第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"50 Bab Ballads",免费读到尾

  \"Come,POLTER,\"saidthefiend,\"begin,Andkeepthebowla—flowingon—

  AworkingmanneedspintsofginTokeephisclockworkgoingon。\"

  BOBshuddered:\"Ah,you’vemadeamissIfyoutakemeforoneofyou:

  Youfilthybeast,getoutofthis—

  BOBPOLTERdon’twan’tnoneofyou。\"

  Thedemongaveadrunkenshriek,Andcreptawayinstealthiness,Andlo!instead,apersonsleek,Whoseemedtoburstwithhealthiness。

  \"Inme,asyouradviserhints,OfAbstinenceyou’vegotatype—

  OfMR。TWEEDIE’SprettyprintsIamthehappyprototype。

  \"Ifyouabjurethesocialtoast,Andpipes,andsuchfrivolities,YoupossiblysomedaymayboastMyprepossessingqualities!\"

  BOBrubbedhiseyes,andmade’emblink:

  \"Youalmostmakemetremble,you!

  IfIabjurefermenteddrink,ShallI,indeed,resembleyou?

  \"Andwillmywhiskerscurlsotight?

  Mycheeksgrowsmugandmuttony?

  Myfacebecomesoredandwhite?

  Mycoatsoblueandbuttony?

  \"Willtrousers,suchasyours,arrayExtremitiesinferior?

  WillchubbinessassertitsswayAllovermyexterior?

  \"Inthis,myunenlightenedstate,ToworkinheavybootsIcomes;

  WillpumpshenceforwarddecorateMytiddletoddletootsicums?

  \"AndshallIgetsoplumpandfresh,Andlooknolongerseedily?

  MyskinwillhenceforthfitmyfleshSotightlyandsoTWEEDIE—ly?\"

  Thephantomsaid,\"You’llhaveallthis,You’llknownokindofhuffiness,Yourlifewillbeonechubbybliss,Onelongunruffledpuffiness!\"

  \"Beoff!\"saidirritatedBOB。

  \"Whycomeyouheretobotherone?

  Youpharisaicaloldsnob,You’rewussalmostthant’otherone!

  \"Itakesmypipe—Itakesmypot,AnddrunkI’mneverseentobe:

  I’mnoteetotallerorsot,AndasIamImeantobe!\"

  Ballad:THESTORYOFPRINCEAGIB。

  STRIKEtheconcertina’smelancholystring!

  Blowthespirit—stirringharplikeanything!

  Letthepiano’smartialblastRousetheEchoesofthePast,ForofAGIB,PRINCEOFTARTARY,Ising!

  OfAGIB,who,amidTartaricscenes,Wrotealotofballetmusicinhisteens:

  HisgentlespiritrollsInthemelodyofsouls—

  Whichispretty,butIdon’tknowwhatitmeans。

  OfAGIB,whocouldreadily,atsight,StrumamarchupontheloudTheodolite。

  HewoulddiligentlyplayOntheZoetropeallday,AndblowthegayPantechniconallnight。

  Onewinter—Iamshakyinmydates—

  CametwostarvingTartarminstrelstohisgates;

  Oh,ALLAHbeobeyed,Howinfernallytheyplayed!

  Irememberthattheycalledthemselvesthe\"O乤its。\"

  Oh!thatdayofsorrow,misery,andrage,IshallcarrytotheCatacombsofAge,PhotographicallylinedOnthetabletofmymind,Whenayesterdayhasfadedfromitspage!

  Alas!PRINCEAGIBwentandaskedthemin;

  Gavethembeer,andeggs,andsweets,andscent,andtin。

  Andwhen(assnobswouldsay)

  Theyhad\"putitallaway,\"

  Herequestedthemtotuneupandbegin。

  Thoughitsicyhorrorchillyoutothecore,IwilltellyouwhatInevertoldbefore,—

  TheconsequencestrueOfthatawfulinterview,FORILISTENEDATTHEKEYHOLEINTHEDOOR!

  Theyplayedhimasonata—letmesee!

  \"MEDULLAOBLONGATA\"—keyofG。

  ThentheybegantosingThatextremelylovelything,SCHERZANDO!MANONTROPPO,PPP。\"

  Hegavethemmoney,morethantheycouldcount,Scentfromamostingeniouslittlefount,Morebeer,inlittlekegs,Manydozenhard—boiledeggs,Andgoodiestoafabulousamount。

  Nowfollowsthedimhorrorofmytale,AndIfeelI’mgrowinggraduallypale,For,evenatthisday,Thoughitsstinghaspassedaway,WhenIventuretorememberit,Iquail!

  Theelderofthebrothersgaveasqueal,All—overishitmademefortofeel;

  \"Oh,PRINCE,\"hesays,sayshe,\"IFAPRINCEINDEEDYOUBE,I’veamysteryI’mgoingtoreveal!

  \"Oh,listen,ifyou’dshunahorriddeath,Towhatthegentwho’sspeakingtoyousaith:

  No’O乤its’intrutharewe,Asyoufancythatwebe,For(ter—remble!)IamALECK—thisisBETH!\"

  SaidAGIB,\"Oh!accursedofyourkind,Ihaveheardthatyearemenofevilmind!\"

  BETHgaveadreadfulshriek—

  Butbeforehe’dtimetospeakIwasmercilesslycollaredfrombehind。

  Innumbertenortwelve,orevenmore,Theyfastenedmefulllengthuponthefloor。

  Onmyfaceextendedflat,IwaswallopedwithacatForlisteningatthekeyholeofadoor。

  Oh!thehorrorofthatagonizingthrill!

  (Icanfeeltheplaceinfrostyweatherstill)。

  ForaweekfromtentofourIwasfastenedtothefloor,WhileamercenarywoppedmewithawillTheybrandedmeandbrokemeonawheel,Andtheyleftmeinanhospitaltoheal;

  And,uponmysolemnword,IhaveneverneverheardWhatthoseTartarshaddeterminedtoreveal。

  Butthatdayofsorrow,misery,andrage,IshallcarrytotheCatacombsofAge,PhotographicallylinedOnthetabletofmymind,WhenayesterdayhasfadedfromitspageBallad:ELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  MACPHAIRSONCLONGLOCKETTYANGUSMcCLAN

  Wasthesonofanelderlylabouringman;

  You’veguessedhimaScotchman,shrewdreader,atsight,Andp’r’apsaltogether,shrewdreader,you’reright。

  FromthebonnieblueForthtothelovelyDeeside,RoundbyDingwallandWrathtothemouthoftheClyde,Therewasn’tachildorawomanormanWhocouldpipewithCLONGLOCKETTYANGUSMcCLAN。

  Noothercouldwakesuchdetestablegroans,Withreedandwithchaunter—withbagandwithdrones:

  AlldayandillnighthedelightedthechielsWithsniggeringpibrochsandjiggetyreels。

  He’dclamberamountainandsquatontheground,AndtheneighbouringmaidenswouldgatheraroundTolisttothepipesandtogazeinhiseen,EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  AlllovedtheirMcCLAN,saveaSassenachbrute,WhocametotheHighlandstofishandtoshoot;

  HedressedhimselfupinaHighlanderway,Tho’hisnameitwasPATTISONCORBYTORBAY。

  TORBAYhadincurredagooddealofexpenseTomakehimaScotchmanineverysense;

  Butthisisamatter,you’llreadilyown,Thatisn’taquestionoftailorsalone。

  ASassenachchiefmaybebonilybuilt,Hemaypurchaseasporran,abonnet,andkilt;

  Stickaske刵inhishose—wearanacreofstripes—

  Buthecannotassumeanaffectionforpipes。

  CLONGLOCKETY’SpipingsallnightandalldayQuitefrenziedpoorPATTISONCORBYTORBAY;

  Thegirlswereamusedathissingularspleen,EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN,\"MACPHAIRSONCLONGLOCKETTYANGUS,mylad,Withpibrochsandreelsyouaredrivingmemad。

  Ifyoureallymustplayonthatcursedaffair,Mygoodness!playsomethingresemblinganair。\"

  BoiledoverthebloodofMACPHAIRSONMcCLAN—

  TheClanofClonglockettyroseasoneman;

  Forallwereenragedattheinsult,Iween—

  EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  \"Let’sshow,\"saidMcCLAN,\"tothisSassenachloonThatthebagpipesCANplayhimaregulartune。

  Let’ssee,\"saidMcCLAN,ashethoughtfullysat,\"’INMYCOTTAGE’iseasy—I’llpractiseatthat。\"

  Heblewathis\"Cottage,\"andblewwithawill,Forayear,sevenmonths,andafortnight,until(You’llhardlybelieveit)McCLAN,Ideclare,Elicitedsomethingresemblinganair。

  Itwaswild—itwasfitful—aswildasthebreeze—

  Itwanderedaboutintoseveralkeys;

  Itwasjerky,spasmodic,andharsh,I’maware;

  Butstillitdistinctlysuggestedanair。

  TheSassenachscreamed,andtheSassenachdanced;

  Heshriekedinhisagony—bellowedandpranced;

  Andthemaidenswhogatheredrejoicedatthescene—

  EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  \"Hechgather,hechgather,hechgatheraround;

  Andfilla’yelugswi’theexquisitesound。

  Anairfra’thebagpipes—beatthatifyecan!

  HurrahforCLONGLOCKETTYANGUSMcCLAN!\"

  Thefameofhispipingspreadovertheland:

  Respectablewidowsproposedforhishand,Andmaidenscameflockingtositonthegreen—

  EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  OnemorningthefidgetySassenachsworeHe’dstanditnolonger—hedrewhisclaymore,And(thiswas,Ithink,inextremelybadtaste)

  DividedCLONGLOCKETTYclosetothewaist。

  Oh!loudwerethewailingsforANGUSMcCLAN,Oh!deepwasthegriefforthatexcellentman;

  Themaidsstoodaghastatthehorriblescene—

  EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  ItsorrowedpoorPATTISONCORBYTORBAY

  Tofindthem\"takeon\"inthisseriousway;

  Hepitiedthepoorlittleflutteringbirds,Andsolacedtheirsoulswiththefollowingwords:

  \"Oh,maidens,\"saidPATTISON,touchinghishat,\"Don’tblubber,mydears,forafellowlikethat;

  Observe,I’maverysuperiorman,AmuchbetterfellowthanANGUSMcCLAN。\"

  Theysmiledwhenhewinkedandaddressedthemas\"dears,\"

  Andtheyallofthemvowed,astheydrieduptheirtears,Apleasantergentlemanneverwasseen—

  EspeciallyELLENMcJONESABERDEEN。

  Ballad:PETERTHEWAG。

  POLICEMANPETERFORTHIdragFromhisobscureretreat:

  Hewasamerrygenialwag,Wholovedamadconceit。

  Ifhewereaskedthetimeofday,Bycountrybumpkinsgreen,Henotunfrequentlywouldsay,\"Aquarterpastthirteen。\"

  IfeveryoubywordofmouthInquiredofMISTERFORTH

  ThewaytosomewhereintheSouth,HealwayssentyouNorth。

  WithlittleboyshisbeatalongHelovedtostopandplay;

  Helovedtosendoldladieswrong,Andteachtheirfeettostray。

  Hewouldinfrolicmoments,whenSuchmischiefbentupon,TakeBishopsupasbettingmen—

  BidMinistersmoveon。

  ThenalltheworthyboysheknewHeregularlylicked,AndalwayscollaredpeoplewhoHadhadtheirpocketspicked。

  Hewasnotnaturallybad,Orviciouslyinclined,ButfromhisearlyyouthhehadAwaggishturnofmind。

  TheMenofLondongrimlyscowledWithindignationwild;

  TheMenofLondongrufflygrowled,ButPETERcalmlysmiled。

  AgainstthisminionoftheCrownTheswellingmurmursgrew—

  FromCamberwelltoKentishTown—

  FromRotherhithetoKew。

  Stillhumouredhehiswagsometurn,AndfedinvariouswaysThecowardragethatdaredtoburn,Butdidnotdaretoblaze。

  Still,Retributionhasherday,Althoughherflightisslow:

  ONEDAYTHATCRUSHERLOSTHISWAY

  NEARPOLANDSTREET,SOHO。

  Thehaughtyboy,tooproudtoask,Tofindhiswayresolved,AndinthetangleofhistaskGotmoreandmoreinvolved。

  TheMenofLondon,overjoyed,Cametheretojeertheirfoe,AndflockingcrowdscompletelycloyedThemazesofSoho。

  ThenewsontelegraphicwiresSpedswiftlyo’erthelea,ExcursiontrainsfromdistantshiresBroughtmyriadstosee。

  Forweekshetrodhisself—madebeatsThroughNewport—Gerrard—Bear—

  Greek—Rupert—Frith—Dean—Poland—Streets,AndintoGoldenSquare。

  Butall,alas!invain,forwhenHetriedtolearnthewayOflittleboysorgrown—upmen,Theynoneofthemwouldsay。

  Theireyeswouldflash—theirteethwouldgrind—

  Theirlipswouldtightlycurl—

  They’dsay,\"Thywaythyselfmustfind,Thoumisdirectingchurl!\"

  And,similarly,also,whenHetriedaforeignfriend;

  Italiansanswered,\"ILBALEN\"—

  TheFrench,\"Nocomprehend。\"

  TheRusswouldsaywithgleamingeye\"Sevastopol!\"andgroan。

  TheGreeksaid,[GREEKTEXTWHICHCANNOT

  BEREPRODUCED]。\"

  TowanderthusformanyayearThatCrusherneverceased—

  TheMenofLondondroppedatear,TheirangerwasappeasedAtlengthexploringgangsweresentTofindpoorFORTH’Sremains—

  AhandsomegrantbyParliamentWasvotedfortheirpains。

  ToseekthepoorpolicemanoutBoldspiritsvolunteered,Andwhentheysworethey’dsolvethedoubt,TheMenofLondoncheered。

  Andinayard,dark,dank,anddrear,Theyfoundhim,onthefloor—

  ItleadsfromRichmondBuildings—nearTheRoyaltystage—door。

  WithbrandycoldandbrandyhotTheypliedhim,starvedandwet,Andmadehimsergeantonthespot—

  TheMenofLondon’spet!

  Ballad:TOTHETERRESTRIALGLOBE。BYAMISERABLEWRETCH。

  ROLLon,thouball,rollon!

  ThroughpathlessrealmsofSpaceRollon!

  WhatthoughI’minasorrycase?

  WhatthoughIcannotmeetmybills?

  WhatthoughIsuffertoothache’sills?

  WhatthoughIswallowcountlesspills?

  NeverYOUmind!

  Rollon!

  Rollon,thouball,rollon!

  ThroughseasofinkyairRollon!

  It’strueI’vegotnoshirtstowear;

  It’struemybutcher’sbillisdue;

  It’struemyprospectsalllookblue—

  Butdon’tletthatunsettleyou!

  NeverYOUmind!

  Rollon!

  [ITROLLSON。

  Ballad:GENTLEALICEBROWN。

  ITwasarobber’sdaughter,andhernamewasALICEBROWN,HerfatherwastheterrorofasmallItaliantown;

  Hermotherwasafoolish,weak,butamiableoldthing;

  Butitisn’tofherparentsthatI’mgoingfortosing。

  AsALICEwasa—sittingatherwindow—silloneday,Abeautifulyounggentlemanhechancedtopassthatway;

  Shecasthereyesuponhim,andhelookedsogoodandtrue,Thatshethought,\"Icouldbehappywithagentlemanlikeyou!\"

  Andeverymorningpassedherhousethatcreamofgentlemen,Sheknewshemightexpecthimataquarteruntoten;

  AsorterintheCustom—house,itwashisdailyroad(TheCustom—housewasfifteenminutes’walkfromherabode)。

  ButALICEwasapiousgirl,whoknewitwasn’twiseTolookatstrangeyoungsorterswithexpressivepurpleeyes;

  Soshesoughtthevillagepriesttowhomherfamilyconfessed,Thepriestbywhomtheirlittlesinswerecarefullyassessed。

  \"Oh,holyfather,\"ALICEsaid,\"’twouldgrieveyou,woulditnot,TodiscoverthatIwasamostdisreputablelot?

  OfallunhappysinnersI’mthemostunhappyone!\"

  Thepadresaid,\"Whateverhaveyoubeenandgoneanddone?\"

  \"Ihavehelpedmammatostealalittlekiddyfromitsdad,I’veassisteddearpapaincuttingupalittlelad,I’veplannedalittleburglaryandforgedalittlecheque,Andslainalittlebabyforthecoralonitsneck!\"

  Theworthypastorheavedasigh,anddroppedasilenttear,Andsaid,\"Youmustn’tjudgeyourselftooheavily,mydear:

  It’swrongtomurderbabies,littlecoralsfortofleece;

  Butsinsliketheseoneexpiatesathalf—a—crownapiece。

  \"Girlswillbegirls—you’reveryyoung,andflightyinyourmind;

  Oldheadsuponyoungshoulderswemustnotexpecttofind:

  Wemustn’tbetoohardupontheselittlegirlishtricks—

  Let’ssee—fivecrimesathalf—a—crown—exactlytwelve—and—six。\"

  \"Oh,father,\"littleAlicecried,\"yourkindnessmakesmeweep,Youdotheselittlethingsformesosingularlycheap—

  YourthoughtfulliberalityInevercanforget;

  But,oh!thereisanothercrimeIhaven’tmentionedyet!

  \"Apleasant—lookinggentleman,withprettypurpleeyes,I’venoticedatmywindow,asI’vesata—catchingflies;

  Hepassesbyiteverydayascertainascanbe—

  IblushtosayI’vewinkedathim,andhehaswinkedatme!\"

  \"Forshame!\"saidFATHERPAUL,\"myerringdaughter!OnmywordThisisthemostdistressingnewsthatIhaveeverheard。

  Why,naughtygirl,yourexcellentpapahaspledgedyourhandToapromisingyoungrobber,thelieutenantofhisband!

  \"Thisdreadfulpieceofnewswillpainyourworthyparentsso!

  TheyarethemostremunerativecustomersIknow;

  Formanymanyyearsthey’vekeptstarvationfrommydoors:

  Ineverknewsocriminalafamilyasyours!

  \"ThecommoncountryfolkinthisinsipidneighbourhoodHavenothingtoconfess,they’resoridiculouslygood;

  Andifyoumarryanyonerespectableatall,Why,you’llreform,andwhatwillthenbecomeofFATHERPAUL?\"

  Theworthypriest,heupanddrewhiscowluponhiscrown,AndstartedoffinhastetotellthenewstoROBBERBROWN—

  Totellhimhowhisdaughter,whowasnowformarriagefit,Hadwinkeduponasorter,whoreciprocatedit。

  GoodROBBERBROWNhemuffleduphisangerprettywell:

  Hesaid,\"Ihaveanotion,andthatnotionIwilltell;

  Iwillnabthisgayyoungsorter,terrifyhimintofits,Andgetmygentlewifetochophimintolittlebits。

  \"I’vestudiedhumannature,andIknowathingortwo:

  Thoughagirlmayfondlylovealivinggent,asmanydo—

  AfeelingofdisgustuponhersensestherewillfallWhenshelooksuponhisbodychoppedparticularlysmall。\"

  Hetracedthatgallantsortertoastillsuburbansquare;

  Hewatchedhisopportunity,andseizedhimunaware;

  Hetookalife—preserverandhehithimonthehead,AndMRS。BROWNdissectedhimbeforeshewenttobed。

  AndprettylittleALICEgrewmoresettledinhermind,Shenevermorewasguiltyofaweaknessofthekind,UntilatlengthgoodROBBERBROWNbestowedherprettyhandOnthepromisingyoungrobber,thelieutenantofhisband。

  Ballad:MISTERWILLIAM。

  OH,listentothetaleofMISTERWILLIAM,ifyouplease,Whomnaughty,naughtyjudgessentawaybeyondtheseas。

  Heforgedaparty’swill,whichcausedanxietyandstrife,Resultinginhisgettingpenalservitudeforlife。

  Hewasakindlygoodlyman,andnaturallyprone,Insteadoftakingothers’gold,togiveawayhisown。

  ButhehadheardofVice,andlongedforonlyoncetostrike—

  ToplanONElittlewickedness—toseewhatitwaslike。

  Hearguedwithhimself,andsaid,\"AspotlessmanamI;

  Ican’tbemorerespectable,howeverhardItry!

