The old and infirm have at least this privilege, that they can recall to their minds those scenes of joy in which they once delighted, and ruminate over their past pleasures, with a satisfaction almost equal to the first enjoyment; for those ideas, to which any agreeable sensation is annexed, are easily excited, as leaving behind them the most strong and permanent impressions. The amusements of our youth are the boast and comfort of our declining years. The ancients carried this notion even yet further, and supposed their heroes, in the Elysian fields, were fond of the very same diversions they exercised on earth: death itself could not wean them from the accustomed sports and gaities of life. Pars in gramineis exercent membra palæstris, Contendunt ludo, et fulvâ luctantur arenâ: Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, et carmina dicunt.---- Arma procul, currusque virûm miratur inanes. Stant terrâ defixæ hastæ, passimque soluti Per campos pascuntur equi. Quæ gratia currûm Armorumque fuit vivis, quæ cura nitentes Pascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repôstos. VIRG. ÆN. VI. Part, on the grassy cirque, their pliant limbs In wrestling exercise, or on the sands, Struggling, dispute the prize: part lead the ring, Or swell the chorus with alternate lays. The chief their arms admires, their empty cars, Their lances fix’d in earth. The unharness’d steeds Graze unrestrain’d; horses, and cars, and arms, All the same fond desires, and pleasing cares, Still haunt their shades, and after death survive. I hope, therefore, I may be indulged, even by the more grave and censorious part of mankind, if, at my leisure hours, I run over, in my elbow-chair, some of those chases, which were once the delight of a more vigorous age. It is an entertaining, and, as I conceive, a very innocent amusement. The result of these rambling imaginations will be found in the following poem; which if equally diverting to my readers, as to myself, I shall have gained my end. I have intermixed the preceptive parts with so many descriptions, and digressions, in the Georgick manner, that I hope they will not be tedious. I am sure they are very necessary to be well understood by any gentleman, who would enjoy this noble sport in full perfection. In this, at least, I may comfort myself, that I cannot trespass upon their patience more than Markham, Blome, and the other prose writers upon this subject.