 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
BROWN BEAUTY.
She has striven with many a gallant steed,
And your children stroked Brown Beauty,
She was ever a faithful friend in need,
And she failed not once in duty;
Now the light from her liquid eye is fled.
And her step has lost its glory,
Must she die, and no tender tear be shed
For the fallen favourite's story?
Though she shone in a hundred famous fields,
And has princes known as backers,
Now the strength that was long unbeaten yields,
Must she go to the bloody knacker's?
And your children stroked Brown Beauty,
She was ever a faithful friend in need,
And she failed not once in duty;
Now the light from her liquid eye is fled.
And her step has lost its glory,
Must she die, and no tender tear be shed
For the fallen favourite's story?
Though she shone in a hundred famous fields,
And has princes known as backers,
Now the strength that was long unbeaten yields,
Must she go to the bloody knacker's?
She has carried your colours to the post,
When the odds were not in favour—
On the hardest course that tried her most,
Did you know Brown Beauty waver?
Ah, she never stumbled in her stride,
If the pace was hot and killing—
With the rush of her victorious pride,
She was always true and willing;
But now age has opprest her with its load,
Though you loved her as a daughter,
Must she limp down that dark familiar road,
With the rest, to the yard of slaughter:
When the odds were not in favour—
On the hardest course that tried her most,
Did you know Brown Beauty waver?
Ah, she never stumbled in her stride,
If the pace was hot and killing—
With the rush of her victorious pride,
She was always true and willing;
But now age has opprest her with its load,
Though you loved her as a daughter,
Must she limp down that dark familiar road,
With the rest, to the yard of slaughter:
She has brought the money for your hand,
And the prizes to your stable—
Oh, she answered quick your least command,
And you fed her from your table;
And she needed not the spur and whip,
If you showed just the direction,
And she let no rival past her slip,
For she served you from affection;
Though the fairest would her triumph cheer,
And her neck with roses fillet,
Must the kennels end her grand career,
And a bullet be her billet?
And the prizes to your stable—
Oh, she answered quick your least command,
And you fed her from your table;
And she needed not the spur and whip,
If you showed just the direction,
And she let no rival past her slip,
For she served you from affection;
Though the fairest would her triumph cheer,
And her neck with roses fillet,
Must the kennels end her grand career,
And a bullet be her billet?
She has borne the burden of the strife,
All unwearied to the ending,
And has given you all—her very life,
In the fire of fierce contending;
For she only asked to be your slave,
In the majesty of motion—
Will you now requite her with the grave,
For the long sublime devotion?
Shall she pass from the flowers and festive arch,
From the petting and the plaudit,
In no conqueror's worthy funeral march,
To the shambles' final audit?
All unwearied to the ending,
And has given you all—her very life,
In the fire of fierce contending;
For she only asked to be your slave,
In the majesty of motion—
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For the long sublime devotion?
Shall she pass from the flowers and festive arch,
From the petting and the plaudit,
In no conqueror's worthy funeral march,
To the shambles' final audit?
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |