第6章
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  Toteachhimpatience,teachhimtact,Howpromptlyinafixtoact,Heshouldadopt,inpointoffact,Amanager’sprofession。

  Tothatconditionheshouldstoop(Despiteatoofondmother),Witheightorten\"stars\"inhistroupe,Alljealousofeachother!

  Oh,themanwhocanruleatheatricalcrew,Eachmemberagenius(andsomeofthemtwo),Andmanagetohumourthem,littleandgreat,Cangovernatuppenny—ha’pennyState!

  BothAandBrehearsalslight—

  Theysaythey’llbe\"allrightatnight\"

  (They’vebothtogotoschoolyet);

  CineachactMUSTchangeherdress,DWILLattemptto\"squarethepress\";

  Ewon’tplayRomeounlessHisgrandmotherplaysJuliet;

  Fclaimsallhoydensasherrights(She’splayedthemthirtyseasons);

  AndGmustshowherselfintightsFortwoconvincingreasons—

  Twoverywell—shapedreasons!

  Oh,themanwhocandriveatheatricalteam,Withwheelersandleadersinordersupreme,Cangovernandrule,withawaveofhisfin,AllEuropeandAsia—withIrelandthrownin!

  Ballad:OutOfSortsWhenyoufindyou’reabroken—downcritter,Whoisallofatrimmleandtwitter,Withyourpalateunpleasantlybitter,Asifyou’djustbittenapill—

  Whenyourlegsareasthinasdividers,Andyou’replaguedwithunrulyinsiders,Andyourspineisallcreepywithspiders,Andyou’rehighlygambogeinthegill—

  Whenyou’vegotabeehiveinyourhead,Andasewingmachineineachear,Andyoufeelthatyou’veeatenyourbed,Andyou’vegotabadheadacheDOWNHERE—

  Whensuchfactsareabout,AndthesesymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorcrown—

  Well,it’stimetolookout,YoumaymakeupyourmindYouhadbetterliedown!

  Whenyourlipsareallsmeary—liketallow,Andyourtongueisdecidedlyyallow,WithapintofwarmoilinyourswAllow,Andapoundoftin—tacksinyourchest—

  Whenyou’redowninthemouthwiththevapours,AndalloveryournewMorrispapersBlack—beetlesarecuttingtheircapers,Andcrawlythingsneveratrest—

  Whenyoudoubtifyourheadisyourown,Andyoujumpwhenanopendoorslams—

  Thenyou’vegottoastatewhichisknownTothemedicalworldas\"jim—jams。\"

  IfsuchsymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorhead,They’renoteasytoquell—

  YoumaymakeupyourmindYouarebetterinbed,Foryou’renotatallwell!

  Ballad:HowIt’sDoneBold—facedranger(Perfectstranger)

  Meetstwowell—behavedyoungladiesHe’sattractive,Youngandactive—

  Eachalittlebitafraidis。

  Youthadvances,AthisglancesTotheirdangertheyawaken;

  TheyrepelhimAstheytellhimHeisverymuchmistaken。

  Thoughtheyspeaktohimpolitely,Pleaseobservethey’resneeringslightly,Justtoshowhe’sactingvainly。

  ThisisVirtuesayingplainly,\"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!\"

  (Whenaddressedimpertinently,Englishladiesanswergently,\"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!\")

  Ashegazes,Hatheraises,Entersintoconversation。

  Makesexcuses—

  ThisproducesInterestingagitation。

  He,withdaring,Undespairing,Giveshiscard—hisrankdiscloses—

  LittleheedingThisproceeding,Theyturnuptheirlittlenoses。

  Prayobservethislessonvital—

  WhenamanofrankandtitleHispositionfirstdiscloses,Alwayscockyourlittlenoses。

  Whenathome,letalltheclassTrythisinthelooking—glass。

  (Englishgirlsofwell—brednotionsShunallunrehearsedemotions,EnglishgirlsofhighestclassPractisethembeforetheglass。)

  HisintentionsThenhementions,Somethingdefinitetogoon—

  MakesrecitalsOfhistitles,Hintsatsettlements,andsoon。

  Smilingsweetly,They,discreetly,Askforfurtherevidences:

  Thusinvited,He,delighted,Givestheusualreferences。

  Thisisbusiness。EachisflutteredWhentheoffer’sfairlyuttered。

  \"Whichofthemhashisaffection?\"

  Hedeclinestomakeselection。

  Dotheyquarrelforhisdross?

  Notabitofit—theytoss!

