
THE CHASE; A POEM.
WILLIAM SOMERVILE.
PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR.
Argument.
Argument.
Argument.
Argument.
A vivid celebration of country life unfolds in this long‑form poem, where the thrill of the hunt is set against richly rendered English landscapes. The verses walk listeners through rolling hills, dense woodlands, and the bustling activity of hounds and riders, capturing the sight, sound, and scent of a true chase. Interwoven with keen observation of wildlife, the poet paints both the majesty of the chase and the quieter moments when nature pauses for a breath.
Beyond the immediate excitement, the work offers a gentle meditation on the relationship between people and the land they love. Its rhythm and lyricism echo the steady trot of a hunting party, while occasional reflective passages hint at the deeper history and heritage of the countryside. The result is an immersive, listeners‑friendly portrait of rural sport that feels both grand and intimate, inviting you to imagine the echoing hooves and rustling leaves with every line.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (122K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: W. Bulmer and Co., 1802.
Credits
Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
Sep 14, 2023
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1675–1742
An English country gentleman and poet, he is best remembered for turning his love of rural life and field sports into lively, influential verse. His best-known work, The Chace, helped shape the English georgic tradition and kept his name alive long after his own century.
View all books
by Joseph Addison, John Gay, William Somerville

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Lady (Sydney) Morgan

by Ben Jonson

by Ben Jonson