  ForsixandthirtyyearsI’vealwaysbeenasgoodasgold,AndnowforhalfanhourI’llplaninfamyuntold!

  \"Ababywhoiswickedattheearlyageofone,Andthenreforms—anddiesatthirty—sixaspotlessson,Isnever,neversaddledwithhisbabyhood’sdefect,Butearnsfromworthymenconsiderationandrespect。

  \"SoonewhoneverrevelledindiscreditabletricksUntilhereachedthecomfortableageofthirty—six,Maythenforhalfanhourperpetrateadeedofshame,Withoutincurringpermanentdisgrace,orevenblame。

  \"Thatbabiesdon’tcommitsuchcrimesasforgeryistrue,Butlittlesinsdevelop,ifyouleave’emtoaccrue;

  Andhewhoshunsallvicesassuccessiveseasonsroll,Shouldreapatlengththebenefitofsomuchself—control。

  \"Thecommonsinofbabyhood—objectingtobedrest—

  Ifyouleaveittoaccumulateatcompoundinterest,Foranythingyouknow,mayrepresent,ifyou’realive,Aburglaryormurderattheageofthirty—five。

  \"Still,Iwouldn’ttakeadvantageofthisfact,butbecontentWithsomepardonablefolly—it’samereexperiment。

  Thegreaterthetemptationtogowrong,thelessthesin;

  Sowithsomethingthat’sparticularlytemptingI’llbegin。

  \"Iwouldnotstealapenny,formyincome’sveryfair—

  Idonotwantapenny—Ihavepenniesandtospare—

  AndifIstoleapennyfromamoney—bagortill,Thesinwouldbeenormous—thetemptationbeingNIL。

  \"ButifIbrokeasunderallsuchpettifoggingbounds,Andforgedaparty’sWillfor(say)FiveHundredThousandPounds,Withsuchanirresistibletemptationtoahaul,Ofcoursethesinmustbeinfinitesimallysmall。

  \"There’sWILSONwhoisdying—hehaswealthfromStockandrent—

  IfIdiverthisrichesfromtheirnaturaldescent,I’mplacedinapositiontoindulgeeachlittlewhim。\"

  Sohedivertedthem—andthey,inturn,divertedhim。

  Unfortunately,though,bysomeunpardonableflaw,Temptationisn’trecognizedbyBritain’sCommonLaw;

  Menfoundhimoutbysomepeculiarityoftouch,AndWILLIAMgota\"lifer,\"whichannoyedhimverymuch。

  For,ah!heneverreconciledhimselftolifeingaol,Hefrettedandhepined,andgrewdispiritedandpale;

  Hewasnumberedlikeacabman,too,whichtolduponhimsoThathisspirits,oncesobuoyant,grewuncomfortablylow。

  Andsympatheticgaolerswouldremark,\"It’sverytrue,Heain’tbeenbroughtupcommon,likethelikesofmeandyou。\"

  Sotheytookhimintohospital,andgavehimmuttonchops,Andchocolate,andarrowroot,andbuns,andmaltandhops。

  KindClergymen,besides,grewinterestedinhisfate,Affectedbythedetailsofhispitiablestate。

  TheywaitedontheSecretary,somewhereinWhitehall,Whosaidhewouldreceivethemanydaytheylikedtocall。

  \"Consider,sir,thehardshipofthisinterestingcase:

  Aprisonlifebringswithitsomethingverylikedisgrace;

  It’stellingonyoungWILLIAM,who’sreducedtoskinandbone—

  Rememberhe’sagentleman,withmoneyofhisown。

  \"Hehadanampleincome,andofcoursehestandsinneedOfsherrywithhisdinner,andhiscustomaryweed;

  Nodelicaciesnowcanpasshisgentlemanlylips—

  Hemisseshissea—bathingandhiscontinentaltrips。

  \"Hesaystheotherprisonersarecommonplaceandrude;

  Hesayshecannotrelishuncongenialprisonfood。

  WhenquiteaboytheytaughthimtodistinguishGoodfromBad,Andothereducationaladvantageshe’shad。

  \"Aburglarorgarotter,or,indeed,acommonthiefIsverygladtobattenonpotatoesandonbeef,Oranything,inshort,thatprisonkitchenscanafford,—

  Acutabovethedietinacommonworkhouseward。

  \"Butbeefandmutton—brothdon’tseemtosuitourWILLIAM’Swhim,Aboontootherprisoners—apunishmenttohim。

  ItneverwasintendedthatthedisciplineofgaolShoulddashaconvict’sspirits,sir,ormakehimthinorpale。\"

  \"GoodGraciousMe!\"thatsympatheticSecretarycried,\"SupposeinprisonfettersMISTERWILLIAMshouldhavedied!

  Dearme,ofcourse!ImprisonmentforLIFEhissentencesaith:

  I’mverygladyoumentionedit—itmighthavebeenForDeath!

  \"Releasehimwithaticket—he’llbebetterthen,nodoubt,AndtellhimIapologize。\"SoMISTERWILLIAM’Sout。

  Ihopehewillbecarefulinhismanuscripts,I’msure,Andnotbeginexperimentalizinganymore。

  Ballad:THEBUMBOATWOMAN’SSTORY。

  I’Mold,mydears,andshrivelledwithage,andwork,andgrief,Myeyesaregone,andmyteethhavebeendrawnbyTime,theThief!

  ForterriblesightsI’veseen,anddangersgreatI’verun—

  I’mnearlyseventynow,andmyworkisalmostdone!

  Ah!I’vebeenyounginmytime,andI’veplayedthedeucewithmen!

  I’mspeakingoftenyearspast—Iwasbarelysixtythen:

  Mycheeksweremellowandsoft,andmyeyeswerelargeandsweet,POLLPINEAPPLE’SeyeswerethestandingtoastoftheRoyalFleet!

  AbumboatwomanwasI,andIfaithfullyservedtheshipsWithapplesandcakes,andfowls,andbeer,andhalfpennydips,Andbeefforthegenerousmess,wheretheofficersdineatnights,Andfinefreshpeppermintdropsfortherollickingmidshipmites。

  OfallthekindcommanderswhoanchoredinPortsmouthBay,ByfarthesweetestofallwaskindLIEUTENANTBELAYE。’

  LIEUTENANTBELAYEcommandedthegunboatHOTCROSSBUN,Shewassevenandthirtyfeetinlength,andshecarriedagun。

  Withalaudableviewofenhancinghiscountry’snavalpride,Whenpeopleinquiredhersize,LIEUTENANTBELAYEreplied,\"Oh,myship,myshipisthefirstoftheHundredandSeventy—

  ones!\"

  Whichmeanthertonnage,butpeopleimagineditmeantherguns。

  WheneverIwentonboardhewouldbeckonmedownbelow,\"Comedown,LittleButtercup,come\"(forhelovedtocallmeso),Andhe’dtellofthefightsatseainwhichhe’dtakenapart,AndsoLIEUTENANTBELAYEwonpoorPOLLPINEAPPLE’Sheart!

  Butatlengthhisorderscame,andhesaidoneday,saidhe,\"I’morderedtosailwiththeHOTCROSSBUNtotheGermanSea。\"

  AndthePortsmouthmaidensweptwhentheylearnttheevilday,ForeveryPortsmouthmaidlovedgoodLIEUTENANTBELAYE。

  AndIwenttoabackbackstreet,withplentyofcheapcheapshops,AndIboughtanoilskinhatandasecond—handsuitofslops,AndIwenttoLIEUTENANTBELAYE(andheneversuspectedME!)

  AndIenteredmyselfasachapaswantedtogotosea。

  Wesailedthatafternoonatthemystichourofone,—

  RemarkablyniceyoungmenwerethecrewoftheHOTCROSSBUN,I’msorrytosaythatI’veheardthatsailorssometimesswear,ButIneveryetheardaBUNsayanythingwrong,Ideclare。

  WhenJackTarsmeet,theymeetwitha\"Messmate,ho!Whatcheer?\"

  Buthere,ontheHOTCROSSBUN,itwas\"Howdoyoudo,mydear?\"

  WhenJackTarsgrowl,IbelievetheygrowlwithabigbigD—

  ButthestrongestoathoftheHOTCROSSBUNSwasamild\"Dearme!\"

  Yet,thoughtheywereallwell—bred,youcouldscarcelycallthemslick:

  Wheneveraseawason,theywereallextremelysick;

  Andwhenevertheweatherwascalm,andthewindwaslightandfair,Theyspentmoretimethanasailorshouldonhisbackbackhair。

  Theycertainlyshiveredandshookwhenorderedalofttorun,AndtheyscreamedwhenLIEUTENANTBELAYEdischargedhisonlygun。

  Andashewasproudofhisgun—suchprideishardlywrong—

  TheLieutenantwasblazingawayatintervalsalldaylong。

  Theyallagreedverywell,thoughattimesyouhearditsaidThatBILLhadawayofhisownofmakinghislipslookred—

  ThatJOElookedquitehisage—orsomebodymightdeclareThatBARNACLE’Slongpig—tailwasneverhisownownhair。

  BELAYEwouldadmitthathismenwereofnogreatusetohim,\"But,then,\"hewouldsay,\"thereislittletodoonagunboattrimIcanhand,andreef,andsteer,andfiremybigguntoo—

  AnditISsuchatreattosailwithagentlewell—bredcrew。\"

  Isawhimeveryday。Howthehappymomentssped!

  Reeftopsails!Makealltaut!There’sdirtyweatherahead!

  (IdonotmeanthattempeststhreatenedtheHOTCROSSBUN:

  InTHATcase,Idon’tknowwhateverweSHOULDhavedone!)

  Afterafortnight’scruise,weputintoportoneday,AndoffonleaveforaweekwentkindLIEUTENANTBELAYE,Andafteralonglongweekhadpassed(anditseemedlikealife),LIEUTENANTBELAYEreturnedtohisshipwithafairyoungwife!

