University of Virginia Library

THE HORSES.

RACER.
Thro' my lattice the dawn I saw,
And fresh I rose from my bed of straw;
And quick the heart within me stirr'd,
Soon as my rider's voice I heard.

HUNTER.
I rose while yet the morn was pale;
With eager breath I snuff'd the gale;
But when I heard the bugle sound,
I knew no rest and I paw'd the ground.

WAR-HORSE.
I rose from the turf whereon I lay,
While night was melting into day;
For waked was I by sound of drum,
I knew the hour of battle was come.

RACER.
They led me where in long array
My rivals stood all sleek and gay;
And when I look'd on their gallant trim,
My blood it thrill'd thro' every limb.

HUNTER.
They led me where in medley throng
My comrades stood all stout and strong;
I laugh'd aloud, and shook my mane,
I long'd to be scouring o'er hill and plain.

WAR-HORSE.
They led me where for fight array'd
My comrades stood in full brigade;
I long'd to be charging on the foe,
And man and horse in the dust to throw.

RACER.
My rider wore a cap of blue,
His coat was all of crimson hue:
Light were the colours, and bright they shone:
It was a brave caparison!

HUNTER.
A scarlet coat my rider had;
His countenance, like his heart, was glad;
And his glowing cheek and flashing eye
Shone like the sun in the eastern sky.

WAR-HORSE.
A coat of scarlet too had mine,
That shone with gold and silver-twine,
A helm of steel, and a waving plume
That frown'd as black as the midnight gloom.

RACER.
In line we stood; the signal rang;
Then from the barrier forth we sprang;
The turf before us like velvet spread,
Melted the ground beneath my tread.

HUNTER.
The hounds they bay'd, the horn it blew,
They scour'd the underwood thro' and thro';
And soon there rose a brisk halloo;
The game was up, and away we flew.

WAR-HORSE.
The music in our ears that play'd
Was the roar of deafening cannonade;
Thro' clouds of smoke we led the way
With steady march to begin the fray.

RACER.
Oh! twas a glorious sight to see
Our feats of strength and rivalry;
While shouts behind and shouts before
But urged us on to speed the more.

HUNTER.
Oh! twas a glorious sight to see
The burst of chase o'er vale and lea;
Steeds bravely vieing with dogs and men:
It was no time for dallying then!

WAR-HORSE.
Oh! twas a dreadful sight to see
The meeting of hostile cavalry;
The torn-up earth with the fallen spread,
The dying mingled with the dead!

RACER.
Foremost I shot, and strain'd my eyes
To see the goal and win the prize;
I saw it not, and I flew with the wind,
For I heard the tramping of feet behind.

HUNTER.
The chase grew hotter, and on I went
Dashing o'er all impediment,
Springing aloft like a bird of air,
Plunging headlong, I reck'd not where.

WAR-HORSE.
Over the bodies and bloody plash,
All amid bullets and sabre-clash,
Bravely to conquer, or nobly to die,
Where the combat was thickest, there flew I.

RACER.
I look'd, and I saw the goal at length,
And I gather'd all my might and strength,
And ere another minute had flown,
The line was pass'd, and the prize my own.

HUNTER.
The prey was in view, he was faint and slack,
Close at his heels the yelling pack;
Foaming I came and panting for breath,
Just as he gave his shriek of death.

WAR-HORSE.
One onset more! They spurr'd our flanks,
We fell like a tempest on broken ranks;
All was slaughter and mingled cry,
Ours were the shouts of victory.