  Pleaseobservethiscogentmoral—

  Englishladiesneverquarrel。

  Whenadoubttheycomeacross,Englishladiesalwaystoss。

  Ballad:AClassicalRevivalAttheoutsetImaymentionit’smysovereignintentionTorevivetheclassicmemoriesofAthensatitsbest,Formycompanypossessesallthenecessarydresses,Andacourseofquietcrammingwillsupplyuswiththerest。

  We’veachoirhyporchematic(thatis,ballet—operatic)

  WhorespondtotheCHOREUTAEofthatcultivatedage,Andourcleverchorus—master,allbutcaptiouscriticaster,WouldacceptastheCHOREGUSoftheearlyAtticstage。

  Thisreturntoclassicagesisconsideredintheirwages,Whicharealwayscalculatedbythedayorbytheweek—

  AndI’llpay’em(ifthey’llbackme)allinOBOLOIandDRACHMAE,Whichthey’llget(iftheypreferit)attheKalendsthatareGreek!

  (AtthisjunctureImaymentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady\"cram。\":

  Periphrasticmethodsspurning,TomyreadersalldiscerningIadmitthisshowoflearningIsthefruitofsteadycram。\"!)

  IntheperiodSocraticeverydining—roomwasAttic(Whichsuggestsanarchitectureofatopsy—turvykind),Therethey’dsatisfytheirtwistonaRECHERCHEcold[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced],Whichiswhattheycalledtheirlunch—andsomayyou,ifyou’reinclined。

  Astheygraduallygoton,they’d[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]

  (WhichisAtticforasteadyandaconscientiousdrink)。

  Buttheymixedtheirwinewithwater—whichI’msuretheydidn’toughter—

  AndweAnglo—Saxonsknowatrickworthtwoofthat,Ithink!

  Thencameratherriskydances(undercertaincircumstances)

  Whichwouldshockthatworthygentleman,theLicenserofPlays,CorybantianmaniACkick—DionysiacorBacchic—

  AndtheDithyrambicrevelsofthoseindecorousdays。

  (AndperhapsI’dbettermentionLestalarmingyouIam,Thatitisn’tourintentionToperformaDithyramb—

  Itdisplaysalotofstocking,Whichisalwaysveryshocking,AndofcourseI’monlymockingAttheprevalenceof\"cram。\")

  Yes,onreconsideration,therearecustomsofthatnationWhicharenotinstrictaccordancewiththehabitsofourday,AndwhenIcometocodify,theirrulesImeantomodify,OrMrs。Grundy,p’r’aps,mayhaveawordortwotosay:

  Fortheyhadn’tmacintoshesorumbrellasorgoloshes—

  Andashowerwiththeirdressesmusthaveplayedtheverydeuce,Anditmusthavebeenunpleasingwhentheycaughtafitofsneezing,For,itseems,ofpocket—handkerchiefstheydidn’tknowtheuse。

  Theyworelittleunderclothing—scarcelyanything—orno—thing—

  AndtheirdressofCoansilkwasquitetransparentindesign—

  Well,infact,insummerweather,somethinglikethe\"altogether。\"

  Andit’sTHERE,Iratherfancy,Ishallhavetodrawtheline!

  (AndagainIwishtomentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady\"cram。\"

  Yetmyclassicloveaggressive,Ifyou’llpardonthepossessive,IsexceedinglyimpressiveWhenyou’repassinganexam。)

  Ballad:ThePracticalJokerOhwhatafundofjoyjocundlieshidinharmlesshoaxes!

  WhatkeenenjoymentspringsFromcheapandsimplethings!

  Whatdeepdelightfromsourcestriteinventivehumourcoaxes,ThatpainandtroublebrewForeveryonebutyou!

  GunpowderplacedinsideitswaistimprovesamildHavanah,ItsunexpectedflashBurnseyebrowsandmoustache;

  Whenpeopledinenokindofwinebeatsipecacuanha,ButcommonsensesuggestsYoukeepitforyourguests—

  Thennaughtannoystheorganboyslikethrowingred—hotcoppers,AndmuchamusementbidesIncommonbutter—slides。

  Andstringysnaresacrossthestairscauseunexpectedcroppers。

  Coalscuttles,recollect,Producethesameeffect。

  AmanpossessedOfcommonsenseNeednotinvestAtgreatexpense—

  ItdoesnotcallForpocketdeep,ThesejokesareallExtremelycheap。

  Ifyoucommencewitheighteenpence(it’sallyou’llhavetopay),Youmaycommandapleasantandamostinstructiveday。

  Agoodspringgunbreedsendlessfun,andmakesmenjumplikerockets,Andturnip—headsonpostsMakeverydecentghosts:

  Thenhornetsstinglikeanything,whenplacedinwaist—coatpockets—

  BurntcorkandwalnutjuiceArenotwithouttheiruse。

  Nofuncompareswitheasychairswhoseseatsarestuffedwithneedles—

  LiveshrimpstheirpatiencetaxWhenputdownpeople’sbacks—

  Surprising,too,whatonecandowithfiftyfatblackbeedles—

  AndtreacleonachairWillmakeaQuakerswear!