  Heup,andhesays,sayshe,\"OcrewoftheHOTCROSSBUN,Hereisthewifeofmyheart,fortheChurchhasmadeusone!\"

  Andasheutteredtheword,thecrewwentoutoftheirwits,Andallfelldowninsomanyseparatefainting—fits。

  Andthentheirhaircamedown,oroff,asthecasemightbe,Andlo!therestofthecrewweresimplegirls,likeme,Whoallhadfledfromtheirhomesinasailor’sbluearray,TofollowtheshiftingfateofkindLIEUTENANTBELAYE。

  ********

  It’sstrangetothinkthatIshouldeverhavelovedyoungmen,ButI’mspeakingoftenyearspast—Iwasbarelysixtythen,Andnowmycheeksarefurrowedwithgriefandage,Itrow!

  AndpoorPOLLPINEAPPLE’Seyeshavelosttheirlustrenow!

  Ballad:LOSTMR。BLAKE。

  MR。BLAKEwasaregularout—and—outhardenedsinner,WhowasquiteoutofthepaleofChristianity,sotospeak,HewasinthehabitofsmokingalongpipeanddrinkingaglassofgrogonaSundayafterdinner,Andseldomthoughtofgoingtochurchmorethantwiceor—ifGoodFridayorChristmasDayhappenedtocomeinit—threetimesaweek。

  HewasquiteindifferentastotheparticularkindsofdressesThattheclergymanworeatchurchwhereheusedtogotopray,Andwhateverhedidinthewayofrelievingachap’sdistresses,Healwaysdidinanasty,sneaking,underhanded,hole—and—cornersortofway。

  Ihaveknownhimindulgeinprofane,ungentlemanlyemphatics,WhentheProtestantChurchhasbeendividedonthesubjectoftheproperwidthofachasuble’shem;

  Ihaveevenknownhimtosneeratalbs—andasfordalmatics,Wordscan’tconveyanideaofthecontemptheexpressedforTHEM。

  Hedidn’tbelieveinpersonswho,notbeingwelloffthemselves,areobligedtoconfinetheircharitableexertionstocollectingmoneyfromwealthierpeople,Andlookeduponindividualsoftheformerclassasecclesiasticalhawks;

  Heusedtosaythathewouldnomorethinkofinterferingwithhispriest’srobesthanwithhischurchorhissteeple,Andthathedidnotconsiderhissoulimperilledbecausesomebodyoverwhomhehadnoinfluencewhatever,chosetodresshimselfuplikeanexaggeratedGUYFAWKES。

  ThisshockingoldvagabondwassounutterablyshamelessThatheactuallywenta—courtingaveryrespectableandpiousmiddle—agedsister,bythenameofBIGGS。

  Shewasaratherattractivewidow,whoselifeassuchhadalwaysbeenparticularlyblameless;

  Herfirsthusbandhadleftherasecurebutmoderatecompetence,owingtosomefortunatespeculationsinthematteroffigs。

  Shewasanexcellentpersonineveryway—andwontherespectevenofMRS。GRUNDY,Shewasagoodhousewife,too,andwouldn’thavewastedapennyifshehadownedtheKoh—i—noor。

  ShewasjustasstrictashewaslaxinherobservanceofSunday,Andbeingagoodeconomist,andcharitablebesides,shetookallthebonesandcoldpotatoesandbrokenpie—crustsandcandle—ends(whenshehadquitedonewiththem),andmadethemintoanexcellentsoupforthedeservingpoor。

  IamsorrytosaythatsherathertooktoBLAKE—thatoutcastofsociety,Andwhenrespectablebrotherswhowerefondofherbegantolookdubiousandtocough,Shewouldsay,\"Oh,myfriends,it’sbecauseIhopetobringthispoorbenightedsoulbacktovirtueandpropriety,Andbesides,thepoorbenightedsoul,withallhisfaults,wasuncommonlywelloff。

  AndwhenMR。BLAKE’Sdissipatedfriendscalledhisattentiontothefrownorthepoutofher,Wheneverhedidanythingwhichappearedtohertosavourofanunmentionableplace,Hewouldsaythat\"shewouldbeaverydecentoldgirlwhenallthatnonsensewasknockedoutofher,\"

  Andhismethodofknockingitoutofherisonethatcoveredhimwithdisgrace。

  ShewasfondofgoingtochurchservicesfourtimeseverySunday,and,fourorfivetimesintheweek,andneverseemedtopallofthem,Sohehuntedoutallthechurcheswithinaconvenientdistancethathadservicesatdifferenthours,sotospeak;

  Andwhenhehadmarriedherhepositivelyinsistedupontheirgoingtoallofthem,SotheycontrivedtodoabouttwelvechurcheseverySunday,and,iftheyhadluck,fromtwenty—twototwenty—threeinthecourseoftheweek。

  Shewasfondofdroppinghissovereignsostentatiouslyintotheplate,andshelikedtoseethemstandoutratherconspicuouslyagainstthecommonplacehalf—crownsandshillings,Sohetookhertoallthecharitysermons,andifbyanyextraordinarychancetherewasn’tacharitysermonanywhere,hewoulddropacoupleofsovereigns(oneforhimandoneforher)

  intothepoor—boxatthedoor;

  Andashealwaysdeductedthesumsthusgivenincharityfromthehousekeepingmoney,andthemoneyheallowedherforherbonnetsandfrillings,Shesoonbegantofindthatevencharity,ifyouallowittointerferewithyourpersonalluxuries,becomesanintolerablebore。

  OnSundaysshewasalwaysmelancholyandanythingbutgoodsociety,Forthatdayinherhouseholdwasadayofsighingsandsobbingsandwringingofhandsandshakingofheads:

  Shewouldn’thearofabuttonbeingsewnonaglove,becauseitwasaworkneitherofnecessitynorofpiety,Andstrictlyprohibitedherservantsfromamusingthemselves,orindeeddoinganythingatallexceptdustingthedrawing—rooms,cleaningthebootsandshoes,cookingtheparlourdinner,waitinggenerallyonthefamily,andmakingthebeds。

  ButBLAKEevenwentfurtherthanthat,andsaidthatpeopleshoulddotheirownworksofnecessity,andnotdelegatethemtopersonsinamenialsituation,Sohewouldn’tallowhisservantstodosomuchasevenanswerabell。

  Hereheismakinghiswifecarryupthewaterforherbathtothesecondfloor,muchagainstherinclination,—

  AndwhyintheworldthegentlemanwhoillustratestheseballadshasputhiminacockedhatismorethanIcantell。

  Afteraboutthreemonthsofthissortofthing,takingthesmoothwiththeroughofit,(Blackingherownbootsandpeelingherownpotatoeswasnothernotionofconnubialbliss),MRS。BLAKEbegantofindthatshehadprettynearlyhadenoughofit,Andcame,incourseoftime,tothinkthatBLAKE’Sownoriginallineofconductwasn’tsomuchamiss。

  Andnowthatwickedperson—thatdetestablesinner(\"BELIALBLAKE\"

  hisfriendsandwell—wisherscallhimforhisatrocities),Andhispoordeludedvictim,whomallherChristianbrothersdislikeandpityso,GototheparishchurchonlyonSundaymorningandafternoonandoccasionallyonaweek—day,andspendtheireveningsinconnubialfondlingsandaffectionatereciprocities,AndIshouldliketoknowwhereintheworld(orrather,outofit)

  theyexpecttogo!

  Ballad:THEBABY’SVENGEANCE。

  WEARYatheartandextremelyillWasPALEYVOLLAIREofBromptonville,Inadirtylodging,withfeverdown,ClosetothePolygon,SomersTown。

  PALEYVOLLAIREwasanonlyson(Forwhy?Hismotherhadhadbutone),AndPALEYinheritedgoldandgroundsWorthseveralhundredthousandpounds。

  Buthe,likemanyarichyoungman,Throughthismagnificentfortuneran,AndnothingwasleftforhisdailyneedsButduplicatecopiesofmortgage—deeds。

  Shabbyandsorryandsorelysick,Heslept,anddreamtthattheclock’s\"tick,tick,\"

  WasoneoftheFates,withalongsharpknife,Snickingoffbitsofhisshortenedlife。

  Hewokeandcountedthepipsonthewalls,Theoutdoorpassengers’loudfootfalls,Andreckonedallover,andreckonedagain,Thelittlewhitetuftsonhiscounterpane。

  Amedicalmantohisbedsidecame。

  (Ican’trememberthatdoctor’sname),Andsaid,\"You’lldieinaveryshortwhileIfyoudon’tsetsailforMadeira’sisle。\"

  \"GotoMadeira?goodnessme!

  Ihaven’tthemoneytopayyourfee!\"

  \"Then,PALEYVOLLAIRE,\"saidtheleech,\"goodbye;

  I’llcomenomore,foryour’resuretodie。\"

  Hesighedandhegroanedandsmotehisbreast;

  \"Oh,send,\"saidhe,\"forFREDERICKWEST,Eresensesfadeormyeyesgrowdim:

  I’veaterribletaletowhisperhim!\"

  PoorwasFREDERICK’Slotinlife,—

  Adustmanhewithafairyoungwife,Aworthymanwithahard—earnedstore,Ahundredandseventypounds—ormore。

  FREDERICKcame,andhesaid,\"MaybeYou’llsaywhatyouhappenedtowantwithme?\"

  \"Wrongedboy,\"saidPALEYVOLLAIRE,\"Iwill,Butdon’tyoufidgetyourself—sitstill。\"

  THETERRIBLETALE。

  \"’Tisnowsomethirty—sevenyearsagoSincefirstbegantheplotthatI’mrevealing,Afineyoungwoman,whomyououghttoknow,LivedwithherhusbanddowninDrumLane,Ealing。

  Herselfbymeansofmanglingreimbursing,Andnowandthen(atintervals)wet—nursing。

  \"Twolittlebabesdweltintheirhumblecot:

  Onewasherown—theotheronlylenttoher:

  HEROWNSHESLIGHTED。TemptedbyalotOfgoldandsilverregularlysenttoher,SheministereduntothelittleotherInthecapacityoffoster—mother。

  \"IWASHEROWN。Oh!howIlayandsobbedInmypoorcradle—deeply,deeplycursingTherichman’spamperedbantling,whohadrobbedMyonlybirthright—anattentivenursing!

