| |
| TRAMPLE! trample! went the roan, | |
| Trap! trap! went the gray; | |
| But pad! pad! pad! like a thing that was mad, | |
| My chestnut broke away.— | |
| It was just five miles from Salisbury town, | 5 |
| And but one hour to day. | |
| |
| Thud! thud! came on the heavy roan, | |
| Rap! rap! the mettled gray; | |
| But my chestnut mare was of blood so rare, | |
| That she showed them all the way. | 10 |
| Spur on! spur on!—I doffed my hat, | |
| And wished them all good day. | |
| |
| They splashed through miry rut and pool,— | |
| Splintered through fence and rail; | |
| But chestnut Kate switched over the gate,— | 15 |
| I saw them droop and tail. | |
| To Salisbury town—but a mile of down, | |
| Once over this brook and rail. | |
| |
| Trap! trap! I heard their echoing hoofs | |
| Past the walls of mossy stone; | 20 |
| The roan flew on at a staggering pace, | |
| But blood is better than bone. | |
| I patted old Kate, and gave her the spur, | |
| For I knew it was all my own. | |
| |
| But trample! trample! came their steeds, | 25 |
| And I saw their wolfs’ eyes burn; | |
| I felt like a royal hart at bay, | |
| And made me ready to turn. | |
| I looked where highest grew the may, | |
| And deepest arched the fern. | 30 |
| |
| I flew at the first knave’s sallow throat; | |
| One blow, and he was down. | |
| The second rogue fired twice, and missed; | |
| I sliced the villain’s crown. | |
| Clove through the rest, and flogged brave Kate, | 35 |
| Fast, fast to Salisbury town! | |
| |
| Pad! pad! they came on the level sward, | |
| Thud! thud! upon the sand; | |
| With a gleam of swords, and a burning match, | |
| And a shaking of flag and hand: | 40 |
| But one long bound, and I passed the gate, | |
| Safe from the canting band. | |
| |
