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第13节

50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第13节

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

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REECE; the MANTELPIECE; And all her happy crew。 

I showed how any captain may Attach his men to him; If he but heeds 
their smallest needs; And studies every whim。 

Now mark how; by Draconic rule And HAUTEUR ill…advised; The 
noblest crew upon the Blue May be demoralized。 

When his ungrateful country placed Kind REECE upon half…pay; 
Without much claim SIR BERKELY came; And took command one day。 

SIR BERKELY was a martinet … A stern unyielding soul … Who ruled 
his ship by dint of whip And horrible black…hole。 

A sailor who was overcome From having freely dined; And chanced to 
reel when at the wheel; He instantly confined! 

And tars who; when an action raged; Appeared alarmed or scared; And 
those below who wished to go; He very seldom spared。 

E'en he who smote his officer For punishment was booked; And 
mutinies upon the seas He rarely overlooked。 

In short; the happy MANTELPIECE; Where all had gone so well; 
Beneath that fool SIR BERKELY'S rule Became a floating hell。 

When first SIR BERKELY came aboard He read a speech to all; And 
told them how he'd made a vow To act on duty's call。 

Then WILLIAM LEE; he up and said (The Captain's coxswain he); 
〃We've heard the speech your honour's made; And werry pleased we be。 

〃We won't pretend; my lad; as how We're glad to lose our REECE; 
Urbane; polite; he suited quite The saucy MANTELPIECE。 

〃But if your honour gives your mind To study all our ways; With dance 
and song we'll jog along As in those happy days。 

〃I like your honour's looks; and feel You're worthy of your sword。 
Your hand; my lad … I'm doosid glad To welcome you aboard!〃 

SIR BERKELY looked amazed; as though He didn't understand。 
〃Don't shake your head;〃 good WILLIAM said; 〃It is an honest hand。 

〃It's grasped a better hand than yourn … Come; gov'nor; I insist!〃 The 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

〃Down; upstart!〃 said the hardy salt; But BERKELY dodged his aim; 
And made him go in chains below: The seamen murmured 〃Shame!〃 

He stopped all songs at 12 p。m。; Stopped hornpipes when at sea; And 
swore his cot (or bunk) should not Be used by aught than he。 

He never joined their daily mess; Nor asked them to his own; But 
chaffed in gay and social way The officers alone。 

His First Lieutenant; PETER; was As useless as could be; A helpless 
stick; and always sick When there was any sea。 

This First Lieutenant proved to be His foster…sister MAY; Who went to 
sea for love of he In masculine array。 

And when he learnt the curious fact; Did he emotion show; Or dry her 
tears or end her fears By marrying her? No! 

Or did he even try to soothe This maiden in her teens? Oh; no! instead 
he made her wed The Sergeant of Marines! 

Of course such Spartan discipline Would make an angel fret; They 
drew a lot; and WILLIAM shot This fearful martinet。 

The Admiralty saw how ill They'd treated CAPTAIN REECE; He was 
restored once more aboard The saucy MANTELPIECE。 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 
O 
HIS LASS。 


I GO away this blessed day; To sail across the sea; MATILDA! My 
vessel starts for various parts At twenty after three; MATILDA。 I hardly 
know where we may go; Or if it's near or far; MATILDA; For CAPTAIN 
HYDE does not confide In any 'fore…mast tar; MATILDA! 

Beneath my ban that mystic man Shall suffer; COUTE QUI COUTE; 
MATILDA! What right has he to keep from me The Admiralty route; 
MATILDA? Because; forsooth! I am a youth Of common sailors' lot; 
MATILDA! Am I a man on human plan Designed; or am I not; 
MATILDA? 

But there; my lass; we'll let that pass! With anxious love I burn; 
MATILDA。 I want to know if we shall go To church when I return; 
MATILDA? Your eyes are red; you bow your head; It's pretty clear you 
thirst; MATILDA; To name the day … What's that you say? … 〃You'll see me 
further first;〃 MATILDA? 

I can't mistake the signs you make; Although you barely speak; 
MATILDA; Though pure and young; you thrust your tongue Right in your 
pretty cheek; MATILDA! My dear; I fear I hear you sneer … I do … I'm sure 
I do; MATILDA! With simple grace you make a face; Ejaculating; 〃Ugh!〃 
MATILDA。 

Oh; pause to think before you drink The dregs of Lethe's cup; 
MATILDA! Remember; do; what I've gone through; Before you give me 
up; MATILDA! Recall again the mental pain Of what I've had to do; 
MATILDA! And be assured that I've endured It; all along of you; 
MATILDA! 