  Sometimesinhatredofmyfoster—brother,Ignashedmygums—whichterrifiedmymother。

  \"Oneday—itwasquiteearlyintheweek—

  IINMYCRADLEHAVINGPLACEDTHEBANTLING—

  Creptintohis!Hehadnotlearnttospeak,ButIcouldseehisfacewithangermantling。

  Itwasimprudent—well,disgracefulmaybe,For,oh!Iwasabad,blackheartedbaby!

  \"Sogreataluxurywasfood,IthinkNowickednessbutIwasgametotryforit。

  NOWifIwantedanythingtodrinkAtanytime,Ionlyhadtocryforit!

  ONCE,ifIdaredtoweep,thebottlelacking,Myblubberinginvolvedaserioussmacking!

  \"Wegrewupintheusualway—myfriend,Myfoster—brother,dailygrowingthinner,WhilegraduallyIbegantomend,Andthrivedamazinglyondoubledinner。

  Andeveryone,besidesmyfoster—mother,Believedthateitherofuswastheother。

  \"IcameintoHISwealth—IboreHISname,Ibearitstill—HISpropertyIsquandered—

  Imortgagedeverything—andnow(oh,shame!)

  IntoaSomersTownshake—downI’vewandered!

  IamnoPALEY—no,VOLLAIRE—it’strue,myboy!

  TheonlyrightfulPALEYV。isYOU,myboy!

  \"AndallIhaveisyours—andyoursismine。

  Istillmayplaceyouinyourtrueposition:

  Givemethepoundsyou’vesaved,andI’llresignMynoblename,myrank,andmycondition。

  SofarmywickednessinfalselyowningYourvastywealth,Iamatlastatoning!\"

  *******

  FREDERICKhewasasimplesoul,Hepulledfromhispocketabulkyroll,AndgavetoPALEYhishard—earnedstore,Ahundredandseventypoundsormore。

  PALEYVOLLAIRE,withmanyagroan,GaveFREDERICKallthathecalledhisown,—

  Twoshirtsandasock,andavestofjean,AWellingtonbootandabamboocane。

  AndFRED(entitledtoallthingsthere)

  HetookthefeverfromMR。VOLLAIRE,WhichkilledpoorFREDERICKWEST。MeanwhileVOLLAIREsailedofftoMadeira’sisle。

  Ballad:THECAPTAINANDTHEMERMAIDS。

  ISINGalegendofthesea,Sohard—a—portuponyourlee!

  Ashiponstarboardtack!

  She’sbounduponaprivatecruise—

  (ThisisthekindofspiceIuseTogiveasalt—seasmack)。

  Behold,oneveryafternoon(SaveinagaleorstrongMonsoon)

  GreatCAPTAINCAPELCLEGGS

  (Greatmorally,thoughrathershort)

  Satatanopenweather—portAndairedhisshapelylegs。

  AndMermaidshungaroundinflocks,Oncablechainsanddistantrocks,Togazeuponthoselimbs;

  Forlegslikethose,offleshandbone,Arethings\"notgenerallyknown\"

  ToanyMermanTIMBS。

  ButMermendidn’tseemtocareMuchtime(asfarasI’maware)

  WithCLEGGS’Slegstospend;

  ThoughMermaidsswamaroundalldayAndgazed,exclaiming,\"THAT’SthewayAgentlemanshouldend!

  \"Apairoflegswithwell—cutknees,AndcalvesandanklessuchastheseWhichweinrapturehail,Arefarmoreeloquent,it’sclear(Whenclothedinsilkandkerseymere),Thananynastytail。\"

  AndCLEGGS—aworthykindoldboy—

  Rejoicedtoaddtoothers’joy,And,whenthedaywasdry,Becauseitpleasedthelookers—on,Hesatfrommorntillnight—thoughcon—

  Stitutionallyshy。

  AtfirsttheMermenlaughed,\"Pooh!pooh!\"

  Butfinallytheyjealousgrew,Andsoundedloudrecalls;

  Butvainly。SothesefishymalesDeclaredtheytoowouldclothetheirtailsInsilkenhoseandsmalls。

  Theysettowork,thesewater—men,Andmadetheirnetherrobes—butwhenTheydrewwithdaintytouchThekerseymereupontheirtails,Theyfounditscrapedagainsttheirscales,Andhurtthemverymuch。

  Thesilk,besides,withwhichtheychoseTodecktheirtailsbywayofhose(Theyneverthoughtofshoon),Forsuchausewasmuchtoothin,—

  Ittoreagainstthecaudalfin,And\"wentinladders\"soon。

  Sotheydesignedanotherplan:

  TheysenttheirmostseductivemanThisnotetohimtoshow—

  \"OurMonarchsendstoCAPTAINCLEGGS

  Hishumblecompliments,andbegsHe’lljoinhimdownbelow;

  \"We’vepleasanthomesbelowthesea—

  Besides,ifCAPTAINCLEGGSshouldbe(Asouradvicessay)

  AjudgeofMermaids,hewillfindOurlady—fishofeverykindInspectionwillrepay。\"

  GoodCAPELsentakindreply,ForCAPELthoughthecoulddescryAnadmirableplanTostudyalltheirwaysandlaws—

  (Butnottheirlady—fish,becauseHewasamarriedman)。

  TheMermansank—theCaptaintooJumpedoverboard,anddroppedfromviewLikestonefromcatapult;

  AndwhenhereachedtheMerman’slair,Hecertainlywaswelcomedthere,But,ah!withwhatresult?

  Theydidn’tlethimlearntheirlaw,Ormakeanoteofwhathesaw,Orinterestingmem。:

  Thelady—fishhecouldn’tfind,Butthat,ofcourse,hedidn’tmind—

  Hedidn’tcomeforthem。

  Forthough,whenCAPTAINCAPELsank,TheMermendrawnindoublerankGavehimaheartyhail,YetwhensecureofCAPTAINCLEGGS,Theycutoffbothhislovelylegs,AndgavehimSUCHatail!

  WhenCAPTAINCLEGGSreturnedaboard,Hisblithesomecrewconvulsiveroar’d,Toseehimalteredso。

  TheAdmiraltydidinsistThatheupontheHalf—payListImmediatelyshouldgo。

  Invaindeclaredthepooroldsalt,\"It’smymisfortune—notmyfault,\"

  Withtearandtremblinglip—

  InvainpoorCAPELbeggedandbegged。

  \"AmanmustbecompletelyleggedWhorulesaBritishship。\"

  SospakethesternFirstLordaloud—

  Hewasawag,thoughveryproud,Andmuchrejoicedtosay,\"You’reonlyhalfacaptainnow—

  Andso,myworthyfriend,IvowYou’llonlygethalf—pay!\"

  Ballad:ANNIEPROTHEROE。ALEGENDOFSTRATFORD—LE—BOW。

  OH!listentothetaleoflittleANNIEPROTHEROE。

  Shekeptasmallpost—officeintheneighbourhoodofBOW;

  Shelovedaskilledmechanic,whowasfamousinhisday—

  AgentleexecutionerwhosenamewasGILBERTCLAY。

  IthinkIhearyousay,\"Adreadfulsubjectforyourrhymes!\"

  Oreader,donotshrink—hedidn’tliveinmoderntimes!

  Helivedsolongago(thesketchwillshowitataglance)

  Thatallhisactionsglitterwiththelime—lightofRomance。

  Inbusytimeshelabouredathisgentlecraftallday—

  \"NodoubtyoumeanhisCal—craft,\"youamusinglywillsay—

  But,no—hedidn’toperatewithcommonbitsofstring,HewasaPublicHeadsman,whichisquiteanotherthing。

  Andwhenhisworkwasover,theywouldrambleo’erthelea,Andsitbeneaththefrondageofanelderberrytree,AndANNIE’Ssimpleprattleentertainedhimonhiswalk,Forpublicexecutionsformedthesubjectofhertalk。

  Andsometimeshe’dexplaintoher,whichcharmedherverymuch,Howfamousoperatorsvaryverymuchintouch,Andthen,perhaps,he’dshowhowhehimselfperformedthetrick,Andillustratehismeaningwithapoppyandastick。

  Or,ifitrained,thelittlemaidwouldstopathome,andlookAthisfavourablenotices,allpastedinabook,Andthenhercheekwouldflush—herswimmingeyeswoulddancewithjoyInaglowofadmirationattheprowessofherboy。

  Onesummereve,atsupper—time,thegentleGILBERTsaid(AshehelpedhisprettyANNIEtoasliceofcollaredhead),\"ThisremindsmeImustsettleonthenextensuingdayThehashofthatunmitigatedvillainPETERGRAY。\"

  HesawhisANNIEtrembleandhesawhisANNIEstart,Herchangingcolourtrumpetedtheflutteratherheart;

  YoungGILBERT’Smanlybosomroseandsankwithjealousfear,Andhesaid,\"OgentleANNIE,what’sthemeaningofthishere?\"

  AndANNIEanswered,blushinginaninterestingway,\"Youthink,nodoubt,I’msighingforthatfelonPETERGRAY:

  ThatIwashisyoungwomanisunquestionablytrue,ButnotsinceIbegana—keepingcompanywithyou。\"

  ThenGILBERT,whowasirritable,roseandloudlysworeHe’dknowthereasonwhyifsherefusedtotellhimmore;

  Andsheanswered(allthewomaninherflashingfromhereyes)

  \"Youmustn’tasknoquestions,andyouwon’tbetoldnolies!

  \"Fewlovershavetheprivilegeenjoyed,mydear,byyou,Ofchoppingoffarival’sheadandquarteringhimtoo!

  Ofvengeance,dear,to—morrowyouwillsurelytakeyourfill!\"

  AndGILBERTgroundhismolarsasheansweredher,\"Iwill!\"

  YoungGILBERTrosefromtablewithasterndeterminedlook,And,frowning,tookaninexpensivehatchetfromitshook;

  AndANNIEwatchedhismovementswithaninterestedair—

  Forthemorrow—forthemorrowhewasgoingtoprepare!

  Hechippeditwithahammerandhechoppeditwithabill,Hepouredsulphuricacidontheedgeofit,untilThisterribleAvengeroftheMajestyofLawWasfarlesslikeahatchetthanadissipatedsaw。

  AndANNIEsaid,\"OGILBERT,dear,IdonotunderstandWhyeveryouareinjuringthathatchetinyourhand?’

