50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第13节
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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