  ThensharptintacksAndpocketsquirts—

  Andcobblers’waxForladies’skirts—

  AndslimyslugsOnbedroomfloors—

  AndwaterjugsOnopendoors—

  Preparedwiththesecheapproperties,amusingtrickstoplay,Uponafriendamanmayspendamostdelightfulday!

  Ballad:TheNationalAnthemAmonarchispesteredwithcares,Though,nodoubt,hecanoftentrepanthem;

  Butonecomesinashapehecanneverescape—

  TheimplacableNationalAnthem!

  Thoughforquietandresthemayyearn,Itpursueshimateveryturn—

  NochanceofforsakingItsROCOCOnumbers;

  Theyhaunthimwhenwaking—

  Theypoisonhisslumbers—

  LiketheBanburyLady,whomeveryoneknows,He’scursedwithitsmusicwhereverhegoes!

  Thoughitswordsbutimperfectlyrhyme,Andthedevilhimselfcouldn’tscanthem;

  WithcomposurepoliteheenduresdayandnightThatilliterateNationalAnthem!

  Itservesagoodpurpose,Iown:

  Itsstrainsaredevoutandimpressive—

  Itsheart—stirringnotesraisealumpinourthroatsAsweburnwithdevotionexcessive:

  ButtheKing,who’sbeenboredbythatsongFromhiscradle—eachday—alldaylong—

  Who’shearditloud—shoutedBythroatsoperatic,AndloyallyspoutedBycourtiersemphatic—

  Bysoldier—bysailor—bydrumandbyfife—

  Smallblameifhethinksittheplagueofhislife!

  Whilehissubjectssingloudlyandlong,TheirKing—whowouldwillinglybanthem—

  Sits,worrydisguising,anathematisingThatBogie,theNationalAnthem!

  Ballad:HerTermsMyweddedlifeMusteverypleasurebringOnscaleextensive!

  IfI’myourwifeImusthaveeverythingThat’smostexpensive—

  Alady’s—maid—

  (MyhairalonetodoIamnotable)—

  AndI’mafraidI’vebeenaccustomedtoAfirst—ratetable。

  Thesethingsonemustconsiderwhenonemarries—

  AndeverythingIwearmustcomefromParis!

  Oh,thinkofthat!

  Oh,thinkofthat!

  Ican’twearanythingthat’snotfromParis!

  FromtoptotoesQuiteFrenchifiedIam,Ifyouexamine。

  Andthen—whoknows?—

  Perhapssomedayafam—

  Perhapsafamine!

  Myargument’scorrect,ifyouexamine,Whatshouldwedo,ifthereshouldcomeaf—famine!

  ThoughingreenpeaYourselfyouneedn’tstintInJulysunny,InJanuareeItreallycostsamint—

  Amintofmoney!

  Nolambforus—

  HouselambatChristmassellsAtpriceshandsome:

  Asparagus,Inwinter,parallelsAMonarch’sransom:

  Whenpursetobreadandbutterbarelyreaches,Whatisyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?

  Ah!tellmethat!

  Ah!tellmethat!

  WhatISyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?

  YourheartandhandThoughatmyfeetyoulay,Allothersscorning!

  Asmattersstand,There’snothingnowtosayExcept—goodmorning!

  Thoughvirtuebeahusband’sbestadorning,Thatwon’tpayratesandtaxes—so,goodmorning!

  Ballad:TheIndependentBeeAhiveofbees,asI’veheardsay,SaidtotheirQueenonesultryday,\"PleaseyourMajesty’shighposition,Thehiveisfullandtheweatheriswarm,Weratherthink,withaduesubmission,Thetimehascomewhenweoughttoswarm。\"

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  UpspaketheirQueenandthusspakeshe—

  \"Thisisamatterthatrestswithme,Whodaresopinionsthustoform?

  I’LLtellyouwhenitistimetoswarm!\"

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  HerMajestyworeanangryfrown,Infact,herMajesty’sfootwasdown—

  HerMajestysulked—declinedtosup—

  Inshort,herMajesty’sbackwasup。

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  Herfootwasdownandherbackwasup!

