He slated this nag as a peacocky brute,
Whose utter collapse they've been building their books on.
How now, my spry veteran? Only a boy
On a three-legged crock? Well, I own you are older,
And watching your riding's a thing to enjoy;
There isn't a Jock who is defter _and_ bolder;
Your power, authority, eloquence--yes,
For your gift of the gab is a caution--are splendid;
But--the youngster _may_ teach you a lesson, I guess,
As to judgment of pace ere the contest is ended.

_Grand Old Jockey_ (_aloud_). Well, ARTHUR my lad, in the saddle
again!
Is _that_ your crack mount?

_Rising Young Jockey._ The identical one, WILL.

_Grand Old Jockey._ Dear, dear, what a pity! It quite gives me pain
To see you so wasted.

_Rising Young Jockey._ That's only your fun, WILL.

_Grand Old Jockey._ Nay, nay, not at all! Don't think much of his
points.
He's not bred like a true-blood, nor built like a winner.
Not well put together, so coarse in his joints,
In fact--only fit for a hunting-pack's dinner!

_Rising Young Jockey_ (_laughing_). Oh! "Cat's-meat!" is your cry, is
it, WILLIAM? Well, well!
We shall see about that when the winning-post's handy.

_Grand Old Jockey._ _You_ won't, my brave boy; that a novice could
tell.
You'll be left in the ruck at the end, my young dandy,

_Rising Young Jockey._ Perhaps! Still the pencillers haven't,--as
yet--
Quite knocked the nag out with their furious fever
Of hot opposition. Some cool ones still bet
On his chance of a win.

_Grand Old Jockey_ (_contemptuously_). Ah, you're wonderful clever.
But we have got one in _our_ Stable, my lad,
Who can--just lick his head off!

_Rising Young Jockey_ (_drily_). Now have you indeed, WILL?
I fancy I've heard that before. Very glad
That your lot are in luck; and I hope you'll succeed, WILL,
But bless me! yours seems such a _very_ Dark Horse!
Oh! there, don't fire up so! You

John Holland Rose (1855-1942) was an influential English historian who wrote a famous biography of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and also wrote a history of Europe, entitled The Development of the European Nations. Rose was the basis for C. P. Snows fictional character M. H. L. Gay (see Years of Hope: Cambridge, Colonial Administrator in the South Seas, and Cricket by Philip Snow.)

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