Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FIGHTING COCKS; FROM YRIARTE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FIGHTING COCKS; FROM YRIARTE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A fine old cock -- a cock renowned
Last Line: E'en from themselves, their wounded pride!
Subject(s): Roosters; Cocks


A FINE old cock -- a cock renowned,
In brief, for many a mile around
His native farm-yard -- came at length
With a young cock to pit his strength:
A callow chick, who fought so well,
Despite the odds, that -- strange to tell --
The elder was compelled to yield,
And, fairly vanquished, leave the field
And laurel to his youthful foe,
Who now set up a lusty crow,
As dunghill victors always will,
In pride of courage, strength, or skill.
All breathless with the battle's heat,
The other sought a safe retreat,
Where thus he gave reflection tongue:
"Well fought -- by Jove! -- for one so young!
Give him the proper age and height,
He'd make, no doubt, a pretty fight!"
No more our philosophic bird
With his late foe was seen or heard
In close debate, for well he knows
That words, at last, may come to blows;
And with a chick so fierce and tough,
One trial clearly was enough!
But soon it chanced occasion lent
A turn to give his temper vent;
A neighbor truculent and bold
Despite his years (for he was old,
And long had gloried in the praise
Of brave exploits in former days),
Our hero forced into a fight,
And, rallying with all his might,
Soon drove him fairly from the ground!
Alone at last, -- he looked around,
And seeing that the coast was clear,
That none the monologue might hear,
Thus to himself expressed his mind:
"What unexpected things we find!
For such an old historic cock
How well he bore the battle shock!
How venerable age appears!
And so I spared him -- for his years!"

MORAL.

How shrewdly men contrive to hide,
E'en from themselves, their wounded pride!





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