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  Contents:

  TheDarnedMounseerTheEnglishmanTheDisagreeableManTheComingBy—And—ByTheHighlyRespectableGondolierTheFairyQueen’sSongIsLifeABoonTheModernMajor—GeneralTheHeavyDragoonProperPrideThePoliceman’sLotTheBaffledGrumblerTheHouseOfPeersAMerryMadrigalTheDukeAndTheDuchessEheuFugaces—!

  They’llNoneOf`EmBeMissedGirlGraduatesBraidTheRavenHairTheWorkingMonarchTheApeAndTheLadyOnlyRosesTheRover’sApologyAnAppealTheRewardOfMeritTheMagnetAndTheChurnTheFamilyFoolSansSouciARecipeTheMerrymanAndHisMaidTheSusceptibleChancellorWhenAMerryMaidenMarriesTheBritishTarAManWhoWouldWooAFairMaidTheSorcerer’sSongTheFickleBreezeTheFirstLord’sSongWouldYouKnow?

  SpeculationAhMe!

  TheDukeOfPlaza—ToroTheAestheteSaidIToMyself,SaidI

  SorryHerLotTheContemplativeSentryThePhilosophicPillBlueBloodTheJudge’sSongWhenIFirstPutThisUniformOnSolatiumANightmareDon’tForget!

  TheSuicide’sGraveHeAndSheTheMightyMustAMirageTheGhosts’HighNoonTheHumaneMikadoWillowWaly!

  LifeIsLovelyAllTheYearTheUsher’sChargeTheGreatOakTreeKingGoodheartSleepOn!

  TheLove—SickBoyPoetryEverywhereHeLoves!

  TrueDiffidenceTheTangledSkeinMyLadyOneAgainstTheWorldPutAPennyInTheSlotGoodLittleGirlsLifeLimitedLiabilityAnglicisedUtopiaAnEnglishGirlAManager’sPerplexitiesOutOfSortsHowIt’sDoneAClassicalRevivalThePracticalJokerTheNationalAnthemHerTermsTheIndependentBeeTheDisconcertedTenorThePlayed—OutHumoristBallad:TheDarnedMounseerIshipped,d’yesee,inaRevenuesloop,And,offCapeFinisteere,Amerchantmanwesee,AFrenchman,goingfree,SowemadefortheboldMounseer,D’yesee?

  WemadefortheboldMounseer!

  ButsheprovedtobeaFrigate—andsheupwithherports,Andfireswithathirty—two!

  Itcomeuncommonnear,Butweansweredwithacheer,WhichparalysedtheParley—voo,D’yesee?

  WhichparalysedtheParley—voo!

  ThenourCaptainheupandhesays,sayshe,\"Thatchapweneednotfear,—

  Wecantakeher,ifwelike,Sheissartinfortostrike,Forshe’sonlyadarnedMounseer,D’yesee?

  She’sonlyadarnedMounseer!

  ButtofightaFrenchfal—lal—it’slikehittin’ofagal—

  It’salubberlythingfortodo;

  Forwe,withallourfaults,Why,we’resturdyBritishsalts,Whileshe’sbutaParley—voo,D’yesee?

  AmiserableParley—voo!\"

  Soweupwithourhelm,andwescudsbeforethebreeze,Aswegivesacompassionatingcheer;

  FroggeeanswerswithashoutAsheseesusgoabout,WhichwasgratefulofthepoorMounseer,D’yesee?

  WhichwasgratefulofthepoorMounseer!

  AndI’llwagerintheirjoytheykissedeachother’scheek(Whichiswhatthemfurrinersdo),AndtheyblessedtheirluckystarsWewerehardyBritishtarsWhohadpityonapoorParley—voo,D’yesee?

  WhohadpityonapoorParley—voo!

  Ballad:TheEnglishmanHeisanEnglishman!

  Forhehimselfhassaidit,Andit’sgreatlytohiscredit,ThatheisanEnglishman!

