Odes and Addresses to Great People By John Hamilton Reynolds: 3rd ed. |
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ADDRESS. TO MR. DYMOKE, THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND. |
 | Odes and Addresses to Great People |  |
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ADDRESS. TO MR. DYMOKE, THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.
“— Arma Virumque cano!” Virgil.
1
Mr. Dymoke! Sir Knight! if I may be so bold—(I'm a poor simple gentleman just come to town,)
Is your armour put by, like the sheep in a fold?—
Is your gauntlet ta'en up, which you lately flung down?
2
Are you—who that day rode so mail'd and admir'd,Now sitting at ease in a library chair?
Have you sent back to Astley the war-horse you hir'd,
With a cheque upon Chambers to settle the fare?
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3
What's become of the cup? Great tin-plate worker? say!Cup and ball is a game which some people deem fun!
Oh! three golden balls haven't lur'd you to play
Rather false, Mr. D., to all pledges but one?
4
How defunct is the show that was chivalry's mimic!The breast-plate—the feathers—the gallantarray!
So fades, so grows dim, and so dies, Mr. Dymoke!
The day of brass breeches! as Wordsworth would say!
5
Perchance in some village remote, with a cot,And a cow, and a pig, and a barn-door, and all;—
You show to the parish that peace is your lot,
And plenty,—tho' absent from Westminster Hall!
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6
And of course you turn every accoutrement nowTo its separate use, that your wants may be well met;—
You toss in your breast-plate your pancakes, and grow
A salad of mustard and cress in your helmet.
7
And you delve the fresh earth with your falchion, less brightSince hung up in sloth from its Westminster task;—
And you bake your own bread in your tin; and, Sir Knight,
Instead of your brow, put your beer in the casque!
8
How delightful to sit by your beans and your peas,With a goblet of gooseberry gallantly clutch'd,
And chat of the blood that had delug'd the Pleas,
And drench'd the King's Bench,—if the glove had been touch'd!
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9
If Sir Columbine Daniel, with knightly pretensions,Had snatch'd your “best doe,”—he'd have flooded the floor;—
Nor would even the best of his crafty inventions,
“Life Preservers,” have floated him out of his gore!
10
Oh, you and your horse! what a couple was there!The man and his backer,—to win a great fight!
Though the trumpet was loud,—you'd an undisturb'd air!
And the nag snuff'd the feast and the fray sans affright!
11
Yet strange was the course which the good Cato boreWhen he waddled tail-wise with the cup to his stall;—
For though his departure was at the front door,
Still he went the back way out of Westminster Hall.
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12
He went,—and 'twould puzzle historians to say,When they trust Time's conveyance to carry your mail,—
Whether caution or courage inspir'd him that day,
For, though he retreated, he never turn'd tail.
13
By my life, he's a wonderful charger!—The best!Though not for a Parthian corps!—yet for you!—
Distinguish'd alike at a fray and a feast,
What a Horse for a grand Retrospective Review!
14
What a creature to keep a hot warrior coolWhen the sun's in the face, and the shade's far aloof!—
What a tail-piece for Bewick!—or pyebald for Poole,
To bear him in safety from Elliston's hoof!
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15
Well; hail to Old Cato! the hero of scenes!May Astley or age ne'er his comforts abridge;—
Oh, long may he munch Amphitheatre beans,
Well “pent up in Utica” over the Bridge!
16
And to you, Mr. Dymoke, Cribb's rival, I keepWishing all country pleasures, the bravest and best!
And oh! when you come to the Hummums to sleep,
May you lie “like a warrior taking his rest!”
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