100

VITAÏ LAMPADA 1

HENRY NEWBolt

There's a breathless hush in the Close 2 tonight

Ten to make and the match to win

3

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote,
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

The sand of the desert is sodden red,—

Red with the wreck of a square that broke ;—
The Gatling's jammed and the colonel dead
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,

And England's far, and Honor a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks,
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

This is the word that year by year
While in her place the School is set

Every one of her sons must hear,

And none that hears it dare forget.

This they all with a joyful mind

Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind-

"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

1. Vitaï Lampada. The torch of life.

2. Close. Enclosed field used for athletic purposes.

3. Bumping pitch. In cricket the "pitch" or "crease" is the ground between the wickets. If this ground is uneven it causes such a bounding of the ball as to make its location at any moment uncertain.

Dowie Dens of Yarrow, The.. (Scott's Version) 6

27

Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night..