  ForhemighthavebeenaRoosian,AFrench,orTurk,orProosian,OrperhapsItali—an!

  Butinspiteofalltemptations,Tobelongtoothernations,HeremainsanEnglishman!

  Hurrah!

  Forthetrue—bornEnglishman!

  Ballad:TheDisagreeableManIfyougivemeyourattention,IwilltellyouwhatIam:

  I’magenuinephilanthropist—allotherkindsaresham。

  EachlittlefaultoftemperandeachsocialdefectInmyerringfellow—creatures,Iendeavourtocorrect。

  ToalltheirlittleweaknessesIopenpeople’seyes,Andlittleplanstosnubtheself—sufficientIdevise;

  Ilovemyfellow—creatures—IdoallthegoodIcan—

  YeteverybodysaysI’msuchadisagreeableman!

  AndIcan’tthinkwhy!

  TocomplimentsinflatedI’veawitheringreply,AndvanityIalwaysdomybesttomortify;

  AcharitableactionIcanskilfullydissect;

  AndinterestedmotivesI’mdelightedtodetect。

  Iknoweverybody’sincomeandwhateverybodyearns,AndIcarefullycompareitwiththeincome—taxreturns;

  Buttobenefithumanity,howevermuchIplan,YeteverybodysaysI’msuchadisagreeableman!

  AndIcan’tthinkwhy!

  I’msureI’mnoascetic;I’maspleasantascanbe;

  You’llalwaysfindmereadywithacrushingrepartee;

  I’veanirritatingchuckle,I’veacelebratedsneer,I’veanentertainingsnigger,I’veafascinatingleer;

  Toeverybody’sprejudiceIknowathingortwo;

  Icantellawoman’sageinhalfaminute—andIdo—

  ButalthoughItrytomakemyselfaspleasantasIcan,YeteverybodysaysI’msuchadisagreeableman!

  AndIcan’tthinkwhy!

  Ballad:TheComingBy—And—BySadisthatwoman’slotwho,yearbyyear,Sees,onebyone,herbeautiesdisappear;

  AsTime,grownwearyofherheart—drawnsighs,Impatientlybeginsto\"dimhereyes\"!—

  Herselfcompelled,inlife’suncertaingloamings,Towreatheherwrinkledbrowwithwell—saved\"combings\"—

  Reduced,withrouge,lipsalve,andpearlygrey,To\"makeup\"forlosttime,asbestshemay!

  Silveredistheravenhair,Spreadingisthepartingstraight,Mottledthecomplexionfair,Haltingistheyouthfulgait,Hollowisthelaughterfree,Spectacledthelimpideye,Littlewillbeleftofme,Inthecomingby—and—by!

  Fadingisthetaperwaist—

  Shapelessgrowstheshapelylimb,Andalthoughsecurelylaced,Spreadingisthefiguretrim!

  StouterthanIusedtobe,StillmorecorpulentgrowI—

  TherewillbetoomuchofmeInthecomingby—and—by!

  Ballad:TheHighlyRespectableGondolierIstolethePrince,andIbroughthimhere,Andlefthim,gailyprattlingWithahighlyrespectableGondolier,WhopromisedtheRoyalbabetorear,AndteachhimthetradeofatimoneerWithhisownbelovedbratling。

  Bothofthebabeswerestrongandstout,And,consideringallthings,clever。

  Ofthatthereisnomannerofdoubt—

  Noprobable,possibleshadowofdoubt—

  Nopossibledoubtwhatever。

  Timesped,andwhenattheendofayearIsoughtthatinfantcherished,ThathighlyrespectableGondolierWaslyingacorpseonhishumblebier—

  IdroppedaGrandInquisitor’stear—

  ThatGondolierhadperished!

  Atastefordrink,combinedwithgout,Haddoubledhimupforever。

  OfTHATthereisnomannerofdoubt—

  Noprobable,possibleshadowofdoubt—

  Nopossibledoubtwhatever。

  Butowing,I’mmuchdisposedtofear,Tohisterribletastefortippling,ThathighlyrespectableGondolierCouldneverdeclarewithamindsincereWhichofthetwowashisoffspringdear,AndwhichtheRoyalstripling!

