The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
105
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Come all ye brethren of the night,
Who range the mountain, wood, and vale,
And in the moonshine chase delight,
May our true friendship never fail!
Then drink around,
Your cares confound,
Ye champions of the wire;
The field—the moor,
Will we range o'er,
Nor care for lord nor 'squire.
Who range the mountain, wood, and vale,
And in the moonshine chase delight,
May our true friendship never fail!
Then drink around,
Your cares confound,
Ye champions of the wire;
The field—the moor,
Will we range o'er,
Nor care for lord nor 'squire.
The parliament such youths as we
With laws may strive to bind;
But they as soon in cords might tie
The lightnings or the wind!
By Cynthia's beams,
We cross the streams,
To fetch the game away;
Then here we rest,
With bumpers blessed,
And banish fears away.
With laws may strive to bind;
But they as soon in cords might tie
The lightnings or the wind!
By Cynthia's beams,
We cross the streams,
To fetch the game away;
Then here we rest,
With bumpers blessed,
And banish fears away.
So long as planets rise and set,
Or tim'rous hares can run,
The poacher true will hang his net,
And level sure his gun;
The high park wall,
Spring guns and all,
And keepers strong with beer,
We value not,
Nor shun the spot,
If hares are frisking there.
Or tim'rous hares can run,
The poacher true will hang his net,
And level sure his gun;
106
Spring guns and all,
And keepers strong with beer,
We value not,
Nor shun the spot,
If hares are frisking there.
The lord upon the hunting day
Such pleasures never knew,
When echo bore the sounds away,—
The hounds—the fox in view;
As when the hares
Are caught in pairs,
Upon the glitt'ring frost!
Should we be fined,
What need we mind,
Since others pay the cost?
Such pleasures never knew,
When echo bore the sounds away,—
The hounds—the fox in view;
As when the hares
Are caught in pairs,
Upon the glitt'ring frost!
Should we be fined,
What need we mind,
Since others pay the cost?
What stop we at the rivers deep,
The frost or winter's snow;
The lazy keepers soundly sleep,
When tempests wildly blow.
Of rain and hail,
Let Jove's great pail
Be emptied from on high;
The darker night,
The more delight,
And greater numbers die!
The frost or winter's snow;
The lazy keepers soundly sleep,
When tempests wildly blow.
Of rain and hail,
Let Jove's great pail
Be emptied from on high;
The darker night,
The more delight,
And greater numbers die!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |