TCDE-Team at 20:56, 4 April 2026

2026-04-04T20:56:36Z

TCDE-Team at 15:12, 21 July 2016

2016-07-21T15:12:25Z

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''The Arab Steed'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in the [[Daily News Weekly]] on 1 july 1899.

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== Editions ==

* in ''[[Daily News Weekly]]'' (1 july 1899)
* in ''[[Songs of the Road]]'' (16 march 1911, [[Smith, Elder & Co.]] [UK])
* in ''[[Songs of the Road]]'' (october 1911, [[Doubleday & McClure Co.|Doubleday, Page & Co.]] [US])
* in ''[[Songs of the Road]]'' (27 january 1920, [[John Murray]] [UK])
* in ''[[Songs of the Road]]'' (february 1920, [[John Murray]] [UK])
* in ''[[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]]'' (21 september 1922, [[John Murray]] [UK])
* in ''[[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]]'' (14 september 1928, [[John Murray]]'s ''Fiction Library'' [UK])

== The Arab Steed ==

I gave the 'orse 'is evenin' feed, 
And bedded of 'im down, 
And went to 'ear the sing-song 
In the bar-room of the Crown, 
And one young feller spoke a piece 
As told a kind of tale, 
About an Arab man wot 'ad 
A certain 'orse for sale.

I 'ave no grudge against the man — 
I never 'eard 'is name, 
But if he was my closest pal 
I'd say the very same, 
For wot you do in other things 
Is neither 'ere nor there, 
But w'en it comes to 'orses 
You must keep upon the square.

Now I'm tellin' you the story 
Just as it was told last night, 
And if I wrong this Arab man 
Then 'e can set me right; 
But s'posin' all these fac's are fac's, 
Then I make bold to say 
That I think it was not sportsmanlike 
To act in sich a way.

For, as I understand the thing, 
'E went to sell this steed — 
Which is a name they give a 'orse 
Of some outlandish breed —, 
And soon 'e found a customer, 
A proper sportin' gent, 
Who planked 'is money down at once 
Without no argument.

Now when the deal was finished 
And the money paid, you'd think 
This Arab would 'ave asked the gent 
At once to name 'is drink, 
Or at least 'ave thanked 'im kindly, 
An' wished 'im a good day, 
And own as 'e'd been treated 
In a very 'andsome way.

But instead o' this 'e started 
A-talkin' to the steed, 
And speakin' of its "braided mane" 
An' of its "winged speed," 
And other sich expressions 
With which I can't agree, 
For a 'orse with wings an' braids an' things 
Is not the 'orse for me.

The moment that 'e 'ad the cash — 
Or wot 'e called the gold, 
'E turned as nasty as could be: 
Says 'e, "You're sold! You're sold!" 
Them was 'is words; it's not for me 
To settle wot he meant; 
It may 'ave been the 'orse was sold, 
It may 'ave been the gent.

I've not a word to say agin 
His fondness for 'is 'orse, 
But why should 'e insinivate 
The gent would treat 'im worse? 
An' why should 'e go talkin' 
In that aggravatin' way, 
As if the gent would gallop 'im 
And wallop 'im all day?

It may 'ave been an' 'arness 'orse, 
It may 'ave been an 'ack, 
But a bargain is a bargain, 
An' there ain't no goin' back; 
For when you've picked the money up, 
That finishes the deal, 
And after that your mouth is shut, 
Wotever you may feel.

Supposin' this 'ere Arab man 
'Ad wanted to be free, 
'E could 'ave done it businesslike, 
The same as you or me; 
A fiver might 'ave squared the gent, 
An' then 'e could 'ave claimed 
As 'e'd cleared 'imself quite 'andsome, 
And no call to be ashamed.

But instead 'o that this Arab man 
Went on from bad to worse, 
An' took an' chucked the money 
At the cove wot bought the 'orse; 
'E'd 'ave learned 'im better manners, 
If 'e'd waited there a bit, 
But 'e scooted on 'is bloomin' steed 
As 'ard as 'e could split.

Per'aps 'e sold 'im after, 
Or per'aps 'e 'ires 'im out, 
But I'd like to warm that Arab man 
Wen next 'e comes about; 
For wot 'e does in other things 
Is neither 'ere nor there, 
But w'en it comes to 'orses 
We must keep 'im on the square.

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

The Arab Steed - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 20:56, 4 April 2026

TCDE-Team at 15:12, 21 July 2016