THE NEW BATTLE OF HASTINGS.
Some advance on Peace's journey
We may reckon. War's disasters
Won't attend this great Chess Tourney.
And the Meeting of the Masters.
Steinitz, Lasker, Tschigorin,
Blackburne, Bird, or any other,
Whichsoever champion win,
Will be hailed as friend and brother.
Senlac saw another sight
When the Norman whipped the Saxon.
This serene and bloodless fight
Skill and patience lay sole tax on.
Here no arrow ends the fray,
(Though a narrow victory may do,)
Whereat Punch must shout hooray!
Play on, great Chess Masters, pray do!
May the best man meet success!
(Big guns have had pretty bastings!)
And no Battles, save at Chess,
Ever stain our English Hastings!