Invade thy wide inclosure, but admit The nitrous air, and purifying breeze. Water and shade no less demand thy care: In a large square the adjacent field inclose; There plant, in equal ranks, the spreading elm, Or fragrant lime; most happy thy design, If, at the bottom of thy spacious court, A large canal, fed by the crystal brook, From its transparent bosom shall reflect Downward thy structure and inverted grove. Here, when the sun’s too potent gleams annoy The crowded kennel, and the drooping pack, Restless and faint, loll their unmoisten’d tongues, And drop their feeble tails, to cooler shades Lead forth the panting tribe; soon shalt thou find The cordial breeze their fainting hearts revive: Tumultuous soon they plunge into the stream, There lave their reeking sides, with greedy joy Gulp down the flying wave; this way and that, From shore to shore, they swim, while clamour loud, And wild uproar, torments the troubled flood; Then on the sunny bank they roll and stretch Their dripping limbs; or else in wanton rings Coursing around, pursuing and pursued, The merry multitude disporting play. [Sidenote: BOOK I THE CHASE v. 189-213.] But here, with watchful and observant eye, Attend their frolicks, which too often end In bloody broils and death. High o’er thy head Wave thy resounding whip, and, with a voice Fierce-menacing, o’er-rule the stern debate, And quench their kindling rage; for oft, in sport Begun, combat ensues; growling they snarl, Then on their haunches rear’d, rampant they seize Each other’s throats, with teeth and claws, in gore Besmear’d, they wound, they tear, till on the ground, Panting, half dead, the conquering champion lies: Then sudden all the base ignoble crowd, Loud-clamouring, seize the helpless worried wretch, And, thirsting for his blood, drag different ways His mangled carcase on the ensanguined plain. O breasts of pity void! to oppress the weak, To point your vengeance at the friendless head, And, with one mutual cry, insult the fall’n! Emblem too just of man’s degenerate race. Others apart, by native instinct led, Knowing instructor! ’mong the ranker grass Cull each salubrious plant, with bitter juice Concoctive stored, and potent to allay Each vicious ferment. Thus the hand divine Of Providence, beneficent and kind [Sidenote: BOOK I THE CHASE v. 213-236.]