第4章
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  Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourmysticway,\"IfthisyoungmanexpresseshimselfintermstoodeepforME,Why,whataverysingularlydeepyoungmanthisdeepyoungmanmustbe!\"

  Beeloquentinpraiseoftheverydullolddayswhichhavelongsincepassedaway,Andconvince’em,ifyoucan,thatthereignofgoodQUEENANNEwasCulture’spalmiestday。

  Ofcourseyouwillpooh—poohwhatever’sfreshandnew,anddeclareit’scrudeandmean,AndthatArtstoppedshortinthecultivatedcourtoftheEMPRESS

  JOSEPHINE。

  Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourmysticway,\"Ifthat’snotgoodenoughforhimwhichisgoodenoughforME,Why,whataverycultivatedkindofyouththiskindofyouthmustbe!\"

  Thenasentimentalpassionofavegetablefashionmustexciteyourlanguidspleen,AnattachmentELAPlatoforabashfulyoungpotato,oranot—too—

  FrenchFrenchbean。

  ThoughthePhilistinesmayjostle,youwillrankasanapostleinthehighaestheticband,IfyouwalkdownPiccadillywithapoppyoralilyinyourmediaevalhand。

  Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourfloweryway,\"Ifhe’scontentwithavegetablelovewhichwouldcertainlynotsuitME,Why,whatamostparticularlypureyoungmanthispureyoungmanmustbe!\"

  Ballad:SaidIToMyself,SaidI

  WhenIwenttotheBarasaveryyoungman(SaidItomyself—saidI),I’llworkonanewandoriginalplan(SaidItomyself—saidI),I’llneverassumethatarogueorathiefIsagentlemanworthyimplicitbelief,Becausehisattorney,hassentmeabrief(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

  I’llneverthrowdustinajuryman’seyes(SaidItomyself—saidI),Orhoodwinkajudgewhoisnotover—wise(SaidItomyself—saidI),OrassumethatthewitnessessummonedinforceInExchequer,Queen’sBench,CommonPleas,orDivorce,Haveperjuredthemselvesasamatterofcourse(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

  EreIgointocourtIwillreadmybriefthrough(SaidItomyself—saidI),AndI’llnevertakeworkI’munabletodo(SaidItomyself—saidI)。

  MylearnedprofessionI’llneverdisgraceBytakingafeewithagrinonmyface,WhenIhaven’tbeentheretoattendtothecase(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

  Inotherprofessionsinwhichmenengage(SaidItomyself—saidI),TheArmy,theNavy,theChurch,andtheStage,(SaidItomyself—saidI),Professionallicence,ifcarriedtoofar,Yourchanceofpromotionwillcertainlymar—

  AndIfancytherulemightapplytotheBar(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

  Ballad:SorryHerLotSorryherlotwholovestoowell,Heavytheheartthathopesbutvainly,SadarethesighsthatownthespellUtteredbyeyesthatspeaktooplainly;

  HeavythesorrowthatbowstheheadWhenLoveisaliveandHopeisdead!

  SadisthehourwhensetstheSun—

  DarkisthenighttoEarth’spoordaughters,WhentothearktheweariedoneFliesfromtheemptywasteofwaters!

  HeavythesorrowthatbowstheheadWhenLoveisaliveandHopeisdead!

  Ballad:TheContemplativeSentryWhenallnightlongachapremainsOnsentry—go,tochasemonotonyHeexercisesofhisbrains,Thatis,assumingthathe’sgotany。

  ThoughnevernurturedinthelapOfluxury,yetIadmonishyou,Iamanintellectualchap,Andthinkofthingsthatwouldastonishyou。

  Ioftenthinkit’scomicalHowNaturealwaysdoescontriveThateveryboyandeverygal,That’sbornintotheworldalive,IseitheralittleLiberal,OrelsealittleConservative!

  Fallalla!

  WheninthathouseM。P。’sdivide,Ifthey’veabrainandcerebellum,too,They’vegottoleavethatbrainoutside,Andvotejustastheirleaderstell’emto。

  ButthentheprospectofalotOfstatesmen,allincloseproximity,A—thinkingforthemselves,iswhatNomancanfacewithequanimity。

  Thenlet’srejoicewithloudFallalThatNaturewiselydoescontriveThateveryboyandeverygal,That’sbornintotheworldalive,IseitheralittleLiberal,OrelsealittleConservative!

