BUSH BALLADS AND RHYMES 



** The green wins ! " '* The crimson ! " The 

 multitude swims on, 

 And figures are blended and features are 

 blurr'd. 



** The horse is her master ! " *' The green 

 forges past her ! " 

 " The Clown will outlast her ! " ** The 

 Clown wins ! " ''The Clown!" 

 The white railing races with all the white faces, 

 The chestnut outpaces, outstretches the 

 brown. 



On still past the gateway she strains in the 

 straightway, 

 Still struggles, ''The Clown by a short neck 

 at most," 

 He swerves, the green scourges, the stand 

 rocks and surges, 

 And flashes, and verges, and flits the white 

 post. 



Aye ! so ends the tussle, — I knew the tan 

 muzzle 

 Was first, though the ring-men were yelling 



" Dead heat ! " 



214 