  Hesaid,\"ItisintendedfortolacerateandflayTheneckofthatunmitigatedvillainPETERGRAY!\"

  \"Now,GILBERT,\"ANNIEanswered,\"wickedheadsman,justbeware—

  Iwon’thavePETERtorturedwiththathorribleaffair;

  Ifyouappearwiththat,youmaydependyou’llruetheday。\"

  ButGILBERTsaid,\"Oh,shallI?\"whichwasjusthisnastyway。

  Hesawalookofangerfromhereyesdistinctlydart,ForANNIEwasawoman,andhadpityinherheart!

  Shewishedhimagoodevening—heansweredwithaglare;

  Sheonlysaid,\"Remember,foryourANNIEwillbethere!\"

  ********

  ThemorrowGILBERTboldlyonthescaffoldtookhisstand,Withavizoronhisfaceandwithahatchetinhishand,AndallthepeoplenoticedthattheEngineoftheLawWasfarlesslikeahatchetthanadissipatedsaw。

  Thefelonverycoollyloosedhiscollarandhisstock,Andplacedhiswickedheaduponthehandylittleblock。

  ThehatchetwasupliftedfortosettlePETERGRAY,WhenGILBERTplainlyheardawoman’svoiceexclaiming,\"Stay!\"

  ’TwasANNIE,gentleANNIE,asyou’lleasilybelieve。

  \"OGILBERT,youmustsparehim,forIbringhimareprieve,ItcamefromourHomeSecretarymanyweeksago,Andpassedthroughthatpost—officewhichIusedtokeepatBow。

  \"Ilovedyou,lovedyoumadly,andyouknowit,GILBERTCLAY,AndasI’dquitesurrenderedallideaofPETERGRAY,Iquietlysuppressedit,asyou’llclearlyunderstand,ForIthoughtitmightbeawkwardifhecameandclaimedmyhand。

  \"Inangeratmysecret(whichIcouldnottellbefore),TolaceratepoorPETERGRAYvindictivelyyouswore;

  Itoldyouifyouusedthatbluntedaxeyou’druetheday,Andsoyouwill,youngGILBERT,forI’llmarryPETERGRAY!\"

  [ANDSOSHEDID。

  Ballad:ANUNFORTUNATELIKENESS。

  I’VEpaintedSHAKESPEAREallmylife—

  \"Aninfant\"(eventhenat\"play\"!)

  \"Aboy,\"withstage—ambitionrife,Then\"MarriedtoANNHATHAWAY。\"

  \"Thebard’sfirstticketnight\"(or\"ben。\"),His\"Firstappearanceonthestage,\"

  His\"Callbeforethecurtain\"—then\"Rejoicingswhenhecameofage。\"

  Thebardplay—writinginhisroom,Thebardahumblelawyer’sclerk。

  Thebardalawyer(3)—parson(4)—groom(5)—

  Thebarddeer—stealing,afterdark。

  Thebardatradesman(6)—andaJew(7)—

  Thebardabotanist(8)—abeak(9)—

  Thebardaskilledmusician(10)too—

  Asheriff(11)andasurgeon(12)eke!

  Yetcriticssay(afriendlystock)

  That,thoughit’sevidentItry,YetevenIcanbarelymockTheglimmerofhiswondrouseye!

  OnemorningasaworkIframed,Therepassedaperson,walkinghard:

  \"Mygraciousgoodness,\"Iexclaimed,\"Howverylikemydearoldbard!

  \"Oh,whatamodelhewouldmake!\"

  Irushedoutside—impulsiveme!—

  \"ForgivethelibertyItake,Butyou’resovery\"—\"Stop!\"saidhe。

  \"Youneedn’twasteyourbreathortime,—

  Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay,—

  Thatyou’reanartist,andthatI’mRemarkablylikeSHAKESPEARE。Eh?

  \"YouwishthatIwouldsittoyou?\"

  Iclaspedhimmadlyroundthewaist,Andbreathlesslyreplied,\"Ido!\"

  \"Allright,\"saidhe,\"butpleasemakehaste。\"

  Iledhimbyhishallowedsleeve,Andworkedawayathimapace,Ipaintedhimtilldewyeve,—

  Thereneverwasanoblerface!

  \"Oh,sir,\"Isaid,\"afortunegrandIsyours,bydintofmerestchance,—

  TosportHISbrowatsecond—hand,TowearHIScast—offcountenance!

  \"TorubHISeyeswhene’ertheyache—

  TowearHISbaldnessereyou’reold—

  TocleanHISteethwhenyouawake—

  ToblowHISnosewhenyou’veacold!\"

  Hiseyeballsglistenedinhiseyes—

  Isatandwatchedandsmokedmypipe;

  \"Bravo!\"Isaid,\"IrecognizeThephrensyofyourprototype!\"

  Hisscantyhairhewildlytore:

  \"That’sright,\"saidI,\"itshowsyourbreed。\"

  Hedanced—hestamped—hewildlyswore—

  \"Blessme,that’sveryfineindeed!\"

  \"Sir,\"saidthegrandShakesperianboy(Continuingtoblazeaway),\"Youthinkmyfaceasourceofjoy;

  Thatshowsyouknownotwhatyousay。

  \"Forgivetheseyellsandcellar—flaps:

  I’malwaysthrowninsomesuchstateWhenonhisfacewell—meaningchapsThiswretchedmancongratulate。

  \"For,oh!thisface—thispointedchin—

  Thisnose—thisbrow—theseeyeballstoo,HavealwaysbeentheoriginOfallthewoesIeverknew!

  \"IftotheplaymywayIfind,ToseeagrandShakesperianpiece,Ihavenorest,noeaseofmindUntiltheauthor’spuppetscease。

  \"Mennudgeeachother—thus—andsay,’ThiscertainlyisSHAKESPEARE’Sson,’

  Andmerrywags(ofcourseinplay)

  Cry’Author!’whenthepieceisdone。

  \"Inchurchthepeoplestareatme,Theirsoulthesermonneverbinds;

  Icatchthemlookingroundtosee,AndthoughtsofSHAKESPEAREfilltheirminds。

  \"Andsculptors,fraughtwithcunningwile,WhofinditdifficulttocrownAbustwithBROWN’Sinsipidsmile,OrTOMKINS’Sunmanneredfrown,\"Yetboldlymakemyfacetheirown,When(oh,presumption!)theyrequireToanimateapaving—stoneWithSHAKESPEARE’Sintellectualfire。

  \"Atpartieswhereyoungladiesgaze,AndIattempttospeakmyjoy,’Hush,pray,’somelovelycreaturesays,’Thefondillusiondon’tdestroy!’

  \"Whene’erIspeak,mysouliswrungWiththeseorsomesuchwhisperings:

  ’’TispitythataSHAKESPEARE’StongueShouldsaysuchun—Shakesperianthings!’

  \"IshouldnotthusbecriticisedHadIafaceofcommonwont:

  Don’tenvyme—now,beadvised!\"

  And,nowIthinkofit,Idon’t!

  Ballad:THEKINGOFCANOODLE—DUM。

  THEstoryofFREDERICKGOWLER,Amarinerofthesea,Whoquittedhisship,theHOWLER,A—sailinginCaribbee。

  Formanyadayhewandered,TillhemetinastateofrumCALAMITYPOPVONPEPPERMINTDROP,TheKingofCanoodle—Dum。

  Thatmonarchaddressedhimgaily,\"Hum!Gollydedoto—day?

  Hum!Lily—whiteBuckraSailee\"—

  (Younoticehisplayfulway?)—

  \"Whatdickensyoudoin’here,sar?

  Whydebbilyouwanttocome?

  Hum!Picaninnee,dereisn’tnoseaInCityCanoodle—Dum!\"

  AndGOWLERheansweredsadly,\"Oh,mineisadolefultale!

  They’vetreatedmewerrybadlyInLunnon,fromwhereIhail。

  I’moneoftheFamilyRoyal—

  NocommonJackTaryousee;

  I’mWILLIAMTHEFOURTH,farupintheNorth,AKinginmyowncountree!\"

  Bang—bang!Howthetom—tomsthundered!

  Bang—bang!Howtheythumpedthisgongs!

  Bang—bang!Howthepeoplewondered!

  Bang—bang!Atithammerandtongs!

  AlliancewithKingsofEuropeIsanhonourCanoodlersseek,Hermonarchsdon’tstopwithPEPPERMINTDROP

  Everydayintheweek!

  FREDtoldthemthathewasundone,Forhispeopleallwentinsane,AndfiredtheTowerofLondon,AndGrinnidge’sNavalFane。

  AndsomeofthemrackedSt。James’s,AndventedtheirrageuponTheChurchofSt。Paul,theFishmongers’Hall,AndtheAngelatIslington。

  CALAMITYPOPimploredhimInhiscapitaltoremainTillthosepeopleofhisrestoredhimTopowerandrankagain。

  CALAMITYPOPhemadehimAPrinceofCanoodle—Dum,Withacoupleofcaves,somebeautifulslaves,Andtherunoftheroyalrum。

  Popgavehimhisonlydaughter,HUMPICKETYWIMPLETIP:

  FREDvowedthatifoverthewaterHewent,inanEnglishship,He’dmakeherhisQueen,—thoughtrulyItisanunusualthingForaCaribbeebratwho’sasblackasyourhatTobewifeofanEnglishKing。

  AndalltheCanoodle—DummersTheycopiedhisrollingwalk,Hismethodofdrainingrummers,Hisemblematicaltalk。

  Forhisdressandhisgracefulbreeding,Hisdelicatetasteinrum,Andhisnauticalway,werethetalkofthedayIntheCourtofCanoodle—Dum。

  CALAMITYPOPmostwiselyDeterminedineverythingTomodelhisCourtpreciselyOnthatoftheEnglishKing;

  AndorderedthateveryladyAndeverylady’slordShouldmasticatejacky(akindoftobaccy),Andscatteritsjuiceabroad。

  TheysignifiedwonderroundlyAtanyastoundingyarn,Bydarningtheirdeareyesroundly(’Twasalltheyhadtodarn)。

  They\"hoistedtheirslacks,\"adjustingGarmentsofplantain—leavesWithnauticaltwitches(asiftheyworebreeches,InsteadofadresslikeEVE’S!)