  Fallalla!

  Ballad:ThePhilosophicPillI’vewisdomfromtheEastandfromtheWest,That’ssubjecttonoacademicrule;

  Youmayfinditinthejeeringofajest,Ordistilitfromthefollyofafool。

  Icanteachyouwithaquip,ifI’veamind;

  Icantrickyouintolearningwithalaugh;

  Oh,winnowallmyfolly,andyou’llfindAgrainortwooftruthamongthechaff!

  Icansetabraggartquailingwithaquip,TheupstartIcanwitherwithawhim;

  Hemaywearamerrylaughuponhislip,Buthislaughterhasanechothatisgrim。

  Whenthey’veofferedtotheworldinmerryguise,Unpleasanttruthsareswallowedwithawill—

  Forhewho’dmakehisfellow—creatureswiseShouldalwaysgildthephilosophicpill!

  Ballad:BlueBloodSpurnnotthenoblybornWithloveaffected,NortreatwithvirtuousscornThewellconnected。

  Highrankinvolvesnoshame—

  WeboastanequalclaimWithhimofhumblenameToberespected!

  Blueblood!Blueblood!

  Whenvirtuousloveissought,Thypowerisnaught,ThoughdatingfromtheFlood,Blueblood!

  SpareusthebitterpainOfsterndenials,Norwithlow—borndisdainAugmentourtrials。

  HeartsjustaspureandfairMaybeatinBelgraveSquareAsinthelowlyairOfSevenDials!

  Blueblood!Blueblood!

  OfwhatavailartthouToservemenow?

  ThoughdatingfromtheFlood,Blueblood!

  Ballad:TheJudge’sSongWhenI,goodfriends,wascalledtotheBar,I’danappetitefreshandhearty,ButIwas,asmanyyoungbarristersare,Animpecuniousparty。

  I’daswallow—tailcoatofabeautifulblue—

  Abriefwhichwasbroughtbyabooby—

  Acoupleofshirtsandacollarortwo,Andaringthatlookedlikearuby!

  InWestminsterHallIdancedadance,Likeasemi—despondentfury;

  ForIthoughtIshouldneverhitonachanceOfaddressingaBritishJury—

  ButIsoongottiredofthird—classjourneys,Anddinnersofbreadandwater;

  SoIfellinlovewitharichattorney’sElderly,uglydaughter。

  Therichattorney,hewipedhiseyes,Andrepliedtomyfondprofessions:

  \"Youshallreaptherewardofyourenterprise,AttheBaileyandMiddlesexSessions。

  You’llsoongetusedtoherlooks,\"saidhe,\"Andaverynicegirlyou’llfindher—

  Shemayverywellpassforforty—threeInthedusk,withalightbehindher!\"

  Therichattorneywasasgoodashisword:

  Thebriefscametroopinggaily,AndeverydaymyvoicewasheardAttheSessionsorAncientBailey。

  AllthieveswhocouldmyfeesaffordReliedonmyorations,AndmanyaburglarI’verestoredTohisfriendsandhisrelations。

  AtlengthIbecameasrichastheGURNEYS—

  AnincubusthenIthoughther,SoIthrewoverthatrichattorney’sElderly,uglydaughter。

  TherichattorneymycharacterhighTriedvainlytodisparage—

  Andnow,ifyouplease,I’mreadytotryThisBreachofPromiseofMarriage!

  Ballad:WhenIFirstPutThisUniformOnWhenIfirstputthisuniformon,Isaid,asIlookedintheglass,\"It’sonetoamillionThatanycivilianMyfigureandformwillsurpass。

  Goldlacehasacharmforthefair,AndI’veplentyofthat,andtospare,Whilealover’sprofessions,WhenutteredinHessians,Areeloquenteverywhere!\"

  AfactthatIcountedupon,WhenIfirstputthisuniformon!

  Isaid,whenIfirstputiton,\"ItisplaintotheveriestdunceThateverybeautyWillfeelitherdutyToyieldtoitsglamouratonce。

  TheywillseethatI’mfreelygold—lacedInauniformhandsomeandchaste\"—

  ButtheperipateticsOflong—hairedaesthetics,Areverymuchmoretotheirtaste—

  WhichInevercounteduponWhenIfirstputthisuniformon!

