Gilbert Holliday illustrationIf life is a business, existence is fun
When duty and pleasure and sport are in one;
And so he wears ever a smile on his lip–
‘Tis a labour of love to the Galloping Whip.
The moon of September’s his light in the morn,
When the cub’s to be killed and they’ve carried the corn;
The moon of December’s his lamp for the trip,
As home with the pack goes the Galloping Whip.
For hours never vex him, and work cannot tire,
That dapper pink fits on a framework of wire;
He’ll go without sup, and he’ll go without sip
From daylight to dark will the Galloping Whip.
The phiz of bold Reynard is shaped on his mug,
Mouth wide as an oxer, as deep as a jug;
That feature was fashion’d to scream, not to nip,
And the bumper’s no charm for the Galloping Whip.
The last to leave covert, he’ll cheer on the pack;
Twenty couples are out, then away with a crack;
In a mile he has given the quickest the slip–
The wind from their sails takes the Galloping Whip.
When we’re jammed in a corner, the timber too strong,
The bullfinch too thick, and our courage all gone–
Hie! give us a lead, and over he’ll flip;
But it’s little improved by the Galloping Whip.
Does he ride for repute? No! his eye is ahead;
He works for his huntsman, and works for his bread.
Wherever he steers men are glad of the tip:
The bruisers delight in the Galloping Whip.
Ever sparing of rate and indulgent of youth,
His cheer urges Faulty get forrard to Truth;
But a rioter determined will never outstrip
The swift ‘venging thong of the Galloping Whip.
They’ve run twenty minutes as close as a wedge,
By Jove! they have split–two lines since the hedge:
Old Regent is right. Up the furrow they rip;
And round swing the rest with the Galloping Whip.
A game fox is sinking. The Whip isn’t here:
Look, a cap down the wind: “Charles has him I swear!”
And Reynard, poor devil! is well in the grip
Of Whitecollar Will and his Galloping Whip.
A tribute to Charles Isaac, whipper-in, Pytchley Foxhounds, by “Brooksby.”
Brooksby was a pen name used by Captain Edward Pennell-Elmhirst (1845–1916), a prominent figure in the Quorn Foxhounds.
Posted November 20, 2013