Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GENTLEMEN CRICKETERS' TEAM, by GEORGE MURRAY (1830-1910)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GENTLEMEN CRICKETERS' TEAM, by                    
First Line: I've a toast to propose you -- so, gentlemen, hand on
Last Line: "the health of ""the gentlemen cricketers' team."
Subject(s): Cricket (game); Sports


I've a toast to propose you—so, Gentlemen, hand on
The Mumm, and the Cliquot, the Moet and Chandon:
The toast that I offer with pleasure extreme
Is the health of "The Gentlemen Cricketers' Team."

And first, here's the health of their Captain, Fitzgerald,
Whose time-honoured name stands in need of no herald:
All know that he manages matches as well
As a match-making mother, with daughters to sell.

Next, here's to the Chief of the ball-driving race,
A Giant in-cricket as well as a Grace:
Bat, bowler, or field, in himself he's a host,
All round, the best player that Britain can boast.

Here's to Hornby, who bears the cognomen of "Monkey,"
All muscle and nerve—never feeble or funky—
For pluck, skill and strength, he is hard to be beaten
By picked men from Winchester, Harrow or Eton!

Here's the left-handed bowler—that Lancashire swell,
Whom Ottawa batsmen remember so well—
He bowled a whole innings (and bowled like great guns)
In Apple-pie order for—only three runs!

And here's to his confrère, spectacular Rose,
A rather quick bowler of dangerous "slows:"
And now to the Lubbocks, a brave pair of brothers,
Who rank with the Graces, the Walkers and others.

Next, here's to four stars of the Oxford Eleven
(With all due respect for the home-keeping seven),
Here's to Harris and Ottaway, Francis and Hadow,
May Time ne'er decrease his Herculean shadow!

Here's to Pickering lastly—his name is enough
To prove that he's made of good cricketing stuff—
Warm welcome, I'm sure, he will ever be shewn
For the sake of his Uncle, as well as his own!

So, here's to them singly, or taken together—
A finer set never yet hunted the leather—
Once more, then, I pledge you, with pleasure extreme,
The health of "The Gentlemen Cricketers' Team."





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