A Noble Game of Lawn Tennis.
I saw them playing, years ago,1
A lad and a maiden fair—2
He with his close-cropped curly head,3
She with her flying hair ;4
And the joyous sound of their game went up5
Through the summer-sunshine air.6
I spake to the umpire tall and gaunt7
Who watched them as they strove :8
“ How goes the game ? ”—Not an instant he9
From the play his eyes would move—10
But he answered, with a curious laugh,11
“ The game as yet is—Love ! ”12
I came again and stood beside13
This man who watched the game ;14
It seemed to me that years had passed—15
Yet the players were the same !16
But the maiden now was a woman grown,17
And the lad had a man’s broad frame.18
They were playing in earnest now, those two—19
I thought, for a heavy bet ;20
Fighting a silent, earnest fight,21
With faces flushed and set ;22
And the man was doing his best to score,23
But the girl—she held him yet !24
But the umpire favoured the man throughout ;25
It was a bitter shame26
To hear how he added points to his score27
And allowed him every claim :28
And the player sent him at times a wink—29
I said, “ How stands the game ? ”30
He held his sides with sudden mirth—31
“ I call it Deuce up here ;32
But down at home I’ve a jovial crew ;33
We call it different there !34
Yes, a very different word we use—35
You may hear it, if you care ? ”36
The umpire had a curious tone37
That set me ill at ease :38
I turned away to cool my brow39
In the sough of the evening breeze ;40
But I knew that the girl had missed her stroke,41
Through the umpire’s well-timed sneeze !42
And then I heard her hard, high voice,43
Speaking recklessly :44
“ I am tired—let us make an end at last ;45
This long game wearies me :46
Let us make it Sudden Death ! ” and the man—47
“ If you will, so let it be.”48
I turned in haste to see the close,49
But the headlong game was done ;50
The umpire was shaking his man by the hand,51
But the girl’s fair face was gone !52
“ Aha ! ” cried the umpire, slapping his thigh,53
“ ’Twas a noble stake I won ! ”54
He passed away through the twilight woods55
And flourished a glowing prong ;56
The boughs swept off his cap from his head—57
Hoo !— but his horns were long !58
And a tail straggled out from under his cloak,59
And trailed as he went along ;60
And as he went, he capered and sang,61
Yea, sang this grisly song :—62
“ Hey for the soul of a maiden fair,63
’Tis a noble stake to play !64
If she win there is little that she may win ;65
If she lose, there’s the Devil to pay !66
She would play it out ; she trusted her luck,67
And her play was strong and steady ;68
But she played for a young man’s hidden heart—69
Poor fool ! it was Mine already !70
Ho ho, ho ho !71
Ho ho, ho ho !72
The fool ! it was Mine already.”73