Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (of 3) / Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863

by Henry Downes Miles

MONODY ON THE DEATH OF DICK CURTIS.

Farewell! a long farewell! renowned King Dick!

Well may we mourn that thou hast cut thy stick;

Victorious still in many a sharp attack,

Stern Champion, Death, hath laid thee on thy back;

Exhausted all thy bottom and thy pluck,

Thine arm lies powerless, and thy colours struck;

Rigid thine elasticity of limb,

Deaf are thy listeners, and thine ogles dim;

Pale are those lips from which rich humour rush’d;