The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
No sooner had these words escaped his tongue,
Than four armed keepers, lusty, stout, and strong,
Leaped from the bushes with the full design
To make these bold marauders pay the fine.
O'er Stormer's death their bosoms were enraged;
In desperation, one with two engaged.
Around the poachers many a pellet flew,
Before in war they either trigger drew;
Then all at once their double barrels went;
The shot whizzed past,—its force in air was spent;
No time to load again,—they met in blows,
The poachers struggling with superior foes.
His piece Ignotus by the barrel took,
One adversary's arm in splinters broke;
He groaned and fled, his piteous case to tell;
Another stroke,—and strong Ignotus fell!
While bold Desparo, with his strong butt-end,
Made his antagonist to earth descend.
Now two disabled, furious was the fray,
Both sides were stupid, neither would give way,
The barrels broken from their carved stocks,
And on the field were strewed the torn-off locks.
Enraged, Ignotus rose, and drew his knife,
And cried, “Desparo's freedom or your life!”
The keepers, dreading much the fatal blow,
Took to their heels, and let the poachers go,
And where the 'squire who can such keepers blame?
They fought, 'tis true,—but who would die for game?
Than four armed keepers, lusty, stout, and strong,
Leaped from the bushes with the full design
To make these bold marauders pay the fine.
O'er Stormer's death their bosoms were enraged;
In desperation, one with two engaged.
103
Before in war they either trigger drew;
Then all at once their double barrels went;
The shot whizzed past,—its force in air was spent;
No time to load again,—they met in blows,
The poachers struggling with superior foes.
His piece Ignotus by the barrel took,
One adversary's arm in splinters broke;
He groaned and fled, his piteous case to tell;
Another stroke,—and strong Ignotus fell!
While bold Desparo, with his strong butt-end,
Made his antagonist to earth descend.
Now two disabled, furious was the fray,
Both sides were stupid, neither would give way,
The barrels broken from their carved stocks,
And on the field were strewed the torn-off locks.
Enraged, Ignotus rose, and drew his knife,
And cried, “Desparo's freedom or your life!”
The keepers, dreading much the fatal blow,
Took to their heels, and let the poachers go,
And where the 'squire who can such keepers blame?
They fought, 'tis true,—but who would die for game?
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |