57
For now the war-like goddess sings,
Obedient to my questionings,
Of Douglas's unrivalled grace,
Of Elliot foremost in the race,
And Stephen's more majestic pace:
Of Chitty's meteoric flight.
And Anderson as swift as light;
Hawke's rapid swoop upon the ball,
Wellesley who never tires at all
Whate'er of toil betide:
Macaulay's oft repeated bound,
Swift Bayley's feet that shun the ground,
The Professorial stride:
Of Bryan Farrer fast as strong,
Of Lawrence' limbs so lithe and long,
Of Booth's wild gallop in the van.
She sings the deathless praise:
How stoutly Polhill-Turner ran.
How Spring-Rice flashed across the field.
How Peirse was never known to yield.
She tells in stirring lays:
She tells in frightened periods
How Ridley's steps disturbed the infernal gods
But hold! my muse is running wild
On this too stirring theme:
It was her weakness from a child;
Excuse it, gentle reader, pray.
Now from her eyes I dare to say
Prophetic flashes gleam.
Obedient to my questionings,
Of Douglas's unrivalled grace,
Of Elliot foremost in the race,
And Stephen's more majestic pace:
Of Chitty's meteoric flight.
And Anderson as swift as light;
Hawke's rapid swoop upon the ball,
Wellesley who never tires at all
Whate'er of toil betide:
Macaulay's oft repeated bound,
Swift Bayley's feet that shun the ground,
The Professorial stride:
Of Bryan Farrer fast as strong,
Of Lawrence' limbs so lithe and long,
Of Booth's wild gallop in the van.
She sings the deathless praise:
How stoutly Polhill-Turner ran.
How Spring-Rice flashed across the field.
How Peirse was never known to yield.
She tells in stirring lays:
She tells in frightened periods
How Ridley's steps disturbed the infernal gods
But hold! my muse is running wild
On this too stirring theme:
It was her weakness from a child;
Excuse it, gentle reader, pray.
Now from her eyes I dare to say
Prophetic flashes gleam.
