Part III: Credat Judaeus Apella
Dear Bell,—I enclose what you ask in a letter,
A short rhyme at random, no more and no less,
And you may insert it, for want of a better
Or leave it, it doesn't much matter, I guess ;
And as for a tip, why, there isn't much in it,
I may hit the right nail, but first, I declare,
I haven't a notion what's going to win it
(The Champion, I mean), and what's more, I don't care.
Imprimis, there's Cowra—few nags can go quicker
Than she can—and Smith takes his oath she can fly ;
While Brown, Jones, and Robinson swear she's a sticker,
But 'credat Judaeus Apella,' say I.
There's old Volunteer, I'd be sorry to sneer
At his chance ; he'll be there, if he goes at the rate
He went at last year, when a customer queer,
Johnny Higgerson, fancied him lock'd in the straight.
I've heard that the old horse has never been fitter,
I've heard all performances past he'll outvie ;
He may gallop a docker, and finish a splitter,
But 'credat Judaeus Apella,' say I.
I know what they say, sir, 'The Hook' he can stay, sir,
And stick to his work like a sleuth-hound or beagle ;
He stays 'with a hook,' and he sticks in the clay, sir,
I'd rather, for choice, pop my money on Seagull ;
I'm told that the Sydney division will rue, sir,
Their rashness in front of the stand when they spy,
With a clear lead, the white jacket spotted with blue, sir,
But 'credat Judaeus Apella,' say I.
There's The Barb—you may talk of your flyers and stayers,
All bosh—when he strips you can see his eye range
Round his rivals, with much the same look as Tom Sayers
Once wore when he faced the big novice, Bill Bainge.
Like Stow, at our hustings, confronting the hisses
Of roughs, with his queer Mephistopheles' smile ;
Like Baker, or Baker's more wonderful Mrs.,
The terror of blacks at the source of the Nile ;
Like Triton 'mid minnows ; like hawk among chickens ;
Like—anything better than everything else ;
He stands at the post. Now they're off ! the plot thickens !
Quoth Stanley to Davis, 'How is your pulse ?'
He skims o'er the smooth turf, he scuds through the mire,
He waits with them, passes them, bids them good-bye !
Two miles and three-quarters, cries Filgate, 'He'll tire.'
But 'credat Judaeus Apella,' say I.
Lest my tale should come true, let me give you fair warning,
You may 'shout' some cheroots, if you like, no champagne
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poem by Adam Lindsay Gordon
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