Steer Harpit came from Rowell Hill, A small, frail man, all heart and will, A sailor as his voice betrayed. He let his whip-thong droop and played At snicking off the grass-blades with it, John Hankerton, from Compton Lythitt, Was there with Pity Hankerton, And Mike, their good-for-little son, Back, smiling, from his seventh job. Joan Urch was there upon her cob. Tom Sparsholt on his lanky grey. John Restrop from Hope Goneaway. And Vaughan, the big black handsome devil, Loose-lipped with song and wine and revel All rosy from his morning tub THE EXQUISITE The Godsdown tigress with her cub (Lady and Tommy Crowmarsh) came. The great eyes smouldered in the dame, Wit glittered, too, which few men saw. There was more beauty there than claw. Tommy in bearing, horse and dress Was black, fastidious, handsomeness, Choice to his trimmed soul's fingertips. Heredia's sonnets on his lips. A line undrawn, a plate not bitten, A stone uncut, a phrase unwritten, That would be perfect, made his mind. A choice pull, from a rare print, signed, Was Tommy. He collected plate, (Old sheffield) and he owned each state Of all the Meryon Paris etchings. [Illustration: The Godsdown Tigress with her cub (Lady and Tommy Crowmarsh) came.] Colonel Sir Button Budd of Fletchings Was there; Long Robert Thrupp was there, (Three yards of him men said there were), Long as the King of Prussia's fancy. He rode the longlegged Necromancy, A useless racehorse that could canter. George Childrey with his jolly banter Was there, Nick Childrey, too, come down The night before from London town, To hunt and have his lungs blown clean. The Ilsley set from Tuttocks Green Was there (old Henry Ilsley drove), Carlotta Ilsley brought her love A flop-jowled broker from the city. Men pitied her, for she was pretty. Some grooms and second horsemen mustered. A lot of men on foot were clustered Round the inn-door, all busy drinking, One heard the kissing glasses clinking In passage as the tray was brought. Two terriers (which they had there) fought There on the green, a loud, wild whirl. Bell stopped them like a gallant girl. The hens behind the tavern clucked. THE SOLDIER [Illustration: Came Minton-Price of th' Afghan border]