Metrical tales, and other poems; - Electric Scotland

PAET SECOND. 109
Again they throw, again they leap,
Again the great athletes
Far, far outstrip our common men,
And shame their smaller feats
Though well for men of common mould.
Our youths sustain their part.
And throw with arms of pith and power.
And leap with grace and art.
And now, ye wrestlers, stand forth
Ha ! sound the trump again
Will none advance to shake a fall
With Scotland's champions twain?
Where art thou, man of Attercliffe?
Come forward, venturous Blair ;
*
Advance, and meet the Scotch athletes.
And grapple if you dare
In vain, in vain the challenge rings.
No venturous Blair stands forth.
Alone are grappling on the green,
The giants of the North
See how they struggle for the grip
See how their limbs entwine
Behold agility and grace.
With giant strength combine.
Now Dinnie throws, now Fleming throws,
Thrice do they grapple fast
Thrice tug and strain, but Dinnie stands.
Twice victor at the last.
What stirs the mighty multitude ?
Why do they sway and bend ?
Why rolls the lower circle's rim
To crush the upper end?
+ A Mr. Blair, from Attercliffe, had entered hie name for the Wrestling Match,
but failed to appear at the moment of trial.