 | Three Hundred Sonnets |  |
224
ASCOT: WHEN HERO WON.
Modern Olympia! shorn of all their pride,The patriot spirit, and unlucred praise,—
Thou art a type of these degenerate days,
When love of simple honour all hath died;
Oh dusty, gay, and eager multitude,
Agape for gold—No! do not thus condemn;
For hundreds here are innocent, and good,
And young, and fair, among—but not of—them;
And hundreds more enjoy with gratitude
This well-earn'd holiday, so bright and green:
Do not condemn! it is a stirring scene,
Though vanity and folly fill it up:
Look, how the mettled racers please the Queen!
Ha! brave John Day—a Hero wins the cup!
| Three Hundred Sonnets | |