Oh! glory of youth! consolation of age!
Sublimest of ecstasies under the sun;
Though the veteran may linger too long on the stage,
Yet he’ll drink a last toast to a fox-hunting run.
And oh! young descendants of ancient top-sawyers!
By your lives to the world their example enforce;
Whether landlords, or parsons, or statesmen, or lawyers,
Ride straight as they rode it from Ranksboro’ Gorse.
From ‘The Dream of the Old Meltonian’
W. Bromley Davenport