  Thathivecontainedoneobstinatebee(HisnamewasPeter),andthusspakehe—

  \"Thougheverybeehasshownwhitefeather,TobowtotyrannyI’mnotprone—

  Whyshouldahiveswarmalltogether?

  Surelyabeecanswarmalone?\"

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  Upsidedownandinsideout,Backwards,forwards,roundabout,Twirlinghereandtwistingthere,Topsyturvilyeverywhere—

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  PitifulsightitwastoseeRespectableelderlyhigh—classbee,Whokickedthebeamatsixteenstone,Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!

  Thehivewereshockedtoseetheirchum(Astrictteetotaller)teetotum—

  TheQueenexclaimed,\"Howterrible,very!

  It’sperfectlycleartoallthethrongPeter’sbeenattheoldbrownsherry。

  Oldbrownsherryismuchtoostrong—

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  Ofallwhothusthemselvesdegrade,Asternexamplemustbemade,ToCoventrygo,youtipsybee!\"

  SoofftoCoventrytownwenthe。

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  There,classedwithallwhomisbehave,Bothplausiblerogueandnoisomeknave,IndismaldumpshelivedtoownThefollyoftryingtoswarmalone!

  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

  Allcameoftryingtoswarmalone。

  Ballad:TheDisconcertedTenorAtenor,allsingersabove(Thisdoesn’tadmitofaquestion),Shouldkeephimselfquiet,Attendtohisdiet,Andcarefullynursehisdigestion。

  Butwhenheismadlyinlove,It’scertaintotellonhissinging—

  Youcan’tdochromaticsWithproperemphaticsWhenanguishyourbosomiswringing!

  Whendistractedwithworriesinplenty,Andhispulseisahundredandtwenty,Andhisflutteringbosomtheslaveofmistrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。

  Nowobserve—(SINGSAHIGHNOTE)—

  Yousee,Ican’tdomyselfjustice!

  Icouldsing,ifmyfervourweremock,It’seasyenoughifyou’reacting,Butwhenone’semotionIsbornofdevotion,Youmustn’tbeover—exacting。

  OneoughttobefirmasarockToventureashakeinVIBRATO;

  Whenfervour’sexpected,Keepcoolandcollected,OrneverattemptAGITATO。

  But,ofcourse,whenhistongueisofleather,Andhislipsappearpastedtogether,Andhissensitivepalateasdryasacrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。

  Nowobserve—(SINGSACADENCE)—

  It’snouse—Ican’tdomyselfjustice!

  Ballad:ThePlayed—OutHumoristQuixoticishisenterprise,andhopelesshisadventureis,Whoseeksforjocularitiesthathaven’tyetbeensaid。

  Theworldhasjokedincessantlyforoverfiftycenturies,Andeveryjokethat’spossiblehaslongagobeenmade。

  Istartedasahumoristwithlotsofmentalfizziness,Buthumourisadrugwhichit’sthefashiontoabuse;

  Formystock—in—trade,myfixtures,andthegoodwillofthebusinessNoreasonableofferIamlikelytorefuse。

  AndifanybodychooseHemaycirculatethenewsThatnoreasonableofferI’mlikelytorefuse。

  Ohhappywasthathumorist—thefirstthatmadeapunatall—

  Whowhenajokeoccurredtohim,howeverpoorandmean,Wasabsolutelycertainthatitneverhadbeendoneatall—

  Howpopularatdinnersmustthathumoristhavebeen!

  Ohthedayswhensomestepfatherforthequeryheldahandleout,Thedoor—matfromthescraper,isitdistantveryfar?

  AndwhennooneknewwhereMoseswaswhenAaronblewthecandleout,Andnoonehaddiscoveredthatadoorcouldbea—jar!

  ButyourmodernhearersareIntheirtastesparticular,Andtheysneerifyouinformthemthatadoorcanbea—jar!

  Insearchofquipandquiddity,I’vesatallday,alone,apart—

  AndallthatIcouldhitonasaproblemwas—tofindAnalogybetweenascragofmuttonandaBony—part,Whichoffersslightemploymenttothespeculativemind:

  Foryoucannotcallitverygood,howevergreatyourcharity—

  It’snotthesortofhumourthatisgreetedwithashout—

  AndI’vecometotheconclusionthatmymineofjocularityInpresentAnnoDomini,isworkedcompletelyout!

  Thoughthenotionyoumayscout,IcanprovebeyondadoubtThatmymineofjocularityisutterlyworkedout。

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