 | English Roses |  |
313
SPORTING POLITICS.
He takes politics, sir, in a sportsmanlike way,
As one should take his fences without weak pretences
In a good working day;
He will rise at his gate or big measure of State
With the surest of seats and the lightest of hands,
And the grip that commands.
Ah, his fox-hunting knowledge of Church and of College
Is a marvel of pride,
While he gallops full go to a faint “Tally-ho,”
As he covers each question and ditch without fall
In his masterly stride;
Like a king in his saddle, and monarch of all.
As one should take his fences without weak pretences
In a good working day;
He will rise at his gate or big measure of State
With the surest of seats and the lightest of hands,
And the grip that commands.
Ah, his fox-hunting knowledge of Church and of College
Is a marvel of pride,
While he gallops full go to a faint “Tally-ho,”
As he covers each question and ditch without fall
In his masterly stride;
Like a king in his saddle, and monarch of all.
Others funk at a Censure and look for a gap
In the thornier hedges and cases with edges,
But he faces them slap;
Not a symptom of nerves in the stiffest preserves,
Where the quarry lies closer and stiles are too bad—
Never sick, never sad.
With the truest of touches (he is there like his Duchess)
And strong arms lying low,
He will ride to the death leaving far out of breath
Other jockeys behind and not in it with Jack,
Just to bluster and blow;
For, as straight as a bird might, he follows the track.
In the thornier hedges and cases with edges,
But he faces them slap;
Not a symptom of nerves in the stiffest preserves,
Where the quarry lies closer and stiles are too bad—
Never sick, never sad.
With the truest of touches (he is there like his Duchess)
And strong arms lying low,
He will ride to the death leaving far out of breath
Other jockeys behind and not in it with Jack,
Just to bluster and blow;
For, as straight as a bird might, he follows the track.
And he pauses not, please, to negotiate walls
Or a problem of figures and famishing niggers,
And most desperate calls;
He is equal, be sure, and as quick as secure,
To the hardiest leap with the bridle and bit
When he's mounted and fit.
The Armenian Question hurts not his digestion,
And he tackles it well;
For he knows every lane, every bar and its bane,
And each turning and corner as smart as the Russ—
With his gunpowder smell,
And he clears the worst rail or retort and no fuss.
Or a problem of figures and famishing niggers,
And most desperate calls;
He is equal, be sure, and as quick as secure,
To the hardiest leap with the bridle and bit
When he's mounted and fit.
The Armenian Question hurts not his digestion,
And he tackles it well;
For he knows every lane, every bar and its bane,
And each turning and corner as smart as the Russ—
With his gunpowder smell,
314
In the covert and open for ever the same,
With no jobbing or jibbing or delicate fibbing
He is honest and game;
O he sticks to the trail without fumbling and fail,
And right on like a sportsman of England unbent
When he once finds the scent;
Over bullfinch and timber like Home Rule as limber
As the merriest Pat,
When his hobby is spread out full length and the head
Running free from red tape and conventional bounds,
And he's clever at that;
He will romp into heaven, as riding to hounds.
With no jobbing or jibbing or delicate fibbing
He is honest and game;
O he sticks to the trail without fumbling and fail,
And right on like a sportsman of England unbent
When he once finds the scent;
Over bullfinch and timber like Home Rule as limber
As the merriest Pat,
When his hobby is spread out full length and the head
Running free from red tape and conventional bounds,
And he's clever at that;
He will romp into heaven, as riding to hounds.
| English Roses | |