The Sport of Our ctAncestors 



With a quick shortened stride as the distance you measure, 

 With a crack of the nostril and cock of the ear, 



And a rocketing bound, and we 're over, my treasure, 

 Twice nine feet of water, and landed all clear ! 



What ! four of us only ? Are these the survivors 



Of all that rode gaily from Ranksboro's ridge ? 

 I hear the faint splash of a few hardy divers, 



The rest are in hopeless research of a bridge ; 

 Vae Victis ! the way of the world and the winners ! 



Do we ne'er ride away from a friend in distress ? 

 Alas ! we are anti-Samaritan sinners, 



And streaming past Stapleford, onward we press. 



Ah ! don't they mean mischief, the merciless ladies ? 



What fox can escape such implacable foes ? 

 Of the sex cruel slaughter for ever the trade is. 



Whether human or animal — ^Yonder he goes ! 

 Never more for the woodland ! his purpose has failed him, 



Though to gain the old shelter he gallantly tries ; 

 In vain the last double, for Jezebel 's nailed him ! 



Whoohoop ! in the open the veteran dies ! 



Yes, four of us only ! but is it a vision ? 



Dear lost ones, how came ye with mortals to mix ? 

 Methought that ye hunted the pastures Elysian, 



And between us there rolled the unjumpable St}/^^ ! 

 Stay, stay but a moment ! the grass fields are fading. 



And heavy obscurity palsies my brain : 

 Through what country, what ploughs, and what sloughs 

 am 1 wading ? 



Alas ! 'tis the member for Boreham again ! 



96 



