I
He took the knock! No more with jaunty air [1]
He'll have the "push" that made the punter stare;
No more in monkeys now odds on he'll lay [2]
And make the ever grumbling fielder gay.
One plunger more has had his little flare [3]
And then came to Monday when he couldn't "square"; [4]
Stripped of his plunees a poor denuded J [5]
He took the knock!
Where is he now? Ah! echo answers "where"?
Upon the turf he had his little day
And when, stone-broke, he could no longer pay [6]
Leaving the ring to gnash its teeth and swear
He took the knock!
[1: gave in] [2: £500] [3: opportunity] [4: pay up] [5: fellow] [6: ruined]
THE RHYME OF THE RUSHER [1892]
[By DOSS CHIDERDOSS in Sporting Times, 29 Oct. In
Appropriate Rhyming Slanguage].