Hone’s Table Book (1827)

DEVONSHIRE WRESTLING.

For the Table Book.

Abraham Cann, the Devonshire champion, and his brother wrestlers of that county, are objected to for their play with the foot, called “showing a toe” in Devonshire; or, to speak plainly, “kicking.” Perhaps neither the objectors, nor Abraham and his fellow-countrymen, are aware, that the Devonshire custom was also the custom of the Greeks, in the same sport, three thousand years ago. The English reader may derive proof of this from Pope’s translation of Homer’s account of the wrestling match at the funeral of Patroclus, between Ulysses and Ajax, for prizes offered by Achilles:—

Scarce did the chief the vigorous strife propose.

When tower-like Ajax and Ulysses rose.

Amid the ring each nervous rival stands.

Embracing rigid, with implicit hands:

Close lock’d above, their heads and arms are mixt;

Below, their planted feet, at distance fixt.

Now to the grasp each manly body bends;

The humid sweat from every pore descends;

Their bones resound with blows; sides, shoulders

thighs

Swell to each gripe, and bloody tumours rise.

Nor could Ulysses, for bis art renown’d,

O’erturn the strength of Ajax on the ground;

Nor could the strength of Ajax overthrow

The watchful caution of his artful foe.

While the long strife e’en tire the lookers on,

Thus to Ulysses spoke great Telamon:

Or let me lift thee, chief, or lift thou me;

Prove we our force, and Jove the rest decree:

He said, and straining, heav’d him off the ground

With matchless strength; that lime Ulysses found

The strength t’evade, and, where the nerves combine.

His ancle struck the giant fell supine;

Ulysses following, on his bosom lies;

Shouts of applause run rattling through the skies.

Ajax to lift, Ulysses next essays;

He barely stirr’d him but he could not raise

Hit knee took fast, the foe’s attempt deny’d.

And grappling close, they tumble side by side.

Here we find not only “the lock,” but that Ulysses, who is described as renowned for his art, attains to the power of throwing his antagonist by the device of Abraham Cann’s favourite kick near the ankle.

Hone, W (1827); The table book: or, Daily recreation and information concerning remarkable men, manners, times, seasons, solemnities, merry-makings, antiquities and novelties, forming a complete history of the year, W. Tegg.