BILLESDEN COPLOW POEM. 205 



Where, in turning him over a cramp kind of place, 

 He overturn'd George, whom he threw on his face ; 

 And on foot to walk home it had sure been his fate, 

 But that soon he was caught, and tied up to a gate. 



Near Wigston occurr'd a most singular joke. 

 Captain Miller averr'd that his leg he had broke, — 

 And bemoan'd, in most piteous expressions, how hard. 

 By so cruel a fracture, to have his sport marr'd. 

 In quizzing his friends he felt little remorse 

 To finesse the complete doing up of his horse. 

 Had he told a long story of losing a shoe, 

 Or of laming his horse, he very well knew 

 That the Leicestershire creed out this truism worms, 

 " Lost shoes and dead beat are synonymous terms." 

 So a horse must here learn, whatever he does. 

 To die game — as at Tyburn — and '' die in his shoes," 

 Bethel Cox, and Tom Smith, Messieurs Bennett and Hawke, 

 Their nags all contrived to reduce to a walk. 

 Maynard's Lord, who detests competition and strife, 

 As well in the chase as in social life. 

 Than whom nobody harder has rode in his time. 

 But to crane here and there now thinks it no crime. 

 That he beat some crack riders most fairly may crow, 

 For he lived to the end, though he scarcely knows how 



With snaffle and martingale held in the rear, 

 ^ His horse's mouth open half up to his ear ; 



Mr. Wardle, who threaten'd great things over night,* 



Beyond Stretton was left in most terrible plight. 



Too lean to be press'd, yet egg'd on by compulsion. 



No wonder his nag tumbled into convulsion. 

 ■ Ah ! had he but lost a fore shoe, or fell lame, 



'Twould only his sport have curtail'd, not his fame. 



Loraine,t — than whom no one his game plays more safe, 



Who the last to the first prefers seeing by half, — 



What with nicking J and keeping a constant look-out, 



Every turn of the scent surely turn'd to account. 



The wonderful pluck of his horse surprised some. 



But he knew they were making point blank for his home. 



• Said to have threatened that he would beat the whole field. 



t Mr. Loraine Smith. 1 A term of reproach. 



