THE BROWNIES ON THE RACE-TRACK.

 WHILE Brownies moved around one night

A seaside race-track came in sight.

"'T is here," said one, "the finest breed

Of horses often show their speed;

Here, neck and neck, and nose and nose,

Beneath the jockeys' urging blows,

 

They sweep around the level mile

The people shouting all the while;

And climbing up or crowding through

To gain a better point of view,

So they can see beyond a doubt

How favorites are holding out."

Another said: "I know the place

Where horses wait to-morrow's race;

We'll strap¹ the saddles on their back,

And lead them out upon the track.

Then some will act the jockey's part,

And some, as judges, watch the start,

And drop the crimson² flag to show

The start is fair and all must go."

 

Ere long, the Brownies turned to haul

Each wondering race-horse from his stall.

They bridled⁴ them without delay,

And saddles strapped⁵ in proper way.

Some restless horses rearing there

 

Would toss their holders⁶ high in air,

And test the courage and the art

Of those who took an active part.

Said one: "I've lurked⁷ in yonder wood,

And watched the races when I could.

I know how all is done with care

When thus for racing⁸ they prepare;

How every buckle⁹ must be tight,

And every strap and stirrup right,

Or jockeys would be on the ground

Before they circled half way round."

When all was ready for the show

Each Brownie rogue¹⁰ was nowise slow

At climbing up to take a place

And be a jockey in the race.

 

Full half a dozen Brownies tried

Upon one saddle now to ride;

But some were into service pressed

As judges to control the rest—

To see that rules were kept complete,

And then decide who won the heat.

A dozen times they tried to start;

Some shot ahead like jockeys smart,

And were prepared to take the lead

Around the track at flying speed.

But others were so far behind,

On horses of unruly mind,

The judges from the stand declare

The start was anything but fair.

 

So back they'd jog at his command,

In better shape to pass the stand.

Indeed it was no simple trick

To ride those horses, shy and quick,

And only for the mystic art

That is the Brownies' special part,

A dozen backs, at least, had found

A resting-place upon the ground.

The rules of racing were not quite

Observed in full upon that night.

Around and round the track they flew,

In spite of all the judge could do.

The race, he tried to let them know,

Had been decided¹¹ long ago.

But still the horses kept the track,

With Brownies clinging to each back.

 

Some racers of the jumping kind

At times disturbed the riders' mind

When from the track they sudden wheeled,

And over fences took the field,

As if they hoped in some such mode

To rid themselves of half their load.

But horses, howsoever smart,

Are not a match for Brownie art,

 

For still the riders stuck through all,

In spite of fence, or ditch, or wall.

Some clung to saddle, some to mane,

While others tugged¹² at bridle³ rein¹³.

 

So all the steeds found it would pay

To let the Brownies have their way,

Until a glimpse of rising sun

Soon made them leave the place and run.

 

1 strap   

n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎

参考例句：

• She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
• The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

2 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

3 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

4 bridled   

给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气

参考例句：

• She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying. 她对暗示她在说谎的言论嗤之以鼻。
• He bridled his horse. 他给他的马套上笼头。

5 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

7 lurked   

vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The murderers lurked behind the trees. 谋杀者埋伏在树后。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Treachery lurked behind his smooth manners. 他圆滑姿态的后面潜伏着奸计。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

9 buckle   

n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲

参考例句：

• The two ends buckle at the back.带子两端在背后扣起来。
• She found it hard to buckle down.她很难专心做一件事情。

10 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。