1878J CHARGE OF THE COURT BRIGADE. 28 



From Lord Willoii<>-liby de J3roke's diary : 



February 15th, Wannington. — Foiuid at White's Bushes, and ran vei-y 

 smart for fifteen minutes to ground near Arlescote Wood. TIk^ hounds g-ot 

 on another line, and himted it as far as tlie Round Tower ; sto])ped them . 

 Ran from Knibl)'s Bushes, tlirough the new covert, down the hill to the left 

 of Northend, and away over the Vale, leaving Baweutt's Covert on our right, 

 to Chadshmit, through Chadshunt Copiuce, and nearly to Kineton ; turned to 

 the right, ran by tJie Windmill, tlirough Brickyard Coppice, down to the new 

 planting at Compton Verney. Gave up here in pouring rain, aftcn* a very 

 pretty run of an hour. Rode Bilio and Charlier. 



When out liunting- on a very cold day durino- Marcli 

 we thought of the poor hidies at the Drawing Room, whicL 

 was taking place on the same day. 



THE CHARGE OF THE COURT BRIGADE.* 

 By the Rev. F. C. Williamson, 



Asst. Curate of Liyhthorne, now Vicar of Ashford, Middlesex, a very good sj^ortsman, 

 and good clergyman, too. 



I. 

 Half a yard, half a yard, 

 Half a yard onward ! 

 Tlirough the first crush room 



Pressed the Four Hundred. 

 Forward the Fair Brigade ! 

 Ou to the throne, they said, 

 On to the Presence Room, 



Crushed the Four Hundred. 



II. 



Forward the Fair BrigaHe ! 

 Was there a girl dismayed ? 

 E'en though the chaperons knew 



Someone had blundered. 

 Theirs not to mate complaint. 

 Theirs not to sink or faint, 

 Theirs — ln;t words cannot paint 

 Half the discomfiture 



Of the Four Hundred. 



III. 



Crowds on the right of them, 

 Crowds on the left of them, 

 Crowds all in front of them, 

 Stumljlecl and blundered ! 



* Appeared in Punch in 1875. 



