12 RURAL SPORTS.

He snaps deceitful air with empty jaws,

The subtle hare darts swift beneath his paws;

She flys, he stretches, now with nimble boundEager he presses on, but overshoots his ground;

She turns, he winds, and soon regains the way,

Then tears with goary mouth the screaming prey.What various sport does rural life afford!

What unbought dainties heap the wholesome board!

Nor less the spaniel, skilful to betray,

Rewards the fowler with the feather’d prey.

Soon as the lab’ring horse with swelling veins,

Hath safely hous’d the farmer’s doubtful gains,

To sweet repast th’ unwary partridge flies,

With joy amid the fcatter’d harvest lies;

Wandring in plenty, danger he forgets,

Nor dreads the stav’ry of entangling nets.

The subtle dog scowrs with sagacious noseAlong the field, and snuffs each breeze that blows,Against the wind he takes his prudent way,

While the strong gale directs him to the prey ;Now the warm scent assures the covey near,

He treads with caution, and he points with fear;Then (least some sentry fowl the fraud descry,

And bid his fellows from the danger fly)

Close to the ground in expectation lies,

Till in the snare the flutt’ring covey rife.

Soon as the blushing light begins to spread.

And glancing Phoebus gilds the mountain’s head,His early flight th’ ill-fated partridge takes,

And quits the friendly shelter of the brakes :

Or when the fun casts a declining ray,

And drives his chariot down the western way,

Let your obsequious ranger search around,

Where yellow stubble withers on the ground: