 | Hunting Songs |  |
108
Le Gros-Veneur.
I
A mighty great hunter in deed and in nameTo our shire long ago with the Conqueror came;
A hunting he went with his bugle and bow,
And he shouted in Normandy-French “Tally-Ho!”
The man we now place at the head of our Chace
Can his pedigree trace from Le Gros-Veneur!
II
'Tis a maxim by fox-hunters well understood,That in horses and hounds there is nothing like blood;
So the chief who the fame of our kennel maintains
Should be born with the purest of blood in his veins!
The man we now place at the head of our Chace
Can his pedigree trace from Le Gros-Veneur!
III
Old and young with delight shall the Gros-Veneur greet,The field once again in good fellowship meet,
109
And again the old pastime all Cheshire rejoice!
May the sport we ensure many seasons endure,
And the Chief of our Chace be Le Gros-Veneur!
IV
Though no more, as of yore, a long-bow at his back,Now a Gros-Veneur guides us and governs our pack;
Again let each earth-stopper rise from his bed,
This year they shall all be well fee'd and well fed.
May the sport we ensure many seasons endure,
And the Chief of our Chace be Le Gros-Veneur!
V
Let Geoffrey with smiles and with shillings restoreGood humour when housewives their poultry deplore,
Well pleas'd, for each goose on which Reynard has prey'd
To find in their pockets a golden egg laid!
May the sport we ensure many seasons endure,
And the Chief of our Chace be Le Gros-Veneur!
VI
Should our Chief with the toil of the senate grow pale,The elixir of life is a ride o'er the vale;
110
“Till his pulse beats the seconds as true as a clock.”
May the sport we ensure many seasons endure,
And the Chief of our Chace be Le Gros-Veneur!
VII
I defy Norman-dy now to send a ChasseurWho can ride alongside of our own Gros-Veneur!
And, couching my lance, I will challenge all France
To outvie the bright eye of the Lady Constance!
Long, long, may she grace with her presence our Chace,
The Bride and the Pride of Le Gros-Veneur!
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