  Ballad:SolatiumComesthebrokenflower—

  Comesthecheatedmaid—

  Thoughthetempestlower,Rainandcloudwillfade!

  Take,Omaid,theseposies:

  ThoughthybeautyrareShametheblushingroses,Theyarepassingfair!

  Weartheflowerstilltheyfade;

  Happybethylife,Omaid!

  O’ertheseasonvernal,Timemaycastashade;

  Sunshine,ifeternal,Makestherosesfade:

  Timemaydohisduty;

  Letthethiefalone—

  WinterhathabeautyThatisallhisown。

  Fairestdaysaresunandshade:

  Happybethylife,Omaid!

  Ballad:ANightmareWhenyou’relyingawakewithadismalheadache,andreposeistaboo’dbyanxiety,Iconceiveyoumayuseanylanguageyouchoosetoindulgeinwithoutimpropriety;

  Foryourbrainisonfire—thebedclothesconspireofusualslumbertoplunderyou:

  Firstyourcounterpanegoesanduncoversyourtoes,andyoursheetslipsdemurelyfromunderyou;

  Thentheblanketingtickles—youfeellikemixedpickles,soterriblysharpisthepricking,Andyou’rehot,andyou’recross,andyoutumbleandtosstillthere’snothing’twixtyouandtheticking。

  Thenthebedclothesallcreeptothegroundinaheap,andyoupick’emallupinatangle;

  Nextyourpillowresignsandpolitelydeclinestoremainatitsusualangle!

  Well,yougetsomereposeintheformofadoze,withhoteyeballsandheadeveraching,Butyourslumberingteemswithsuchhorribledreamsthatyou’dverymuchbetterbewaking;

  ForyoudreamyouarecrossingtheChannel,andtossingaboutinasteamerfromHarwich,Whichissomethingbetweenalargebathing—machineandaverysmallsecond—classcarriage;

  Andyou’regivingatreat(pennyiceandcoldmeat)toapartyoffriendsandrelations—

  They’rearavenoushorde—andtheyallcameonboardatSloaneSquareandSouthKensingtonStations。

  Andboundonthatjourneyyoufindyourattorney(whostartedthatmorningfromDevon);

  He’sabitundersized,andyoudon’tfeelsurprisedwhenhetellsyouhe’sonlyeleven。

  Well,you’redrivinglikemadwiththissingularlad(bythebyetheship’snowafour—wheeler),Andyou’replayingroundgames,andhecallsyoubadnameswhenyoutellhimthat\"tiespaythedealer\";

  Butthisyoucan’tstand,soyouthrowupyourhand,andyoufindyou’reascoldasanicicle,Inyourshirtandyoursocks(theblacksilkwithgoldclocks),crossingSalisburyPlainonabicycle:

  Andheandthecrewareonbicyclestoo—whichthey’vesomehoworotherinvestedin—

  Andhe’stellingthetarsalltheparticuLARSofacompanyhe’sinterestedin—

  It’saschemeofdevices,togetatlowprices,allgoodsfromcoughmixturestocables(Whichtickledthesailors)bytreatingretailers,asthoughtheywereallvegeTAbles—

  Yougetagoodspadesmantoplantasmalltradesman(firsttakeoffhisbootswithaboot—tree),Andhislegswilltakeroot,andhisfingerswillshoot,andthey’llblossomandbudlikeafruit—tree—

  Fromthegreengrocertreeyougetgrapesandgreenpea,cauliflower,pineapple,andcranberries,Whilethepastry—cookplantcherry—brandywillgrant—applepuffs,andthree—corners,andbanberries—

  Thesharesareapenny,andeversomanyaretakenbyROTHSCHILD

  andBARING,Andjustasafewareallottedtoyou,youawakewithashudderdespairing—

  You’rearegularwreck,withacrickinyourneck,andnowonderyousnore,foryourhead’sonthefloor,andyou’veneedlesandpinsfromyoursolestoyourshins,andyourfleshisa—creep,foryourleftleg’sasleep,andyou’vecrampinyourtoes,andaflyonyournose,andsomefluffinyourlung,andafeverishtongue,andathirstthat’sintense,andageneralsensethatyouhaven’tbeensleepinginclover;

  Butthedarknesshaspassed,andit’sdaylightatlast,andthenighthasbeenlong—ditto,dittomysong—andthankgoodnessthey’rebothofthemover!

