Ballad Of Bopard Defied

As I came to a playing-field on happy summer day Two strudy youths I did espy; at cricket they did play. One had the ball, one had the bat, and, with a right good smack, As one tossed up the crimson sphere, the other smote it back. Now, as I reached the bowler's end, I saw the young man quail; His hand they shook, his knees went crook, his face was ashen pale; Then, with a gulty kind of look, he cast the ball away, And in a weak and trembling voice these words to me did say: (In a tearful, pleading voice, with plenty of temolo and shivering grass.) 'Don't tell them that you saw me, Or that I misbehaved. Their methods over-aw me; But I would not be enslaved. I love my freeders, msiter, as much as any man; But, oh, I love my bit of cricket, too. And I dearly love to bowl, But the great Board of Control, They would chain me to their chariot if they knoo.' (Adopt severe judicial manner, frowning darkly.) 'Young man,' I said, 'it grieves me this state of things to find, For it is all too clear to me you have the crim'nal mind. Thus to play without a licence and the noble Board defy Is very reprehensible. 'Tut, tut!' I said, 'Fie, fie!' With salt tears streaming from his eyes, he bowed his head in shame. 'Come, come,' I said, 'there's hope for you. Buck up and play the game.' Then I eyed the other stripling; but, much to my dismay, In tones most ungrammatical these words I heard him say: - (In ringing, defiant accents, full of roughneck pride.) 'Go tell them that you seen me; Go bowl it in their ear. But no Board won't come between me An' the game I 'old so dear, I don't want to go to Indier or England with no team, Fair Ostral-i-ar is good enough fur me! I will never sell me soul To no crool Board of Control; For me favorite game is ping-pong, an' I'm free!'