Do you forget; my blithesome pet; How once with jealous rage; 
MATILDA; I watched you walk and gaily talk With some one thrice your 
age; MATILDA? You squatted free upon his knee; A sight that made me 
sad; MATILDA! You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak; Which 
almost drove me mad; MATILDA! 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

I've passed a life of toil and strife; And disappointments deep; 
MATILDA; I've lain awake with dental ache Until I fell asleep; 
MATILDA! At times again I've missed a train; Or p'rhaps run short of tin; 
MATILDA; And worn a boot on corns that shoot; Or; shaving; cut my chin; 
MATILDA。 

But; oh! no trains … no dental pains … Believe me when I say; 
MATILDA; No corns that shoot … no pinching boot Upon a summer day; 
MATILDA … It's my belief; could cause such grief As that I've suffered for; 
MATILDA; My having shot in vital spot Your old progenitor; MATILDA。 

Bethink you how I've kept the vow I made one winter day; MATILDA 

…That; come what could; I never would Remain too long away; MATILDA。 
And; oh! the crimes with which; at times; I've charged my gentle mind; 
MATILDA; To keep the vow I made … and now You treat me so unkind; 
MATILDA! 
For when at sea; off Caribbee; I felt my passion burn; MATILDA; By 
passion egged; I went and begged The captain to return; MATILDA。 And 
when; my pet; I couldn't get That captain to agree; MATILDA; Right 
through a sort of open port I pitched him in the sea; MATILDA! 

Remember; too; how all the crew With indignation blind; MATILDA; 
Distinctly swore they ne'er before Had thought me so unkind; MATILDA。 
And how they'd shun me one by one … An unforgiving group; MATILDA I 
stopped their howls and sulky scowls By pizening their soup; 
MATILDA! 

So pause to think; before you drink The dregs of Lethe's cup; 
MATILDA; Remember; do; what I've gone through; Before you give me 
up; MATILDA。 Recall again the mental pain Of what I've had to do; 
MATILDA; And be assured that I've endured It; all along of you; 
MATILDA! 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 
N 
MAGUS。 


A RICH advowson; highly prized; For private sale was advertised; 
And many a parson made a bid; The REVEREND SIMON MAGUS did。 

He sought the agent's: 〃Agent; I Have come prepared at once to buy (If 
your demand is not too big) The Cure of Otium…cum…Digge。〃 

〃Ah!〃 said the agent; 〃THERE'S a berth … The snuggest vicarage on 
earth; No sort of duty (so I hear); And fifteen hundred pounds a year! 

〃If on the price we should agree; The living soon will vacant be; The 
good incumbent's ninety five; And cannot very long survive。 

See … here's his photograph … you see; He's in his dotage。〃 〃Ah; dear me! 
Poor soul!〃 said SIMON。 〃His decease Would be a merciful release!〃 

The agent laughed … the agent blinked … The agent blew his nose and 
winked … And poked the parson's ribs in play … It was that agent's vulgar 
way。 

The REVEREND SIMON frowned: 〃I grieve This light demeanour to 
perceive; It's scarcely COMME IL FAUT; I think: Now … pray oblige me do 
not wink。 

〃Don't dig my waistcoat into holes … Your mission is to sell the souls 
Of human sheep and human kids To that divine who highest bids。 

〃Do well in this; and on your head Unnumbered honours will be shed。〃 
The agent said; 〃Well; truth to tell; I HAVE been doing very well。〃 

〃You should;〃 said SIMON; 〃at your age; But now about the parsonage。 
How many rooms does it contain? Show me the photograph again。 

〃A poor apostle's humble house Must not be too luxurious; No stately 
halls with oaken floor … It should be decent and no more。 

〃 No billiard…rooms … no stately trees … No croquet…grounds or 
pineries。〃 〃Ah!〃 sighed the agent; 〃very true: This property won't do for 
you。〃 

〃All these about the house you'll find。〃 …〃Well;〃 said the parson; 
〃never mind; I'll manage to submit to these Luxurious superfluities。 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

〃To preach three times on Sabbath days …To wean the lost from 
wicked ways … The sick to soothe … the sane to wed … The poor to feed with 
meat and bread; 

〃These are the various wholesome ways In which I'll spend my nights 
and days: My zeal will have no time to cool At croquet; archery; or pool。〃 
The agent said; 〃From what I hear; This living will not suit; I fear There 
are no poor; no sick at all; For servic

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