Tal]y-ho 213 



And just at the finish I beat them all 

 By showing him over a five-feet wall. 

 Some called him a devil, but all agreed 

 They'd never seen nag like my coal-black steed. 



A gentleman who, the week before, 

 Had ofFer'd three hundred, now bid me four ; 

 But to all his tempting my ears were shut 

 When he asked me only the price to put ; 

 For nothing on earth shall make me sell 

 A favourite nag that carries me well. 

 No ! perish the thought of such a deed 

 As parting with thee, my coal-black steed ! 



When nature fails (and one day she will), 



My gallant old horse, I'll keep thee still ; 



In summer thy food and shelter shall be 



The verdant mead and the leafy tree ; 



In winter a roomy shed, with law 



To run in a yard well filled with straw ; 



And every night and morn a feed 



Of corn will I give to my coal-black steed. 



Until the fire of that eye is gone, 



And death hath claimed thee for his own. 



Thus shalt thou live from slavery free, 



In return for the sport you have shown to me. 



Nor butchering knife, nor fang of hound, 



Shall on thy body inflict a wound ; 



Nor ravenous bird or beast e'er feed 



On the cold remains of my coal-black steed ; 



But deep in the earth I'll see thee laid 

 Beneath the spot where thou oft hast strayed ; 

 Thy favourite shady tree shall wave 

 Its spreading branches above the grave ; 