  Whichwaswhichhecouldnevermakeout,Despitehisbestendeavour。

  OfTHATthereisnomannerofdoubt—

  Noprobable,possibleshadowofdoubt—

  Nopossibledoubtwhatever。

  Thechildrenfollowedhisoldcareer—

  (Thisstatementcan’tbeparried)

  OfahighlyrespectableGondolier:

  Well,oneofthetwo(whowillsoonbehere)—

  ButWHICHofthetwoisnotquiteclear—

  IstheRoyalPrinceyoumarried!

  SearchinandoutandroundaboutAndyou’lldiscoverneverAtalesofreefromeverydoubt—

  Allprobable,possibleshadowofdoubt—

  Allpossibledoubtwhatever!

  Ballad:TheFairyQueen’sSongOh,foolishfay,ThinkyoubecauseMan’sbravearrayMybosomthawsI’ddisobeyOurfairylaws?

  BecauseIflyInrealmsabove,IntendencyTofallinloveResembleI

  Theamorousdove?

  Oh,amorousdove!

  TypeofOvidiusNaso!

  ThisheartofmineIssoftasthine,AlthoughIdarenotsayso!

  OnfirethatglowsWithheatintenseIturnthehoseOfCommonSense,AndoutitgoesAtsmallexpense!

  WemustmaintainOurfairylaw;

  ThatisthemainOnwhichtodraw—

  InthatwegainACaptainShaw。

  Oh,CaptainShaw!

  Typeoftruelovekeptunder!

  CouldthyBrigadeWithcoldcascadeQuenchmygreatlove,Iwonder!

  Ballad:IsLifeABoonIslifeaboon?

  Ifso,itmustbefallThatDeath,whene’erhecall,Mustcalltoosoon。

  ThoughfourscoreyearshegiveYetonewouldpraytoliveAnothermoon!

  WhatkindofplainthaveI,WhoperishinJuly?

  ImighthavehadtodiePerchanceinJune!

  Islifeathorn?

  Thencountitnotawhit!

  Maniswelldonewithit;

  Soonashe’sbornHeshouldallmeansessayToputtheplagueaway;

  AndI,war—worn,Poorcapturedfugitive,Mylifemostgladlygive—

  ImighthavehadtoliveAnothermorn!

  Ballad:TheModernMajor—GeneralIamtheverypatternofamodernMajor—Gineral,I’veinformationvegetable,animal,andmineral;

  IknowthekingsofEngland,andIquotethefightshistorical,FromMarathontoWaterloo,inordercategorical;

  I’mverywellacquainted,too,withmattersmathematical,Iunderstandequations,boththesimpleandquadratical;

  AboutbinomialtheoremI’mteemingwithaloto’news,Withinterestingfactsaboutthesquareofthehypotenuse,I’mverygoodatintegralanddifferentialcalculus,Iknowthescientificnamesofbeingsanimalculous。

  Inshort,inmattersvegetable,animal,andmineral,IamtheverymodelofamodernMajor—Gineral。

  Iknowourmythichistory—KINGARTHUR’SandSIRCARADOC’S,Ianswerhardacrostics,I’veaprettytasteforparadox;

  IquoteinelegiacsallthecrimesofHELIOGABALUS,InconicsIcanfloorpeculiaritiesparabolous。

  ItellundoubtedRAPHAELSfromGERARDDOWSandZOFFANIES,Iknowthecroakingchorusfromthe\"Frogs\"ofARISTOPHANES;

  ThenIcanhumafugue,ofwhichI’veheardthemusic’sdinafore,Andwhistlealltheairsfromthatconfoundednonsense\"Pinafore。\"

  ThenIcanwriteawashing—billinBabyloniccuneiform,AndtellyoueverydetailofCARACTACUS’Suniform。

