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You thought in foremost flight to lead, 

 Eelying on liis vaunted speed ; 

 But when the Whissendine's in view, 

 You'll find there's something more to do ; 

 And double rails, with fence between, 

 Eequu'e some practice too, I ween ; 

 While Leicester's fields, though mostly turf, 

 Soon make the soft ones cry * enough.' 

 'Nov was your fortune at its flood, 

 When, tempted by the Memnon blood, 

 Because the mare contrived to grace 

 Her brows with laurels in a race, 

 You bought the Liliputian crack, 

 To go with twelve stone on her back ; 

 Forgetting weight that may not hurt 

 For foiu'teen minutes in a spurt. 

 Will feel more_weiglity than at first, 

 Towards the end of lengthened burst ; 

 For then the spreading fence will ' tell ' 

 That nags when fresh could compass well, 

 And all the various ills arise 

 From riding horses under size. 

 Now, hail thou knight of sable hue ! 

 For, if I hear thy master true. 

 Sir Hildebrand's the goodly name 

 Thy deeds will either grace or shame ; 

 But if, when in the trysting-field. 

 To others you the palm must yield, 

 Thus much I gage for thee. Sir Knight, 

 You ne'er will be the first in flight ; 

 But if you should, I hold thy speed 

 Of small account in hour of need ; 

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