Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies including The Chessiad, a Mock-Heroic, in Five Cantos; and The Wreath of Love, in Four Cantos. By C. Dibdin, the Younger |
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GENIUS AND JOCKEYSHIP;
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 | Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies |  |
72
GENIUS AND JOCKEYSHIP;
OR, THE SPORTSMAN AND PAINTER.
Speculation's a confident hypocrite, who,
When the fancy's o'erweening and judgment untrue,
Leads you into a scrape from th' adventure you chose,
And there leaves you to cope with what barriers oppose
Him who, shutting his eyes, only follows his nose.
Make your contract at first with the man who's to pay,
Or in vain you may work, while your fancy's at play.
When the fancy's o'erweening and judgment untrue,
Leads you into a scrape from th' adventure you chose,
And there leaves you to cope with what barriers oppose
Him who, shutting his eyes, only follows his nose.
Make your contract at first with the man who's to pay,
Or in vain you may work, while your fancy's at play.
A knight of the turf had a favourite horse,
Call'd Ball, that stood high on the scale of the course;
He had won many cups, balk'd the knowing ones all,
And, hence, on the turf he was call'd Cup and Ball.
Tim Straddle, his groom (with an artist acquainted)
Persuaded his master to have the horse painted.
His master consented: said Tim, “I have found
A painter who'll touch off a horse for ten pound.”
The painter was summon'd, retain'd in a trice,
And, since for a horse Tim had stated the price,
The terms were not canvass'd—the point is of force—
The sportsman engaged him to copy a horse,
Supposing ten pounds would be all he should pay;
But the artist supposed in a different way:
That, as price wasn't mention'd, a man so high-bred
Wouldn't stick for a trifle: thus being misled—
Speculation his prompter, and interest decider—
He resolved to give Ball both a saddle and rider.
Horse, saddle, and Tim, all from nature were done;
And three likenesses taken, though order'd but one.
When done—taken home—as friend Brush went his rounds,
The sportsman was pleased, and presented ten pounds.
“Ten pounds! 'tis fifteen,” said the artist so able;
“I charge ten for a horse as he stands in the stable,
Undress'd and unmounted—the point's rather nice—
You order'd a picture, nor mention'd the price;
A horse is ten pounds, let the turf be decider,
And here you've the saddle, the horse and his rider.
This saddle is leather itself, and Tim Straddle
Looks life: one would swear he could jump from the saddle.”
“Then out let him jump,” said the sportsman, “and sell
The saddle wherever they 'll buy 't—I repel
Your charge. There's ten pound; I your price knew before
For a horse, and I order'd a horse and no more;
I'm no colt on the turf; and my brain's not so addled
As, wanting a horse, to be jockied and saddled.”
Call'd Ball, that stood high on the scale of the course;
He had won many cups, balk'd the knowing ones all,
And, hence, on the turf he was call'd Cup and Ball.
Tim Straddle, his groom (with an artist acquainted)
Persuaded his master to have the horse painted.
73
A painter who'll touch off a horse for ten pound.”
The painter was summon'd, retain'd in a trice,
And, since for a horse Tim had stated the price,
The terms were not canvass'd—the point is of force—
The sportsman engaged him to copy a horse,
Supposing ten pounds would be all he should pay;
But the artist supposed in a different way:
That, as price wasn't mention'd, a man so high-bred
Wouldn't stick for a trifle: thus being misled—
Speculation his prompter, and interest decider—
He resolved to give Ball both a saddle and rider.
Horse, saddle, and Tim, all from nature were done;
And three likenesses taken, though order'd but one.
When done—taken home—as friend Brush went his rounds,
The sportsman was pleased, and presented ten pounds.
“Ten pounds! 'tis fifteen,” said the artist so able;
“I charge ten for a horse as he stands in the stable,
Undress'd and unmounted—the point's rather nice—
You order'd a picture, nor mention'd the price;
74
And here you've the saddle, the horse and his rider.
This saddle is leather itself, and Tim Straddle
Looks life: one would swear he could jump from the saddle.”
“Then out let him jump,” said the sportsman, “and sell
The saddle wherever they 'll buy 't—I repel
Your charge. There's ten pound; I your price knew before
For a horse, and I order'd a horse and no more;
I'm no colt on the turf; and my brain's not so addled
As, wanting a horse, to be jockied and saddled.”
| Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies | |