TCDE-Team at 22:54, 4 April 2026

2026-04-04T22:54:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:54, 5 April 2026
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	''Lindisfaire'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Guards Came Through and Other Poems]] on 16 december 1919.		''Lindisfaire'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Guards Came Through and Other Poems]] on 16 december 1919.


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	== Lindisfaire ==		== Lindisfaire ==

	Horses go down the dingy lane,~~<br />~~		<poem>
	But never a horse comes up again.~~<br />~~		Horses go down the dingy lane,
	The greasy yard where the red hides lie~~<br />~~		But never a horse comes up again.
			The greasy yard where the red hides lie
	Marks the place where the horses die.		Marks the place where the horses die.

			Wheat was sinking year by year,
	Wheat was sinking year by year,~~<br />~~		I bought things cheap, I sold them dear;
	I bought things cheap, I sold them dear;~~<br />~~		Rent was heavy and taxes high,
	Rent was heavy and taxes high,~~<br />~~
	And a weary-hearted man was I.		And a weary-hearted man was I.

			In Lindisfaire I walked my grounds,
	In Lindisfaire I walked my grounds,~~<br />~~		I hadn't the heart to ride to hounds;
	I hadn't the heart to ride to hounds;~~<br />~~		And as I walked in black despair,
	And as I walked in black despair,~~<br />~~
	I saw my old bay hunter there.		I saw my old bay hunter there.

			He tried to nuzzle against my cheek,
	He tried to nuzzle against my cheek,~~<br />~~		He looked the grief he could not speak;
	He looked the grief he could not speak;~~<br />~~		But no caress came back again,
	But no caress came back again,~~<br />~~
	For harder times make harder men.		For harder times make harder men.

			My thoughts were set on stable rent,
	My thoughts were set on stable rent,~~<br />~~		On money saved and money spent,
	On money saved and money spent,~~<br />~~		On weekly bills for forage lost,
	On weekly bills for forage lost,~~<br />~~
	And all the old bay hunter cost.		And all the old bay hunter cost.

			For though a flier in the past,
	For though a flier in the past,~~<br />~~		His days of service long were past,
	His days of service long were past,~~<br />~~		His gait was stiff, his eyes were dim,
	His gait was stiff, his eyes were dim,~~<br />~~
	And I could find no use for him.		And I could find no use for him.

			I turned away with heart of gloom,
	I turned away with heart of gloom,~~<br />~~		And sent for Will, my father's groom,
	And sent for Will, my father's groom,~~<br />~~		The old, old groom, whose worn-out face
	The old, old groom, whose worn-out face~~<br />~~
	Was like the fortune of our race.		Was like the fortune of our race.

			I gave my order sharp and hard,
	I gave my order sharp and hard,~~<br />~~		"Go, ride him to the knacker's yard;
	"Go, ride him to the knacker's yard;~~<br />~~		He'll fetch two pounds, it may be three;
	He'll fetch two pounds, it may be three;~~<br />~~
	Sell him, and bring the price to me."		Sell him, and bring the price to me."

			I saw the old groom wince away,
	I saw the old groom wince away,~~<br />~~		He looked the thoughts he dared not say;
	He looked the thoughts he dared not say;~~<br />~~		Then from his fob he slowly drew
	Then from his fob he slowly drew~~<br />~~
	A leather pouch of faded hue.		A leather pouch of faded hue.

			"Master," said he, "my means are small,
	"Master," said he, "my means are small,~~<br />~~		This purse of leather holds them all;
	This purse of leather holds them all;~~<br />~~		But I have neither kith nor kin,
	But I have neither kith nor kin,~~<br />~~
	I'll pay your price for Prince's skin.		I'll pay your price for Prince's skin.

			"My brother rents the Nether Farm,
	"My brother rents the Nether Farm,~~<br />~~		And he will hold him safe from harm
	And he will hold him safe from harm~~<br />~~		In the great field where he may graze,
	In the great field where he may graze,~~<br />~~
	And see the finish of his days."		And see the finish of his days."

			With dimming eyes I saw him stand,
	With dimming eyes I saw him stand,~~<br />~~		Two pounds were in his shaking hand;
	Two pounds were in his shaking hand;~~<br />~~		I gave a curse to drown the sob,
	I gave a curse to drown the sob,~~<br />~~
	And thrust the purse within his fob.		And thrust the purse within his fob.


	"May God do this and more to me~~<br />~~		"May God do this and more to me
	If we should ever part, we three,~~<br />~~		If we should ever part, we three,
	Master and horse and faithful friend,~~<br />~~		Master and horse and faithful friend,
	We'll share together to the end!"		We'll share together to the end!"

			You'll think I'm playing it on you,
	You'll think I'm playing it on you,~~<br />~~		I give my word the thing is true;
	I give my word the thing is true;~~<br />~~		I hadn't hardly made the vow,
	I hadn't hardly made the vow,~~<br />~~
	Before I heard a view-halloo.		Before I heard a view-halloo.

			And, looking round, whom should I see,
	And, looking round, whom should I see,~~<br />~~		But Bookie Johnson hailing me;
	But Bookie Johnson hailing me;~~<br />~~		Johnson, the man who bilked the folks
	Johnson, the man who bilked the folks~~<br />~~
	When Ethelrida won the Oaks.		When Ethelrida won the Oaks.

			He drew a wad from out his vest,
	He drew a wad from out his vest,~~<br />~~		"Here are a thousand of the best;
	"Here are a thousand of the best;~~<br />~~		Luck's turned a bit with me of late,
	Luck's turned a bit with me of late,~~<br />~~
	And, as you see, I'm getting straight."		And, as you see, I'm getting straight."

			That's all. My luck was turning too;
	That's all. My luck was turning too;~~<br />~~		If you have nothing else to do,
	If you have nothing else to do,~~<br />~~		Run down some day to Lindisfaire,
	Run down some day to Lindisfaire,~~<br />~~
	You'll find the old bay hunter there.		You'll find the old bay hunter there.
			</poem>

TCDE-Team at 11:47, 18 August 2016

2016-08-18T11:47:12Z

New page

''Lindisfaire'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Guards Came Through and Other Poems]] on 16 december 1919.

__TOC__

== Editions ==

* in ''[[The Guards Came Through and Other Poems]]'' (16 december 1919, [[John Murray]] [UK])
* in ''[[The Guards Came Through and Other Poems]]'' (1920, [[George H. Doran Co.]] [US])

== Lindisfaire ==

Horses go down the dingy lane, 
But never a horse comes up again. 
The greasy yard where the red hides lie 
Marks the place where the horses die.

Wheat was sinking year by year, 
I bought things cheap, I sold them dear; 
Rent was heavy and taxes high, 
And a weary-hearted man was I.

In Lindisfaire I walked my grounds, 
I hadn't the heart to ride to hounds; 
And as I walked in black despair, 
I saw my old bay hunter there.

He tried to nuzzle against my cheek, 
He looked the grief he could not speak; 
But no caress came back again, 
For harder times make harder men.

My thoughts were set on stable rent, 
On money saved and money spent, 
On weekly bills for forage lost, 
And all the old bay hunter cost.

For though a flier in the past, 
His days of service long were past, 
His gait was stiff, his eyes were dim, 
And I could find no use for him.

I turned away with heart of gloom, 
And sent for Will, my father's groom, 
The old, old groom, whose worn-out face 
Was like the fortune of our race.

I gave my order sharp and hard, 
"Go, ride him to the knacker's yard; 
He'll fetch two pounds, it may be three; 
Sell him, and bring the price to me."

I saw the old groom wince away, 
He looked the thoughts he dared not say; 
Then from his fob he slowly drew 
A leather pouch of faded hue.

"Master," said he, "my means are small, 
This purse of leather holds them all; 
But I have neither kith nor kin, 
I'll pay your price for Prince's skin.

"My brother rents the Nether Farm, 
And he will hold him safe from harm 
In the great field where he may graze, 
And see the finish of his days."

With dimming eyes I saw him stand, 
Two pounds were in his shaking hand; 
I gave a curse to drown the sob, 
And thrust the purse within his fob.

"May God do this and more to me 
If we should ever part, we three, 
Master and horse and faithful friend, 
We'll share together to the end!"

You'll think I'm playing it on you, 
I give my word the thing is true; 
I hadn't hardly made the vow, 
Before I heard a view-halloo.

And, looking round, whom should I see, 
But Bookie Johnson hailing me; 
Johnson, the man who bilked the folks 
When Ethelrida won the Oaks.

He drew a wad from out his vest, 
"Here are a thousand of the best; 
Luck's turned a bit with me of late, 
And, as you see, I'm getting straight."

That's all. My luck was turning too; 
If you have nothing else to do, 
Run down some day to Lindisfaire, 
You'll find the old bay hunter there.

----
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]

Lindisfaire - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 22:54, 4 April 2026

TCDE-Team at 11:47, 18 August 2016