ARCHERY INSIGHT
Written by J. Speding around 1870, it was intended for longbow archers but the advice applies to all of us
ALL YOU NEED (to know)
THE HONEST ARCHER
Honest archer, whosoever,
If across your mind there ever
Come, before your shaft be shot,
A vague doubt - will't hit or not ?
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and learn to shoot anew
If in any the least thing,
From the lapping of the string'
To the choice of finger leather,
Thou canst say, "what matters whether ?"
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss,
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and order all anew.
If thy nock adheres not lightly
To the string, but either tightly
Sticks in the loose, or loosed, slides
With the shock from side to side,
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and lap your string anew.
When to shoot thou tak'st thy stand,
If in fitting of your hand
To the bow, thou dost not care
For the difference of a hair,
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss,
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and fit thy hand anew.
If in placing on the string
Thy three fingers, thou but bring
This one too near or that too far,
Not much caring where they are,
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss,
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and fix thy stops anew.
If, before thy tak'st thy aim,
Thou can'st not accurately name
One spot whereon with clear intent
Thy sight eye is truly bent,
Know this Thou'll shoot amiss,
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and find that point anew.
THE HONEST ARCHER cont.
If having found it, thou dost not
Raise the pile to that one spot,
But let it wander with vague doubt,
Under, over and about,
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true,
Thou must begin again, and range you shaft anew
If updrawing to the place
where thou shoud'st, a moment space thee
pause to settle or prepare,
and stoppest short or draw too far,
Know this thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true
Thou must begin again and draw thy bow anew
,When all else is ordered sure,
If weary the long strain to endure, thy
Elbow, wrist or fingers try
To ease other on the sly,,
Know this, thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true
Though must begin again, and brace thy joints anew.
When through motions sweet and steady,
for the last touch all is ready,
if at the last, one muscle or nerve
Start, shrink, jerk, hang back or swerve,
Know this thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true
Though must begin again, and school your nerves anew.
But if the birthdays gathering still,
forbid thy limbs to serve thy will,
And for want of vital juices
each joint its proper work refuses,
Know this thou'll shoot amiss
And to shoot true
Though must be born again, and grow thy limbs anew