  Theyshiveredtheirtimbersproudly,Ataphantomforelockdragged,AndcalledforahornpipeloudlyWheneveramusementflagged。

  \"Hum!Golly!himPOPresemble,HimBritishersov’reign,hum!

  CALAMITYPOPVONPEPPERMINTDROP,DeKingofCanoodle—Dum!\"

  Themariner’slively\"Hollo!\"

  EnlivenedCanoodle’splain(ForblessingsunnumberedfollowInCivilization’strain)。

  ButFortune,wholovesabathos,Aterribleendingplanned,ForADMIRALD。CHICKABIDDY,C。B。,PlacedfootonCanoodleland!

  Thatrebel,heseizedKINGGOWLER,Hethreatenedhisroyalbrains,AndputhimaboardtheHOWLER,Andfastenedhimdownwithchains。

  TheHOWLERsheweighedheranchor,WithFREDERICKnicelynailed,AndofftotheNorthwithWILLIAMTHEFOURTH

  Thesehorriblepiratessailed。

  CALAMITYsaid(withfolly),\"Hum!nebberwanthimagain—

  Himcivilizeallofus,golly!

  CALAMITYsuckhimbrain!\"

  Thepeople,however,werepainedwhenTheysawhimaboardhisship,ButnoneofthemweptfortheirFREDDY,exceptHUMPICKETYWIMPLETIP。

  Ballad:THEMARTINET。

  SOMEtimeago,insimpleverseIsangthestorytrueOfCAPTAINREECE,theMANTELPIECE,Andallherhappycrew。

  IshowedhowanycaptainmayAttachhismentohim,Ifhebutheedstheirsmallestneeds,Andstudieseverywhim。

  Nowmarkhow,byDraconicruleAndHAUTEURill—advised,ThenoblestcrewupontheBlueMaybedemoralized。

  WhenhisungratefulcountryplacedKindREECEuponhalf—pay,WithoutmuchclaimSIRBERKELYcame,Andtookcommandoneday。

  SIRBERKELYwasamartinet—

  Asternunyieldingsoul—

  WhoruledhisshipbydintofwhipAndhorribleblack—hole。

  AsailorwhowasovercomeFromhavingfreelydined,Andchancedtoreelwhenatthewheel,Heinstantlyconfined!

  Andtarswho,whenanactionraged,Appearedalarmedorscared,Andthosebelowwhowishedtogo,Heveryseldomspared。

  E’enhewhosmotehisofficerForpunishmentwasbooked,AndmutiniesupontheseasHerarelyoverlooked。

  Inshort,thehappyMANTELPIECE,Whereallhadgonesowell,BeneaththatfoolSIRBERKELY’SruleBecameafloatinghell。

  WhenfirstSIRBERKELYcameaboardHereadaspeechtoall,Andtoldthemhowhe’dmadeavowToactonduty’scall。

  ThenWILLIAMLEE,heupandsaid(TheCaptain’scoxswainhe),\"We’veheardthespeechyourhonour’smade,Andwerrypleasedwebe。

  \"Wewon’tpretend,mylad,ashowWe’regladtoloseourREECE;

  Urbane,polite,hesuitedquiteThesaucyMANTELPIECE。

  \"ButifyourhonourgivesyourmindTostudyallourways,Withdanceandsongwe’lljogalongAsinthosehappydays。

  \"Ilikeyourhonour’slooks,andfeelYou’reworthyofyoursword。

  Yourhand,mylad—I’mdoosidgladTowelcomeyouaboard!\"

  SIRBERKELYlookedamazed,asthoughHedidn’tunderstand。

  \"Don’tshakeyourhead,\"goodWILLIAMsaid,\"Itisanhonesthand。

  \"It’sgraspedabetterhandthanyourn—

  Come,gov’nor,Iinsist!\"

  TheCaptainstared—thecoxswainglared—

  Thehandbecameafist!

  \"Down,upstart!\"saidthehardysalt;

  ButBERKELYdodgedhisaim,Andmadehimgoinchainsbelow:

  Theseamenmurmured\"Shame!\"

  Hestoppedallsongsat12p。m。,Stoppedhornpipeswhenatsea,Andsworehiscot(orbunk)shouldnotBeusedbyaughtthanhe。

  Heneverjoinedtheirdailymess,Noraskedthemtohisown,ButchaffedingayandsocialwayTheofficersalone。

  HisFirstLieutenant,PETER,wasAsuselessascouldbe,Ahelplessstick,andalwayssickWhentherewasanysea。

  ThisFirstLieutenantprovedtobeHisfoster—sisterMAY,WhowenttoseaforloveofheInmasculinearray。

  Andwhenhelearntthecuriousfact,Didheemotionshow,OrdryhertearsorendherfearsBymarryingher?No!

  OrdidheeventrytosootheThismaideninherteens?

  Oh,no!—insteadhemadeherwedTheSergeantofMarines!

  OfcoursesuchSpartandisciplineWouldmakeanangelfret;

  Theydrewalot,andWILLIAMshotThisfearfulmartinet。

  TheAdmiraltysawhowillThey’dtreatedCAPTAINREECE;

  HewasrestoredoncemoreaboardThesaucyMANTELPIECE。

  Ballad:THESAILORBOYTOHISLASS。

  IGOawaythisblessedday,Tosailacrossthesea,MATILDA!

  MyvesselstartsforvariouspartsAttwentyafterthree,MATILDA。

  Ihardlyknowwherewemaygo,Orifit’snearorfar,MATILDA,ForCAPTAINHYDEdoesnotconfideInany’fore—masttar,MATILDA!

  BeneathmybanthatmysticmanShallsuffer,COUTEQUICOUTE,MATILDA!

  WhatrighthashetokeepfrommeTheAdmiraltyroute,MATILDA?

  Because,forsooth!IamayouthOfcommonsailors’lot,MATILDA!

  AmIamanonhumanplanDesigned,oramInot,MATILDA?

  Butthere,mylass,we’llletthatpass!

  WithanxiousloveIburn,MATILDA。

  IwanttoknowifweshallgoTochurchwhenIreturn,MATILDA?

  Youreyesarered,youbowyourhead;

  It’sprettyclearyouthirst,MATILDA,Tonametheday—What’sthatyousay?

  —\"You’llseemefurtherfirst,\"MATILDA?

  Ican’tmistakethesignsyoumake,Althoughyoubarelyspeak,MATILDA;

  Thoughpureandyoung,youthrustyourtongueRightinyourprettycheek,MATILDA!

  Mydear,IfearIhearyousneer—

  Ido—I’msureIdo,MATILDA!

  Withsimplegraceyoumakeaface,Ejaculating,\"Ugh!\"MATILDA。

  Oh,pausetothinkbeforeyoudrinkThedregsofLethe’scup,MATILDA!

  Remember,do,whatI’vegonethrough,Beforeyougivemeup,MATILDA!

  RecallagainthementalpainOfwhatI’vehadtodo,MATILDA!

  AndbeassuredthatI’veenduredIt,allalongofyou,MATILDA!

  Doyouforget,myblithesomepet,Howoncewithjealousrage,MATILDA,IwatchedyouwalkandgailytalkWithsomeonethriceyourage,MATILDA?

  Yousquattedfreeuponhisknee,Asightthatmademesad,MATILDA!

  Youpinchedhischeekwithfriendlytweak,Whichalmostdrovememad,MATILDA!

  Iknewhimnot,buthopedtospotSomemanyouthoughttowed,MATILDA!

  Itookagun,mydarlingone,Andshothimthroughthehead,MATILDA!

  I’mmadeofstuffthat’sroughandgruffEnough,Iown;but,ah,MATILDA!

  ItDIDannoyyoursailorboyTofinditwasyourpa,MATILDA!

  I’vepassedalifeoftoilandstrife,Anddisappointmentsdeep,MATILDA;

  I’velainawakewithdentalacheUntilIfellasleep,MATILDA!

  AttimesagainI’vemissedatrain,Orp’rhapsrunshortoftin,MATILDA,Andwornabootoncornsthatshoot,Or,shaving,cutmychin,MATILDA。

  But,oh!notrains—nodentalpains—

  BelievemewhenIsay,MATILDA,Nocornsthatshoot—nopinchingbootUponasummerday,MATILDA—

  It’smybelief,couldcausesuchgriefAsthatI’vesufferedfor,MATILDA,MyhavingshotinvitalspotYouroldprogenitor,MATILDA。

  BethinkyouhowI’vekeptthevowImadeonewinterday,MATILDA—

  That,comewhatcould,IneverwouldRemaintoolongaway,MATILDA。

  And,oh!thecrimeswithwhich,attimes,I’vechargedmygentlemind,MATILDA,TokeepthevowImade—andnowYoutreatmesounkind,MATILDA!

  Forwhenatsea,offCaribbee,Ifeltmypassionburn,MATILDA,Bypassionegged,IwentandbeggedThecaptaintoreturn,MATILDA。

  Andwhen,mypet,Icouldn’tgetThatcaptaintoagree,MATILDA,RightthroughasortofopenportIpitchedhiminthesea,MATILDA!

  Remember,too,howallthecrewWithindignationblind,MATILDA,Distinctlysworetheyne’erbeforeHadthoughtmesounkind,MATILDA。

  Andhowthey’dshunmeonebyone—

  Anunforgivinggroup,MATILDA—

  IstoppedtheirhowlsandsulkyscowlsBypizeningtheirsoup,MATILDA!

  Sopausetothink,beforeyoudrinkThedregsofLethe’scup,MATILDA;

  Remember,do,whatI’vegonethrough,Beforeyougivemeup,MATILDA。

  RecallagainthementalpainOfwhatI’vehadtodo,MATILDA,AndbeassuredthatI’veenduredIt,allalongofyou,MATILDA!

  Ballad:THEREVERENDSIMONMAGUS。

  ARICHadvowson,highlyprized,Forprivatesalewasadvertised;

  Andmanyaparsonmadeabid;

  TheREVERENDSIMONMAGUSdid。

  Hesoughttheagent’s:\"Agent,I

  Havecomepreparedatoncetobuy(Ifyourdemandisnottoobig)

  TheCureofOtium—cum—Digge。\"

  \"Ah!\"saidtheagent,\"THERE’Saberth—

  Thesnuggestvicarageonearth;

  Nosortofduty(soIhear),Andfifteenhundredpoundsayear!

