108
THE CHACE.
Book IV.
The taper, pliant Twig; or Potters form
Their soft and ductile Clay to various Shapes.
Their soft and ductile Clay to various Shapes.
Nor is't enough to breed; but to preserve
Must be the Huntsman's Care. The stanch old Hounds,
Guides of thy Pack, tho' but in Number few, 165
Are yet of great Account; shall oft untye
The Gordian Knot, when Reason at a stand
Puzzling is lost, and all thy Art is vain.
O'er clogging Fallows, o'er dry plaster'd Roads,
O'er floated Meads, o'er Plains with Flocks distain'd
Rank-scenting, these must lead the dubious Way.
As Party-Chiefs in Senates who preside,
With pleaded Reason and with well-turn'd Speech
Conduct the staring Multitude; so these
Direct the Pack, who with joint Cry approve, 175
And loudly boast Discov'ries not their own.
Must be the Huntsman's Care. The stanch old Hounds,
Guides of thy Pack, tho' but in Number few, 165
Are yet of great Account; shall oft untye
The Gordian Knot, when Reason at a stand
Puzzling is lost, and all thy Art is vain.
O'er clogging Fallows, o'er dry plaster'd Roads,
O'er floated Meads, o'er Plains with Flocks distain'd
Rank-scenting, these must lead the dubious Way.
As Party-Chiefs in Senates who preside,
With pleaded Reason and with well-turn'd Speech
Conduct the staring Multitude; so these
Direct the Pack, who with joint Cry approve, 175
And loudly boast Discov'ries not their own.
Unnum-