  Ballad:Don’tForget!

  Now,Marco,dear,Mywisheshear:

  Whileyou’reawayIt’sunderstoodYouwillbegood,Andnottoogay。

  ToeverytraceOfmaidengraceYouwillbeblind,AndwillnotglanceByanychanceOnwomankind!

  Ifyouarewise,You’llshutyoureyesTillwearrive,AndnotaddressAladylessThanforty—five;

  You’llpleasetofrownOneverygownThatyoumaysee;

  AndO,mypet,Youwon’tforgetYou’vemarriedme!

  O,mydarling,O,mypet,Whateverelseyoumayforget,Inyonderislebeyondthesea,O,don’tforgetyou’vemarriedme!

  You’lllayyourheadUponyourbedAtsetofsun。

  YouwillnotsingOfanythingToanyone:

  You’llsitandmopeAllday,Ihope,AndshedatearUponthelifeYourlittlewifeIspassinghere!

  AndifsobeYouthinkofme,Pleasetellthemoon;

  I’llreaditallInraysthatfallOnthelagoon:

  You’llbesokindAstellthewindHowyoumaybe,AndsendmewordsBylittlebirdsTocomfortme!

  AndO,mydarling,O,mypet,Whateverelseyoumayforget,Inyonderislebeyondthesea,O,don’tforgetyou’vemarriedme!

  Ballad:TheSuicide’sGraveOnatreebyariveralittletomtitSang\"Willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  AndIsaidtohim,\"Dicky—bird,whydoyousitSinging’Willow,titwillow,titwillow’?

  Isitweaknessofintellect,birdie?\"Icried,\"Orarathertoughworminyourlittleinside?\"

  Withashakeofhispoorlittleheadhereplied,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  Heslappedathischest,ashesatonthatbough,Singing\"Willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  Andacoldperspirationbespangledhisbrow,Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!

  Hesobbedandhesighed,andagurglehegave,Thenhethrewhimselfintothebillowywave,Andanechoarosefromthesuicide’sgrave—

  \"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  NowIfeeljustassureasI’msurethatmynameIsn’tWillow,titwillow,titwillow,That’twasblightedaffectionthatmadehimexclaim,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  Andifyouremaincallousandobdurate,I

  Shallperishashedid,andyouwillknowwhy,ThoughIprobablyshallnotexclaimasIdie,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

  Ballad:HeAndShe[HE。]Iknowayouthwholovesalittlemaid—

  (Hey,buthisfaceisasightfortosee!)

  Silentishe,forhe’smodestandafraid—

  (Hey,buthe’stimidasayouthcanbe!)

  [SHE。]Iknowamaidwholovesagallantyouth—

  (Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

  SHEcannottellhimallthesad,sadtruth—

  (Hey,butIthinkthatlittlemaidwilldie!)

  [BOTH。]Nowtellmepray,andtellmetrue,Whatintheworldshouldthepoorsouldo?

  [HE。]Hecannoteatandhecannotsleep—

  (Hey,buthisfaceisasightfortosee!)

  Dailyhegoesfortowail—fortoweep—

  (Hey,buthe’swretchedasayouthcanbe!)

  [SHE。]She’sverythinandshe’sverypale—

  (Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

  Dailyshegoesfortoweep—fortowail—

  (Hey,butIthinkthatlittlemaidwilldie!)

  [BOTH。]Nowtellmepray,andtellmetrue,Whatintheworldshouldthepoorsouldo?

  [SHE。]IfIweretheyouthIshouldofferhermyname—

  (Hey,butherfaceisasightfortosee!)

  [HE。]IfIwerethemaidIshouldfanhishonestflame—

  (Hey,buthe’sbashfulasayouthcanbe!)

  [SHE。]IfIweretheyouthIshouldspeaktoherto—day—

  (Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

  [HE。]IfIwerethemaidIshouldmeettheladhalfway—

  (ForIreallydobelievethattimidyouthwilldie!)

  [BOTH。]Ithankyoumuchforyourcounseltrue;

  I’velearntwhatthatpoorsouloughttodo!

