Who said that I had given thee up? who said that thou wert sold? 'Tis false 'tis false, my Arab steed! I fling them back their gold! Thus, thus, I leap upon thy back, and scour the distant plains! Away! who overtakes us now may claim thee for his pains! Hon. Mrs. Norton. The Ballad of Jenny the Mare I I'LL sing you a song, and a merry, merry song, Concerning our Yorkshire Jen; Who never yet ran with horse or mare, That ever she cared for a pin. II When first she came to Newmarket town, The sportsmen all view'd her around; All the cry was, "Alas, poor wench, Thou never can run this ground!" When they came to the starting-post, IV When they got to the two-mile post, Poor Jenny was cast behind: She was cast behind, she was cast behind, All for to take her wind. V When they got to the three-mile post, The Mare look'd very pale SHE LAID DOWN HER EARS ON HER BONNY NECK, VI "Come follow me, come follow me, All you that run so neat ; And ere that you catch me again, VII When she got to the winning-post, The people all gave a shout; And jumped like any buck. VIII The Jockey said to her, "This race you have run, This race for me you have got; You could gallop it all over again, From "Euphranor." How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three ; "Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew ; Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace 'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Düffeld, 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the halfchime, So, Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!" At Aershot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!" "How they'll greet us!"—and all in a moment his roan Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. And all I remember is-friends flocking round As I sate with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; Was no more than his due who brought good news from Robert Browning. Epitaph on a Hare HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Whose foot ne'er tainted morning dew, Nor ear heard huntsman's hallo, Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Who, nurs'd with tender care, And to domestic bounds confin'd, Though duly from my hand he took His pittance ev'ry night, He did it with a jealous look, And, when he could, would bite. |