Days with Sir Roger De CoverleySteele, Richard, Sir
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Days with Sir Roger De Coverley
Steele, Richard, Sir
English essays
The hare now, after having squatted two or three times, and been put up
again as often, came still nearer to the place where she was at first
started. The dogs pursued her, and these were followed by the jolly
Knight, who rode upon a white gelding, encompassed by his tenants
and servants, and chearing his hounds with all the gaiety of five and
twenty. One of the sportsmen rode up to me, and told me that he was sure
the chace was almost at an end, because the old dogs, which had hitherto
lain behind, now headed the pack. The fellow was in the right. Our hare
took a large field just under us, followed by the full cry IN VIEW. I
must confess the brightness of the weather, the chearfulness of every
thing around me, the CHIDING of the hounds, which was returned upon us
in a double echo from two neighbouring hills, with the hollowing of the
sportsmen, and the sounding of the horn, lifted my spirits into a most
lively pleasure, which I freely indulged because I was sure it was
innocent. If I was under any concern it was on the account of the
poor hare, that was now quite spent and almost within the reach of her
enemies; when the huntsman getting forward threw down his pole before
the dogs. They were now within eight yards of that game which they
had been pursuing for almost as many hours; yet on the signal
before-mentioned they all made a sudden stand, and tho' they continued
opening as much as before, durst not once attempt to pass beyond the
pole. At the same time Sir Roger rode forward, and alighting, took up
the hare in his arms; which he soon delivered up to one of his servants,
with an order, if she could be kept alive, to let her go in his great
orchard; where it seems he has several of these prisoners of war, who
live together in a very comfortable captivity. I was highly pleased to
see the discipline of the pack, and the good-nature of the Knight, who
could not find in his heart to murder a creature that had given him so
much diversion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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