  Inshort,inmattersvegetable,animal,andmineral,IamtheverymodelofamodernMajor—Gineral。

  Infact,whenIknowwhatismeantby\"mamelon\"and\"ravelin,\"

  WhenIcantellatsightaChassepotriflefromajavelin,WhensuchaffairsasSORTIESandsurprisesI’mmorewaryat,AndwhenIknowpreciselywhatismeantbyCommissariat,WhenIhavelearntwhatprogresshasbeenmadeinmoderngunnery,WhenIknowmoreoftacticsthananoviceinanunnery,Inshort,whenI’veasmatteringofelementarystrategy,You’llsayabetterMajor—GenerALhasneverSATagee—

  Formymilitaryknowledge,thoughI’mpluckyandadventury,Hasonlybeenbroughtdowntothebeginningofthecentury。

  Butstillinlearningvegetable,animal,andmineral,IamtheverymodelofamodernMajor—Gineral!

  Ballad:TheHeavyDragoonIfyouwantareceiptforthatpopularmystery,KnowntotheworldasaHeavyDragoon,Takealltheremarkablepeopleinhistory,Rattlethemofftoapopulartune!

  ThepluckofLORDNELSONonboardoftheVICTORY—

  GeniusofBISMARCKdevisingaplan;

  ThehumourofFIELDING(whichsoundscontradictory)—

  CoolnessofPAGETabouttotrepan—

  ThegraceofMOZART,thatunparalleledmusico—

  WitofMACAULAY,whowroteofQUEENANNE—

  ThepathosofPADDY,asrenderedbyBOUCICAULT—

  StyleoftheBISHOPOFSODORANDMAN—

  ThedashofaD’ORSAY,divestedofquackery—

  NarrativepowersofDICKENSandTHACKERAY—

  VICTOREMMANUEL—peak—hauntingPEVERIL—

  THOMASAQUINAS,andDOCTORSACHEVERELL—

  TUPPERandTENNYSON—DANIELDEFOE—

  ANTHONYTROLLOPEandMISTERGUIZOT!

  Takeoftheseelementsallthatisfusible,Melt’emalldowninapipkinorcrucible,Set’emtosimmerandtakeoffthescum,AndaHeavyDragoonistheresiduum!

  Ifyouwantareceiptforthissoldierlikeparagon,GetatthewealthoftheCZAR(ifyoucan)—

  ThefamilyprideofaSpaniardfromArragon—

  ForceofMEPHISTOpronouncingaban—

  AsmackofLORDWATERFORD,recklessandrollicky—

  SwaggerofRODERICK,headinghisclan—

  ThekeenpenetrationofPADDINGTONPOLLAKY—

  GraceofanOdalisqueonadivan—

  ThegeniusstrategicofCAESARorHANNIBAL—

  SkillofLORDWOLSELEYinthrashingacannibal—

  FlavourofHAMLET—theSTRANGER,atouchofhim—

  LittleofMANFRED(butnotverymuchofhim)—

  BeadleofBurlington—RICHARDSON’Sshow—

  MR。MICAWBERandMADAMETUSSAUD!

  Takeoftheseelementsallthatisfusible—

  Melt’emalldowninapipkinorcrucible—

  Set’emtosimmerandtakeoffthescum,AndaHeavyDragoonistheresiduum!

  Ballad:ProperPrideTheSun,whoseraysAreallablazeWithever—livingglory,WillnotdenyHismajesty—

  Hescornstotellastory:

  Hewon’texclaim,\"Iblushforshame,Sokindlybeindulgent,\"

  But,fierceandbold,Infierygold,Hegloriesalleffulgent!

  Imeantoruletheearth,Ashethesky—

  Wereallyknowourworth,TheSunandI!

  Observehisflame,Thatplaciddame,TheMoon’sCelestialHighness;

  There’snotatraceUponherfaceOfdiffidenceorshyness:

  SheborrowslightThat,throughthenight,Mankindmayallacclaimher!

