XIV 



MISCELLANEOUS VERSES, 



He is spellbound by 

 Cockanbull's manner, 

 and compelled to hear 

 his colt tale. 



Cockanbull telleth of 

 the Derby Stakes race, 

 and how Teddington 

 did win it. 



Alphonse groweth un- 

 suspicious, and impa- 

 tient to hear more. 



Cockanbull proceed- 

 eth to tell of the vic- 

 tory feast given by Sir 

 Joseph Hawley. 



He reciteth the names 

 of the chief guests. 



He holds him by his button-hole, 



" There was a colt," quoth he, 

 " The Davis laid against him, 



And many a pound dropped he." 



With verdant rapture in his eye, 



The Gallic youth stood still, 

 To hear about the three-year-old 



And that just suited Will. 



They sat them down upon a bench, 



Cigars they forth did pull, 

 And thus spake on that wily one, 



The bright-eyed Cockanbull 



* c The colts appeared, the course was cleared, 



Hibburd his flag did drop 

 Past Sherwood's house, along the hill, 



They sweep to Tattenham top. 



ts Neasham came up upon the left, 



Close by the rails runs he : 

 But a chesnut bright, to the Ring's affright, 



Leads down the T.Y.C. 



" Faster and faster every stride, 



The chesnut comes, and soon 

 The Marlborough Buck gets clear of the ruck, 



But Fortune would grant no boon. 



" The proud chesnut paces to the stand, 

 Marked c red ' on the card is he ; 



Nodding their heads beside him walk 

 Sir Joseph and John Stanley." 



The young Alphonse smoked fast and fierce, 

 But " smoked" not the plan to gull ; 



And thus spake on that wily one, 

 The bright-eyed OockanbuU 



" Sir Joseph's doors are opened wide 



To all his racing kin ; 

 The guests are met and the feast is set, 



I could hear the merry din. 



" Some thirty of the Jockey Club, 



In evening dresses grace 

 His well laid- out mahogany, 



At 34, Eaton Place. 



" There's Woburn's Duke, to matching prone, 

 There's Rous, with limbs so hale ; 



There's " Richmond" and Lord Exeter, 

 With features sharp and pale. 



