unbound, Impatient dashes o'er the dewy ground, With glowing eye and adulating tail, Ranges the fields and fnuffs the tainted gale; Yet, 'midft his ardour, ftill his matter fears, And the restraining whistle careful hears. See how exact they try the ftubble o'er, Quarter the field, and every turn explore, Now fudden wheel, ane now attentive feize The known advantage of th' oppofing breeze. 346 POETRY: In various attitudes around him ftand, Silent and motionless th' attending band! Now, by the glowing cheek, and heaving breast, - Is expectation's fangwine with expreft. Ah, curb your headlong ardour, nor refufe, Patient, to hear the precepts of the Mufe. Sooner shall noify heat, in rafh difpute, The leas'ning calm of placid fenfe confute; Sooner the headlong rout's mifguided rage, With the firm phalanx equal combat wage, Than the warm youth, whom anxious hopes inflame, Purfue the fleeting mark with steady aim. By temperate thought your glowing paffions cool, And bow the fwelling heart to reason's rule; Elfe, when the whirring pinion, as it flies, Alarms your startled ear and dazzled eyes, Unguided by the cautious aim of care, Your random bolts fhall wafte their force in air. O let your breaft fuch selfish views difclaim, And scorn the triumph of a casual aim ; Nor urg'd by rapine, but of honour proud, One object fingle from the fcattering crowd, So when you fee the deftin'd quarry down, Shall juft applause your skilful labour crown. If your ftaunch dogs require no instant toil To refeue from their jaws the flutt'ring fpoil, Reload your fatal piece with prudent zeal, While glows with recent flame the fmoaking fteel, So the black grain fhall kindling warmth acquire, And take the flinty fpark with readier fire; Or, if some scatter'd bird, that lay behind, Sudden fhould rife, and fleet away on wind, You check her rapid courfe, nor murm'ring ftand, Your empty weapon ufelefs in your hand. -Now fome obfervant eye has mark'd their flight, And feen difpers'd the wearied covey light; Soon to the spot the ranging pointer drawn, Explores with tender nofe, the tainted lawn, Where to his nicer fenfe the fumes betray The fecret ambush of the fearful prey; With cautious action now, and ftealthful Your fatal weapon gives the fureft blow, Left the fhock'd barrel deviate from the So fhall fuccefs your ardent with repay, And fure deftruction wait the flying prey! As glory more than gain allures the brave To dare the combat loud, and louder wave, So the ambition of the SPORTSMAN lies More in the certain fhot than bleeding prize: rooted by the fhelt'ring hedge, his feet Declare the trembling victims last retreat! But as with beating breafts, on either fide, Th' impatient youths the pleafing task divide, And in the row, between the lurking game, Left fcreen'd and parted by the thorny Lies hit from fight, ah, careful be the aim! mound, The erring fhots should give a fatal wound, And change the jocund sportsman's verdant wreath For fun'ral weeds. for mourning, tears, and death. TRIGGER. ΤΟ INDE X. A. BSENCE, on, 287. Accomplished Sportfwoman, the, 154. Account of the games and diver. fions of the Spaniards, 22. of Newmarket, 29. Fontainville Foret, 38. Netley Abbey, 39. of the Jew, 96. of Love and Honour, 97. of the Packet Boat, 98. Dramatic Romance of Lodoifka, 155. of How to be Happy, 207. of Auld Robin Grey, 252. of the game of Sentiments, 296. Act for the prefervation of game, 298. Adoption, incongruous. Affidavit refpecting Staring Tom, 45. Age of a horfe, how to know the, 322. Air in the Packet Boat, 124. the Bishop of Raphoe, 130, of C. W. Montague, Efq. 141, French Atheistical, 144. of the Abbé Beaufremont, 159. of the late Mr. Charles Lewis, 167. of a general officer, 187. of Mr, Phillidor, 308. his late R. H. the P. of Wales, 333. Angling, general rules to be obferved in, 10. game laws relating to, 203, 253. Ancient and modern method of deer-killing, 183. Ancient manner of hunting in Wales, 164. Animals in the Island of Corfica, 272. Antelope, manner of taking the $166. Antiquity and origin of forests, |