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第11节

50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第11节

小说: 50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣) 字数: 每页4000字

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for it! ONCE; if I dared to weep; the bottle lacking; My blubbering 
involved a serious smacking! 

〃We grew up in the usual way …my friend; My foster…brother; daily 
growing thinner; While gradually I began to mend; And thrived amazingly 
on double dinner。 And every one; besides my foster…mother; Believed that 
either of us was the other。 

〃I came into HIS wealth … I bore HIS name; I bear it still … HIS 
property I squandered … I mortgaged everything … and now (oh; shame!) 
Into a Somers Town shake…down I've wandered! I am no PALEY … no; 
VOLLAIRE … it's true; my boy! The only rightful PALEY V。 is YOU; my 
boy! 

〃And all I have is yours … and yours is mine。 I still may place you in 
your true position: Give me the pounds you've saved; and I'll resign My 
noble name; my rank; and my condition。 So far my wickedness in falsely 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

* * * * * * * 

FREDERICK he was a simple soul; He pulled from his pocket a bulky 
roll; And gave to PALEY his hard…earned store; A hundred and seventy 
pounds or more。 

PALEY VOLLAIRE; with many a groan; Gave FREDERICK all that 
he called his own; … Two shirts and a sock; and a vest of jean; A Wellington 
boot and a bamboo cane。 

And FRED (entitled to all things there) He took the fever from MR。 
VOLLAIRE; Which killed poor FREDERICK WEST。 Meanwhile 
VOLLAIRE sailed off to Madeira's isle。 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 
E 
MERMAIDS。 


I SING a legend of the sea; So hard…a…port upon your lee! A ship on 
starboard tack! She's bound upon a private cruise … (This is the kind of 
spice I use To give a salt…sea smack)。 

Behold; on every afternoon (Save in a gale or strong Monsoon) Great 
CAPTAIN CAPEL CLEGGS (Great morally; though rather short) Sat at 
an open weather…port And aired his shapely legs。 

And Mermaids hung around in flocks; On cable chains and distant 
rocks; To gaze upon those limbs; For legs like those; of flesh and bone; 
Are things 〃not generally known〃 To any Merman TIMBS。 

But Mermen didn't seem to care Much time (as far as I'm aware) With 
CLEGGS'S legs to spend; Though Mermaids swam around all day And 
gazed; exclaiming; 〃THAT'S the way A gentleman should end! 

〃A pair of legs with well…cut knees; And calves and ankles such as 
these Which we in rapture hail; Are far more eloquent; it's clear (When 
clothed in silk and kerseymere); Than any nasty tail。〃 

And CLEGGS … a worthy kind old boy … Rejoiced to add to others' joy; 
And; when the day was dry; Because it pleased the lookers…on; He sat from 
morn till night … though con… Stitutionally shy。 

At first the Mermen laughed; 〃Pooh! pooh!〃 But finally they jealous 
grew; And sounded loud recalls; But vainly。 So these fishy males Declared 
they too would clothe their tails In silken hose and smalls。 

They set to work; these water…men; And made their nether robes … but 
when They drew with dainty touch The kerseymere upon their tails; They 
found it scraped against their scales; And hurt them very much。 

The silk; besides; with which they chose To deck their tails by way of 
hose (They never thought of shoon); For such a use was much too thin; … It 
tore against the caudal fin; And 〃went in ladders〃 soon。 

So they designed another plan: They sent their most seductive man 
This note to him to show …〃Our Monarch sends to CAPTAIN CLEGGS 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

〃We've pleasant homes below the sea …Besides; if CAPTAIN 
CLEGGS should be (As our advices say) A judge of Mermaids; he will 
find Our lady…fish of every kind Inspection will repay。〃 

Good CAPEL sent a kind reply; For CAPEL thought he could descry 
An admirable plan To study all their ways and laws … (But not their ladyfish; 
because He was a married man)。 

The Merman sank … the Captain too Jumped overboard; and dropped 
from view Like stone from catapult; And when he reached the Merman's 
lair; He certainly was welcomed there; But; ah! with what result? 

They didn't let him learn their law; Or make a note of what he saw; Or 
interesting mem。: The lady…fish he couldn't find; But that; of course; he 
didn't mind … He didn't come for them。 

For though; when CAPTAIN CAPEL sank; The Mermen drawn in 
double rank Gave him a hearty hail; Yet when secure of CAPTAIN 
CLEGGS; They cut off both his lovely legs; And gave him SUCH a tail! 