  Ballad:TheMightyMustComemightyMust!

  InevitableShall!

  IntheeItrust。

  Timeweavesmycoronal!

  GomockingIs!

  GodisappointingWas!

  ThatIamthisYearethecursedcause!

  YethumbleSecondshallbeFirst,Iween;

  AnddeadandburiedbethecurstHasBeen!

  OhweakMightBe!

  OhMay,Might,Could,Would,Should!

  HowpowerlessyeForevilorforgood!

  IneverysenseYourmoodsIcheerlesscall,Whate’eryourtenseYeareImperfect,all!

  YehavedeceivedthetrustI’veshownInye!

  Away!TheMightyMustaloneShallbe!

  Ballad:AMirageWereIthybride,ThenthewholeworldbesideWerenottoowideToholdmywealthoflove—

  WereIthybride!

  UponthybreastMylovingheadwouldrest,AsonhernestThetenderturtle—dove—

  WereIthybride!

  ThisheartofmineWouldbeoneheartwiththine,AndinthatshrineOurhappinesswoulddwell—

  WereIthybride!

  AndalldaylongOurlivesshouldbeasong:

  Nogrief,nowrongShouldmakemyheartrebel—

  WereIthybride!

  Thesilveryflute,Themelancholylute,Werenight—owl’shootTomylow—whisperedcoo—

  WereIthybride!

  Theskylark’strillWerebutdiscordanceshrillTothesoftthrillOfwooingasI’dwoo—

  WereIthybride!

  Therose’ssighWereasacarrion’scryTolullabySuchasI’dsingtothee—

  WereIthybride!

  Afeather’spressWereleadenheavinessTomycaress。

  Butthen,unhappily,I’mnotthybride!

  Ballad:TheGhosts’HighNoonWhenthenightwindhowlsinthechimneycowls,andthebatinthemoonlightflies,Andinkyclouds,likefuneralshrouds,sailoverthemidnightskies—

  Whenthefootpadsquailatthenight—bird’swail,andblackdogsbaythemoon,Thenisthespectres’holiday—thenistheghosts’highnoon!

  Asthesobofthebreezesweepsoverthetrees,andthemistslielowonthefen,Fromgreytombstonesaregatheredthebonesthatoncewerewomenandmen,Andawaytheygo,withamopandamow,totherevelthatendstoosoon,Forcockcrowlimitsourholiday—thedeadofthenight’shighnoon!

  Andtheneachghostwithhisladye—toasttotheirchurchyardbedstakeflight,Withakiss,perhaps,onherlanternchaps,andagrislygrim\"goodnight\";

  Tillthewelcomeknellofthemidnightbellringsforthitsjolliesttune,Andushersournexthighholiday—thedeadofthenight’shighnoon!

  Ballad:TheHumaneMikadoAmorehumaneMikadoneverDidinJapanexist;

  Tonobodysecond,I’mcertainlyreckonedAtruephilanthropist。

  ItismyveryhumaneendeavourTomake,tosomeextent,EachevilliverArunningriverOfharmlessmerriment。

  MyobjectallsublimeIshallachieveintime—

  Toletthepunishmentfitthecrime—

  Thepunishmentfitthecrime;

  AndmakeeachprisonerpentUnwillinglyrepresentAsourceofinnocentmerriment—

  Ofinnocentmerriment!

  Allprosydullsocietysinners,Whochatterandbleatandbore,AresenttohearsermonsFrommysticalGermansWhopreachfromtentofour:

  Theamateurtenor,whosevocalvillainiesAlldesiretoshirk,Shall,duringoff—hours,ExhibithispowersToMadameTussaud’swaxwork:

  Theladywhodyesachemicalyellow,Orstainshergreyhairpuce,Orpinchesherfigger,IsblackedlikeaniggerWithpermanentwalnutjuice:

  Theidiotwho,inrailwaycarriages,Scribblesonwindowpanes,WeonlysufferTorideonabufferInParliamentarytrains。

  MyobjectallsublimeIshallachieveintime—

  Toletthepunishmentfitthecrime—

  Thepunishmentfitthecrime;

  AndmakeeachprisonerpentUnwillinglyrepresentAsourceofinnocentmerriment—

  Ofinnocentmerriment!

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