  \"Ifonthepriceweshouldagree,Thelivingsoonwillvacantbe;

  Thegoodincumbent’sninetyfive,Andcannotverylongsurvive。

  See—here’shisphotograph—yousee,He’sinhisdotage。\"\"Ah,dearme!

  Poorsoul!\"saidSIMON。\"HisdeceaseWouldbeamercifulrelease!\"

  Theagentlaughed—theagentblinked—

  Theagentblewhisnoseandwinked—

  Andpokedtheparson’sribsinplay—

  Itwasthatagent’svulgarway。

  TheREVERENDSIMONfrowned:\"IgrieveThislightdemeanourtoperceive;

  It’sscarcelyCOMMEILFAUT,Ithink:

  Now—prayobligeme—donotwink。

  \"Don’tdigmywaistcoatintoholes—

  YourmissionistosellthesoulsOfhumansheepandhumankidsTothatdivinewhohighestbids。

  \"Dowellinthis,andonyourheadUnnumberedhonourswillbeshed。\"

  Theagentsaid,\"Well,truthtotell,IHAVEbeendoingverywell。\"

  \"Youshould,\"saidSIMON,\"atyourage;

  Butnowabouttheparsonage。

  Howmanyroomsdoesitcontain?

  Showmethephotographagain。

  \"Apoorapostle’shumblehouseMustnotbetooluxurious;

  Nostatelyhallswithoakenfloor—

  Itshouldbedecentandnomore。

  \"Nobilliard—rooms—nostatelytrees—

  Nocroquet—groundsorpineries。\"

  \"Ah!\"sighedtheagent,\"verytrue:

  Thispropertywon’tdoforyou。\"

  \"Alltheseaboutthehouseyou’llfind。\"—

  \"Well,\"saidtheparson,\"nevermind;

  I’llmanagetosubmittotheseLuxurioussuperfluities。

  \"AclergymanwhodoesnotshirkThevariouscallsofChristianwork,WillhavenoleisuretoemployThese’commonforms’ofworldlyjoy。

  \"TopreachthreetimesonSabbathdays—

  Toweanthelostfromwickedways—

  Thesicktosoothe—thesanetowed—

  Thepoortofeedwithmeatandbread;

  \"ThesearethevariouswholesomewaysInwhichI’llspendmynightsanddays:

  MyzealwillhavenotimetocoolAtcroquet,archery,orpool。\"

  Theagentsaid,\"FromwhatIhear,Thislivingwillnotsuit,Ifear—

  Therearenopoor,nosickatall;

  Forservicesthereisnocall。\"

  Thereverendgentlookedgrave,\"Dearme!

  ThenthereisNO’society’?—

  Imean,ofcourse,nosinnersthereWhosesoulswillbemyspecialcare?\"

  Thecunningagentshookhishead,\"No,none—except\"—(theagentsaid)—

  \"TheDUKEOFA。,theEARLOFB。,TheMARQUISC。,andVISCOUNTD。

  \"Butyouwillnotbequitealone,Forthoughthey’vechaplainsoftheirown,Ofcoursethisnoblewell—bredclanReceivetheparishclergyman。\"

  \"Oh,silence,sir!\"saidSIMONM。,\"Dukes—Earls!WhatshouldIcareforthem?

  TheseworldlyranksIscornandflout!\"

  \"Ofcourse,\"theagentsaid,\"nodoubt!\"

  \"YetImightshowthesemenofbirthThehollownessofrankonearth。\"

  Theagentanswered,\"Verytrue—

  ButIshouldnot,ifIwereyou。\"

  \"Whosellsthisrichadvowson,pray?\"

  Theagentwinked—itwashisway—

  \"HisnameisHART;’twixtmeandyou,Heis,I’mgrievedtosay,aJew!\"

  \"AJew?\"saidSIMON,\"happyfind!

  Ipurchasethisadvowson,mind。

  MylifeshallbedevotedtoConvertingthatunhappyJew!\"

  Ballad:MYDREAM。

  THEothernight,fromcaresexempt,Islept—andwhatd’youthinkIdreamt?

  IdreamtthatsomehowIhadcomeTodwellinTopsy—Turveydom—

  Whereviceisvirtue—virtue,vice:

  Whereniceisnasty—nasty,nice:

  Whererightiswrongandwrongisright—

  Wherewhiteisblackandblackiswhite。

  Wherebabies,muchtotheirsurprise,Arebornastonishinglywise;

  WitheveryScienceontheirlips,AndArtatalltheirfinger—tips。

  For,astheirnursesdandlethemTheycrowbinomialtheorem,Withviews(itseemsabsurdtous)

  Ondifferentialcalculus。

  Butthoughababe,asIhavesaid,Isbornwithlearninginhishead,Hemustforgetit,ifhecan,Beforehecallshimselfaman。

  Forthatwhichwecallfollyhere,Iswisdominthatfavouredsphere;

  ThewisdomwesohighlyprizeIsblatantfollyintheireyes。

  Aboy,ifhewouldpushhisway,Mustlearnsomenonsenseeveryday;

  Andcut,tocarryoutthisview,Hiswisdomteethandwisdomtoo。

  Historiansburntheirmidnightoils,Intentongiant—killers’toils;

  AndsagesclosetheiragedeyesToothersages’lullabies。

  Ourmagistrates,indutybound,Commitallrobberswhoarefound;

  ButtheretheBeaks(sopeoplesaid)

  Commitallrobberiesinstead。

  OurJudges,pureandwiseintone,Knowcrimefromtheoryalone,AndgleanthemotivesofathiefFrombooksandpopularbelief。

  Butthere,aJudgewhowantstoprimeHismindwithtrueideasofcrime,DerivesthemfromthecommonsenseOfpracticalexperience。

  PolicemenmarchallfolksawayWhopractisevirtueeveryday—

  Ofcourse,Imeantosay,youknow,Whatwecallvirtueherebelow。

  ForonlyscoundrelsdaretodoWhatweconsiderjustandtrue,Andonlygoodmendo,infact,Whatweshouldthinkadirtyact。

  Butstrangestofthesesocialtwirls,Thegirlsareboys—theboysaregirls!

  Themenarewomen,too—butthen,PERCONTRA,womenallaremen。

  ToonewhototraditionclingsThisseemsanawkwardstateofthings,Butiftothinkitoutyoutry,Itdoesn’treallysignify。

  Withthem,assurelyascanbe,Asailorshouldbesickatsea,AndnotapassengermaysailWhocannotsmokerightthroughagale。

  Asoldier(savebyrarestluck)

  Isalwaysshotforshowingpluck(Thatis,ifotherscanbefoundWithpluckenoughtofirearound)。

  \"Howstrange!\"IsaidtooneIsaw;

  \"Youquiteupsetoureverylaw。

  HowevercanyougetalongSosystematicallywrong?\"

  \"Dearme!\"mymadinformantsaid,\"Haveyounoeyeswithinyourhead?

  Yousneerwhenyouyourhatshoulddoff:

  Why,webeginwhereyouleaveoff!

  \"YourwisestmenareveryfarLesslearnedthanourbabiesare!\"

  Imusedawhile—andthen,ohme!

  Iframedthisbrilliantrepartee:

  \"AlthoughyourbabesarewiserfarThanourmostvaluedsagesare,Yoursages,withtheirtoysandcots,Aredullerthanouridiots!\"

  Butthisremark,Igrievetostate,CamejustalittlebittoolateForasIframeditinmyhead,Iwokeandfoundmyselfinbed。

  StillIcouldwishthat,’steadofhere,Mylotwereinthatfavouredsphere!—

  WheregreatestfoolsbearoffthebellIoughttodoextremelywell。

  Ballad:THEBISHOPOFRUM—TI—FOOAGAIN。

  IOFTENwonderwhetheryouThinksometimesofthatBishop,whoFromblackbutbalmyRum—ti—FooLastsummertwelvemonthcame。

  UntoyourmindIp’r’apsmaybringRemembranceofthemanIsingTo—day,bysimplymentioningThatPETERwashisname。

  RememberhowthatholymanCamewiththegreatColonialclanToSynod,calledPan—Anglican;

  AndkindlyrecollectHow,havingcrossedtheoceanwide,TopleasehisflockallmeanshetriedConsistentwithaproperprideAndmanlyself—respect。

  Heonly,ofthereverendpackWhoministertoChristiansblack,BroughtanyusefulknowledgebackTohisColonialfold。

  InconsequenceaplaceIclaimFor\"PETER\"onthescrollofFame(ForPETERwasthatBishop’sname,AsI’vealreadytold)。

  HecarriedArt,heoftensaid,Toplaceswherethattimidmaid(SavebyColonialBishops’aid)

  Couldneverhopetoroam。

  ThePayne—cum—LaurifeathetaughtAshehadlearntit;forhethoughtThechoicestfruitsofProgressoughtToblesstheNegro’shome。

  Andhehadotherworktodo,For,whilehetossedupontheBlue,TheislandersofRum—ti—FooForgottheirkindlyfriend。

  Theirdecentclothestheylearnttotear—

  Theylearnttosay,\"Idonotcare,\"

  Thoughthey,ofcourse,werewellawareHowfolks,whosayso,end。

  Somesailors,whomhedidnotknow,Hadlandedtherenotlongago,Andtaughtthem\"Bother!\"also,\"Blow!\"

  (Ofwickednessthegerms)。

  Noneedtouseacasuist’spenToprovethattheyweremerchantmen;

  NosailoroftheRoyalN。

  Wouldusesuchawfulterms。

  Andso,whenBISHOPPETERcame(ThatwasthekindlyBishop’sname),Heheardthesedreadfuloathswithshame,Andchidtheirwantofdress。

  (Exceptashell—abanglerare—

  Afeatherhere—afeatherthereTheSouthPacificNegroeswearTheirnativenothingness。)

  HetaughtthemthataBishoploathesTolistentodisgracefuloaths,Hegavethemallhisleft—offclothes—

  Theybentthemtohiswill。

点击下载App,搜索"50 Bab Ballads",免费读到尾