Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 046.djvu/630

They met close to the gate of the garden, and then
His rough rival exclaim'd with a leer,
"What! Beau Billy! Be'st thou come here courting agen?
Well, there's nought so conceited as you little men;
But thee'dst better be off, or look here!"

And while speaking, he shook a stout stick in the face
Of our beau, who a moment drew back,
Then advanced, and just gave his tall taunter a brace
Of queer magical blows, that quite alter'd the case,
For he fell to the ground with a whack.

And felt shockingly sheepish, of course, as he'd caught
Just a glimpse of Sue's face peeping through
The half-closed cottage window, and therefore had thought
He would show off his prowess, though fearless of aught
His diminutive rival could do.

There he lay; but his pride was more mortified still
When he saw thumping Robin and Tim,
The two other big suitors to Sue, mount the hill
Just in time to behold him crow'd over by Bill,
In his dirty deplorable trim.

But as they were his friends, he call'd out for their aid,
And declared Bill had cowardly crept
Close behind him, and struck him two blows with a spade—
For that nothing less pond'rous such marks could have made;
And the fallen bully blubber'd and wept.

Tim and Robin believed him, because they knew well
It was nonsense for Billy to try,
In a fair stand-up fight, such a fellow to fell:
So they ask'd him the cause of his conduct to tell;
And he answer'd, "He's told you a lie!"

Then he boldly continued, "You both of you know
How oft here he has boasted his strength,
And I let it all pass; but I can't stand a blow,
And he shook his stick at me, and threaten'd, and so
I have just made him measure his length.

"I had nought but this stick you see now in my hand:
You may stare, but 'tis perfectly true;
And affronts I'll endure from no man in the land,
So ye great gaping louts, if ye don't understand,
Here I'm ready for either of you,

"Or for both, if ye like; so come on! do your worst,
And I pledge you my word I'll not run."
Thumping Bob swell'd with anger as ready to burst,
While strong Tim laugh'd aloud, and cried, "I'll take him first—
We shall now have some capital fun."

The queer stick did its duty. Tim's guard down it beat,
And eke broke his thick head at one blow;
At the next he could hardly remain on his feet,
But went tottering backward in awkward retreat,
Till the third on the ground laid him low.