Volume Iii Part 75 (1/2)

”A-HUNTING WE WILL GO”

From ”Don Quixote in England”

The dusky night rides down the sky, And ushers in the morn; The hounds all join in glorious cry, The huntsman winds his horn.

And a-hunting we will go.

The wife around her husband throws Her arms to make him stay; ”My dear, it rains, it hails, it blows; You cannot hunt to-day.”

Yet a-hunting we will go.

Away they fly to 'scape the rout, Their steeds they soundly switch; Some are thrown in, and some thrown out, And some thrown in the ditch.

Yet a-hunting we will go.

Sly Reynard now like lightning flies, And sweeps across the vale; And when the hounds too near he spies, He drops his bushy tail.

Then a-hunting we will go.

Fond Echo seems to like the sport, And join the jovial cry; The woods, the hills, the sound retort, And music fills the sky, When a-hunting we do go.

At last his strength to faintness worn, Poor Reynard ceases flight; Then hungry, homeward we return, To feast away the night.

And a-drinking we do go.

Ye jovial hunters, in the morn Prepare then for the chase; Rise at the sounding of the horn And health with sport embrace, When a-hunting we do go.

Henry Fielding [1707-1754]

THE ANGLER'S INVITATION

Come when the leaf comes, angle with me, Come when the bee hums over the lea, Come with the wild flowers-- Come with the wild showers-- Come when the singing bird calleth for thee!

Then to the stream side, gladly we'll hie, Where the gray trout glide silently by, Or in some still place Over the hill face Hurrying onward, drop the light fly.

Then, when the dew falls, homeward we'll speed To our own loved walls down on the mead, There, by the bright hearth, Holding our night mirth, We'll drink to sweet friends.h.i.+p in need and in deed.

Thomas Tod Stoddart [1810-1880]

THE ANGLER'S WISH From ”The Complete Angler”