Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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THE BOAR HUNT. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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THE BOAR HUNT.
A monstrous Boar, of savage kind;
Fierce, wild, and terribly inclin'd
To scour the country, and lay waste
Whatever herbs were good and chaste;
Fatigued with plundering, was seen
To hasten to St. Margaret's Green:
The hunter there, with well-tried hounds
Attack'd him in his pasture grounds.
This Boar was Rapine, had an eye
Replete with keenest treachery,
And ever watchful, look'd around
In search of victim he might wound.
Fierce, wild, and terribly inclin'd
To scour the country, and lay waste
Whatever herbs were good and chaste;
Fatigued with plundering, was seen
To hasten to St. Margaret's Green:
The hunter there, with well-tried hounds
Attack'd him in his pasture grounds.
This Boar was Rapine, had an eye
Replete with keenest treachery,
And ever watchful, look'd around
In search of victim he might wound.
Sir Gilbert Honor blew the horn
To hunt the Boar that happy morn;
Sir Richard Ardor ran to horse;
Sir Arthur Onslow came of course;
Sir Charles Sincerity was there;
Sir William Bland; Sir Peter Fair;
With honest Squires, a noble train
And ever valiant country men:
Forward they went, with hue and cry,
To make the monster Rapine fly.
They soon espied him as he lay,
Fit object for a fierce affray.
The dogs of breed were never known
To turn their tails; but dashing on
They rous'd the monster from his bush,
Who darted forth with horrid rush.
Awhile he stood with bristles high,
With mouth of foam and savage eye,
Intent upon the baying pack,
His jaws prepared to make attack.
To hunt the Boar that happy morn;
Sir Richard Ardor ran to horse;
Sir Arthur Onslow came of course;
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Sir William Bland; Sir Peter Fair;
With honest Squires, a noble train
And ever valiant country men:
Forward they went, with hue and cry,
To make the monster Rapine fly.
They soon espied him as he lay,
Fit object for a fierce affray.
The dogs of breed were never known
To turn their tails; but dashing on
They rous'd the monster from his bush,
Who darted forth with horrid rush.
Awhile he stood with bristles high,
With mouth of foam and savage eye,
Intent upon the baying pack,
His jaws prepared to make attack.
Heedless, a dog of noble speed
And famous for his ancient breed,
The first advanced, tho' but a pup;
The boar attack'd him; ript him up.
But Courage calmer bay'd him well,
Yet lost his hold, and down he fell.
Steady and Stoic now essayed
And flew directly at his head;
Bravado too received a wound,
And howling fell upon the ground;
Old Boaster seiz'd him by the tail,
But Rapine turn'd and made him fail;
Holdfast, a dog of well known strength
And never beaten, seiz'd at length
The monster's ear, and keeping tight
The tender part within his bite,
Each turn that Rapine took, he tried
To keep himself along his side;
And so annoy'd him; all the crew
At once upon his shoulders flew:
Candor! Valour! modest Worth!
Virtue! Wisdom! dogs of birth!
Spencer! Milton! Shakspear! Scott!
Dogs of Spirit without spot.
These and others brave and bold,
Deserving merit kept their hold.
At length the cry from huntsmen cheer'd
The noble hounds; the Boar was spear'd.
Sir Gilbert Honor had a thank
From ev'ry fair, of ev'ry rank:—
And famous for his ancient breed,
The first advanced, tho' but a pup;
The boar attack'd him; ript him up.
But Courage calmer bay'd him well,
Yet lost his hold, and down he fell.
Steady and Stoic now essayed
And flew directly at his head;
Bravado too received a wound,
And howling fell upon the ground;
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But Rapine turn'd and made him fail;
Holdfast, a dog of well known strength
And never beaten, seiz'd at length
The monster's ear, and keeping tight
The tender part within his bite,
Each turn that Rapine took, he tried
To keep himself along his side;
And so annoy'd him; all the crew
At once upon his shoulders flew:
Candor! Valour! modest Worth!
Virtue! Wisdom! dogs of birth!
Spencer! Milton! Shakspear! Scott!
Dogs of Spirit without spot.
These and others brave and bold,
Deserving merit kept their hold.
At length the cry from huntsmen cheer'd
The noble hounds; the Boar was spear'd.
Sir Gilbert Honor had a thank
From ev'ry fair, of ev'ry rank:—
Thus honor'd He, who tries to prove
Himself the friend of Virtuous Love!
Himself the friend of Virtuous Love!
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