Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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THE RACE GROUND. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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THE RACE GROUND.
Come and haste to the race ground, come hasten to-day;
See the horses are off, they are coming this way;
All the people are shouting, now blue! pink! now green!
Was there ever a sight more appropriate seen.
See the horses are off, they are coming this way;
All the people are shouting, now blue! pink! now green!
Was there ever a sight more appropriate seen.
“Ten to one on Lord Jersey; come, ten Sir to one,”
“Ten to one are great odds, I will take you Sir, done.”
See the horsemen and whipmen, and footmen all stir,
Hark! the clack of the throng, see the stick of the spur.
“Ten to one are great odds, I will take you Sir, done.”
See the horsemen and whipmen, and footmen all stir,
Hark! the clack of the throng, see the stick of the spur.
How intent are the people! the corner is turn'd,
And the race will be won, but will dearly be earn'd;
Now the horse is a head, now the filly makes play,
Neck and neck, see them coming; Boys! bowl it away.
And the race will be won, but will dearly be earn'd;
Now the horse is a head, now the filly makes play,
Neck and neck, see them coming; Boys! bowl it away.
Is the Poet a sportsman? O yes! 'tis his forte—
Not to bet nor to run to be drawing such sport;
If a racer, howe'er, he would certainly yawn,
To be forced to stand still, to be stopt and be drawn.
Not to bet nor to run to be drawing such sport;
If a racer, howe'er, he would certainly yawn,
To be forced to stand still, to be stopt and be drawn.
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But before him the world, is the race ground of life,
He is off for his start, he must struggle in strife;
For the course is Religion, the prize he may win,
Should he keep his full speed, and at length should come in.
He is off for his start, he must struggle in strife;
For the course is Religion, the prize he may win,
Should he keep his full speed, and at length should come in.
Then go forward, my friends, like the racer proceed,
Shew your courage, your mettle, your good Christian speed;
When provoked unto Love, O be foremost and strive,
If ye wish to be happy, to prosper and live.
Shew your courage, your mettle, your good Christian speed;
When provoked unto Love, O be foremost and strive,
If ye wish to be happy, to prosper and live.
| Valentine Verses | |