Now Huggins, standing far aloof,
Had never seen the deer,
Till all at once he saw the beast
Come charging in his rear.
Away he went, and many a score
Of riders did the same,
On horse and ass—like High and Low
And Jack pursuing game!
Good Lord! to see the riders now,
Thrown off with sudden whirl,
A score within the purling brook,
Enjoyed their “early purl.”
A score were sprawling on the grass,
And beavers fell in showers;
There was another Floorer there,
Beside the Queen of Flowers!
Some lost their stirrups, some their whips,
Some had no caps to show:
But few, like Charles at Charing Cross
Rode on in Statue quo.
“O dear! O dear!” now might you hear,
“I’ve surely broke a bone;”
“My head is sore”—with many more
Such Speeches from the Thrown.
Howbeit their wailings never moved
The wide Satanic clan,
Who grinned, as once the Devil grinned,
To see the fall of Man.
And hunters good that understood,
Their laughter knew no bounds,
To see the horses “throwing off”
So long before the hounds.
For deer must have due course of law,
Like men the Courts among;
Before those Barristers the dogs
Proceed to “giving tongue.”
But now Old Robin’s foes were set
That fatal taint to find,
That always is scent after him,
Yet always left behind.