  And,truthtotell,Shelightsupwell,SoI,forone,don’tblameher!

  Ah,praymakenomistake,Wearenotshy;

  We’reverywideawake,TheMoonandI!

  Ballad:ThePoliceman’sLotWhenafelon’snotengagedinhisemployment,Ormaturinghisfeloniouslittleplans,HiscapacityforinnocentenjoymentIsjustasgreatasanyhonestman’s。

  OurfeelingswewithdifficultysmotherWhenconstabularyduty’stobedone:

  Ah,takeoneconsiderationwithanother,Apoliceman’slotisnotahappyone!

  Whentheenterprisingburglarisn’tburgling,Whenthecut—throatisn’toccupiedincrime,Helovestohearthelittlebrooka—gurgling,Andlistentothemerryvillagechime。

  Whenthecoster’sfinishedjumpingonhismother,Helovestoliea—baskinginthesun:

  Ah,takeoneconsiderationwithanother,Thepoliceman’slotisnotahappyone!

  Ballad:TheBaffledGrumblerWhene’erIpokeSarcasticjokeRepletewithmalicespiteful,ThepeoplevilePolitelysmileAndvotemequitedelightful!

  Now,whenawightSitsupallnightIll—naturedjokesdevising,AndallhiswilesAremetwithsmiles,It’shard,there’snodisguising!

  Oh,don’tthedaysseemlankandlongWhenallgoesrightandnothinggoeswrong,Andisn’tyourlifeextremelyflatWithnothingwhatevertogrumbleat!

  WhenGermanbands,FrommusicstandsPlayWagnerimperFECTly—

  Ibidthemgo—

  Theydon’tsayno,Butofftheytrotdirectly!

  TheorganboysTheystoptheirnoiseWithreadinesssurprising,AndgrinningherdsOfhurdy—gurdsRetireapologising!

  Oh,don’tthedaysseemlankandlongWhenallgoesrightandnothinggoeswrong,Andisn’tyourlifeextremelyflatWithnothingwhatevertogrumbleat!

  I’veofferedgold,Insumsuntold,Toallwho’dcontradictme—

  I’vesaidI’dpayApoundadayToanyonewhokickedme—

  I’vebribedwithtoysGreatvulgarboysTouttersomethingspiteful,But,blessyou,no!

  TheyWILLbesoConfoundedlypoliteful!

  Inshort,theseaggravatinglads,Theyticklemytastes,theyfeedmyfads,Theygivemethisandtheygivemethat,AndI’venothingwhatevertogrumbleat!

  Ballad:TheHouseOfPeersWhenBritainreallyruledthewaves—

  (IngoodQueenBess’stime)

  TheHouseofPeersmadenopretenceTointellectualeminence,Orscholarshipsublime;

  YetBritainwonherproudestbaysIngoodQueenBess’sgloriousdays!

  WhenWellingtonthrashedBonaparte,Aseverychildcantell,TheHouseofPeers,throughoutthewar,Didnothinginparticular,Anddiditverywell;

  YetBritainsettheworldablazeIngoodKingGeorge’sgloriousdays!

  AndwhiletheHouseofPeerswithholdsItslegislativehand,AndnoblestatesmendonotitchTointerferewithmatterswhichTheydonotunderstand,AsbrightwillshineGreatBritain’srays,AsinKingGeorge’sgloriousdays!

  Ballad:AMerryMadrigalBrightlydawnsourweddingday;

  Joyoushour,wegivetheegreeting!

  Whither,whitherartthoufleeting?

  Ficklemoment,pritheestay!

  Whatthoughmortaljoysbehollow?

  Pleasurescome,ifsorrowsfollow。

  Thoughthetocsinsound,erelong,Dingdong!Dingdong!

  YetuntiltheshadowsfallOveroneandoverall,Singamerrymadrigal—

  Falla!

  Letusdrythereadytear;

  Thoughthehoursaresurelycreeping,LittleneedforwoefulweepingTillthesadsundownisnear。

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