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 @3cognomen@1 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 @3Apple-pie@1 order for—only three runs! And here's to his @3confrère,@1 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." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPECIAL EFFECTS by JAMES GALVIN THE DAY AND THE WORK by EDWIN MARKHAM A MAN CHILD IS BORN (1839) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DOMESDAY BOOK: MRS. MURRAY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE WIZARD IN WORDS by MARIANNE MOORE |