Act 5
A Mid-Wales Night’s Dream
HAYMAN, STANNARD, WIGGO, ELMIGER, MARTIN, QUINTANA, BENNETT and others.
HAYMAN. All day have we spent riding at the front
Black riders six, though one doth wear the gold.
Committed to attack as a defence –
My soul is on the road.
STANNARD. Quintana does escape upon the climb,
Another takes he with him.
The peloton reduces with the pace.
[Exeunt Hayman]
A spectator runs in underpants and mask!
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
QUINTANA. Up and down, up and down
I will lead them up and down
Til I am feared in field in town
Quintana, lead them up and down.
ELMIGER. That man could put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes!
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night.
STANNARD. Their confidence encouraged by Quintana’s hustle,
More attacks from them as left do follow.
WIGGO. The course of true race never did run smooth.
STANNARD. And now goes Martin off the front again,
A duo of attackers for a dual ascent.
Quintana and Martin, Martin and Quintana,
The two of them do break away as one!
Accustomed now are we to see them twins!
WIGGO.Fear not brave friends, faith have I in our legs,
I’ll trust the tempo that we set ourselves
And pace our efforts according to our will.
STANNARD. The pace doth yet unfasten many from the bunch
And yet young Bennett keepest still without.
Though he be but young, he is fierce!
His struggle to maintain contact on the climb,
Repayed as he recovers on the flat.
He sees his mark, and faultless times his sprint!
Take pains. Be perfect.
WIGGO. The young man well deserves his win this day,
And for our part, successful in our aims.
Another day, retaining us the lead
A display of teamwork of which we can be proud.
BENNETT (aside)
The riders such as I are on the edge;
As much is this shop window as a race –
And solemnly it was I made this pledge;
Give all I can, a WorldTour team to place.
For all the while, deep within my breast
The faintest spark of fiercest hope resides,
That one might seek me out from all the rest,
And whispering, their faith in me confide.
An opportunity this is for me
To become more than a footnote in this sport –
Instead a tale my own that they might see
My strength and skill be that which they report.
And so, anon, success may bring success
In longer term, careers to progress.
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