When CAPTAIN CLEGGS returned aboard; His blithesome crew 
convulsive roar'd; To see him altered so。 The Admiralty did insist That he 
upon the Half…pay List Immediately should go。 

In vain declared the poor old salt; 〃It's my misfortune … not my fault;〃 
With tear and trembling lip … In vain poor CAPEL begged and begged。 〃A 
man must be completely legged Who rules a British ship。〃 

So spake the stern First Lord aloud … He was a wag; though very proud; 
And much rejoiced to say; 〃You're only half a captain now … And so; my 
worthy friend; I vow You'll only get half…pay!〃 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 
BOW。 


OH! listen to the tale of little ANNIE PROTHEROE。 She kept a small 
post…office in the neighbourhood of BOW; She loved a skilled mechanic; 
who was famous in his day … A gentle executioner whose name was 
GILBERT CLAY。 

I think I hear you say; 〃A dreadful subject for your rhymes!〃 O reader; 
do not shrink … he didn't live in modern times! He lived so long ago (the 
sketch will show it at a glance) That all his actions glitter with the limelight 
of Romance。 

In busy times he laboured at his gentle craft all day … 〃No doubt you 
mean his Cal…craft;〃 you amusingly will say … But; no … he didn't operate 
with common bits of string; He was a Public Headsman; which is quite 
another thing。 

And when his work was over; they would ramble o'er the lea; And sit 
beneath the frondage of an elderberry tree; And ANNIE'S simple prattle 
entertained him on his walk; For public executions formed the subject of 
her talk。 

And sometimes he'd explain to her; which charmed her very much; 
How famous operators vary very much in touch; And then; perhaps; he'd 
show how he himself performed the trick; And illustrate his meaning with 
a poppy and a stick。 

Or; if it rained; the little maid would stop at home; and look At his 
favourable notices; all pasted in a book; And then her cheek would flush her 
swimming eyes would dance with joy In a glow of admiration at the 
prowess of her boy。 

One summer eve; at supper…time; the gentle GILBERT said (As he 
helped his pretty ANNIE to a slice of collared head); 〃This reminds me I 
must settle on the next ensuing day The hash of that unmitigated villain 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

He saw his ANNIE tremble and he saw his ANNIE start; Her changing 
colour trumpeted the flutter at her heart; Young GILBERT'S manly bosom 
rose and sank with jealous fear; And he said; 〃O gentle ANNIE; what's the 
meaning of this here?〃 

And ANNIE answered; blushing in an interesting way; 〃You think; no 
doubt; I'm sighing for that felon PETER GRAY: That I was his young 
woman is unquestionably true; But not since I began a…keeping company 
with you。〃 

Then GILBERT; who was irritable; rose and loudly swore He'd know 
the reason why if she refused to tell him more; And she answered (all the 
woman in her flashing from her eyes) 〃You mustn't ask no questions; and 
you won't be told no lies! 

〃Few lovers have the privilege enjoyed; my dear; by you; Of chopping 
off a rival's head and quartering him too! Of vengeance; dear; to…morrow 
you will surely take your fill!〃 And GILBERT ground his molars as he 
answered her; 〃I will!〃 

Young GILBERT rose from table with a stern determined look; And; 
frowning; took an inexpensive hatchet from its hook; And ANNIE 
watched his movements with an interested air … For the morrow … for the 
morrow he was going to prepare! 

He chipped it with a hammer and he chopped it with a bill; He poured 
sulphuric acid on the edge of it; until This terrible Avenger of the Majesty 
of Law Was far less like a hatchet than a dissipated saw。 

And ANNIE said; 〃O GILBERT; dear; I do not understand Why ever 
you are injuring that hatchet in your hand?' He said; 〃It is intended for to 
lacerate and flay The neck of that unmitigated villain PETER GRAY!〃 

〃Now; GILBERT;〃 ANNIE answered; 〃wicked headsman; just beware 

…I won't have PETER tortured with that horrible affair; If you appear with 
that; you may depend you'll rue the day。〃 But GILBERT said; 〃Oh; shall 
I?〃 which was just his nasty way。 
He saw a look of anger from her eyes distinctly dart; For ANNIE was a 
woman; and had pity in her heart! She wished him a good evening … he 
answered with a glare; She only said; 〃Remember; for your ANNIE will be 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 


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