under any concern it was on the account of the poor hare, that
was now quite spent and almost within the reach of her enemies;
when the huntsman getting forward threw down his pole before the
dogs. They were now within eight yards of that game which they
had been pursuing for almost as many hours; yet on the signal
before-mentioned they all made a sudden stand, and tho' they
continued opening as much as before, durst not once attempt to
pass beyond the pole. At the same time Sir Roger rode forward,
and alighting, took up the hare in his arms; which he soon
delivered up to one of his servants, with an order, if she could
be kept alive, to let her go in his great orchard; where it seems
he has several of these prisoners of war, who live together in a
very comfortable captivity. I was highly pleased to see the
discipline of the pack, and the good-nature of the Knight, who
could not find in his heart to murder a creature that had given
him so much diversion.

As we were returning home, I remembered that Monsieur Paschal, in
his most excellent discourse on the misery of man, tells us, that
all our endeavours after greatness proceed from nothing but a
desire of being surrounded by a multitude of persons and affairs
that may hinder us from looking into ourselves, which is a view
we cannot bear. He afterwards goes on to shew that our love of
sports comes from the same reason, and is particularly severe
upon hunting. What, says he, unless it be to drown thought, can
make men throw away so much time and pains upon a silly animal,
which they might buy cheaper in the market? The foregoing
reflection is certainly just, when a man suffers his whole mind
to be drawn into his sports, and altogether loses himself in the
woods; but does not affect those who propose a far more laudable