And here observe how dog and man
A different temper shows:
What hound resents that he is sent
To follow his own nose?
Towler and Jowler—howlers all,
No single tongue was mute;
The stag had led a hart, and lo!
The whole pack followed suit.
No spur he lacked; fear stuck a knife
And fork in either haunch;
And every dog he knew had got
An eye-tooth to his paunch!
Away, away! he scudded like
A ship before the gale;
Now flew to hills we know not of,
Now, nun-like, took the vale.
Another squadron charging now,
Went off at furious pitch;—
A perfect Tam O’Shanter mob,
Without a single witch.
But who was he with flying skirts,
A hunter did endorse,
And, like a poet, seemed to ride
Upon a wingèd horse?
A whipper-in? no whipper-in:
A huntsman? no such soul:
A connoisseur, or amateur?
Why, yes—a horse patrol.
A member of police, for whom
The county found a nag,
And, like Actæon in the tale,
He found himself in stag!
Away they went, then, dog and deer,
And hunters all away;
The maddest horses never knew
Mad staggers such as they!
Some gave a shout, some rolled about,
And anticked as they rode;
And butchers whistled on their curs,
And milkmen Tally-ho’d!