Oh, to express, with worthy stress,
And real success, the heartiness
With which I bless the manliness
And charm of chess.
For who can guess what broad excess
Of steadiness and thoughtfulness
One must possess, so that success
May crown one’s chess?
And I confess that no duress,
Or dire distress, could e’er repress
The eagerness with which I press
To play at chess.
No pitiless fair sorceress,
By soft caress, or looks or dress,
Could dispossess me of my, – yes!
My love of chess.
