Printed on linen. The image is based upon a reversal of "The Chase of the Fox", Plate 2 from Seymour's Fox Hunting - a very rare set of four Fox Hunting prints after James Seymour, published by Bowles & Carver. The hounds and six of the seven horsemen have been copied from this plate, but the seventh horseman has been copied from Plate 1 - "Going to Cover".
Away to the Copse to the Copse lead away,
and now my Boys throw off ye Hounds.
I'll warrant he shews us he shews us some Play,
See Yonder he skulks thro the Grounds.
Then spur ye brisk Coursers & smoke e'm my Bloods
'tis a delicate scent lying Morn.
What Concert is equal to those of the Woods,
betwixt Eccho ye Hounds & ye Horn.
Each Earth see he try's at in vain,
The Cover no safer can find.
So he breaks it and scowers amain,
And leave's us at distance behind.
O'er Rocks and o'er Rivers and Hedges we fly,
All Hazard and Danger we scorn,
Stout Reynard we'll follow untill that he die.
Cheer up the Good Dogs with the Horn.
And now he scarce creeps thro' the Dale,
All parch'd from his Mouth hangs his Tongue,
His speed can no longer prevail
Nor his Life can his cunning prolong,
From our staunch & fleet Pack 'twas in vain that he fled,
See his Brush falls bemir'd forlorn,
The Farmers with Pleasure behold him lie dead
And shout to the sound of the Horn. |