50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第12章
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Madeira's isle。〃
〃Go to Madeira？ goodness me！ I haven't the money to pay your fee！〃
〃Then； PALEY VOLLAIRE；〃 said the leech； 〃good bye； I'll come no more；
for your're sure to die。〃
He sighed and he groaned and smote his breast； 〃Oh； send；〃 said he；
〃for FREDERICK WEST； Ere senses fade or my eyes grow dim： I've a
terrible tale to whisper him！〃
Poor was FREDERICK'S lot in life； … A dustman he with a fair young
wife； A worthy man with a hard…earned store； A hundred and seventy
pounds … or more。
FREDERICK came； and he said； 〃Maybe You'll say what you
happened to want with me？〃 〃Wronged boy；〃 said PALEY VOLLAIRE； 〃I
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
THE TERRIBLE TALE。
〃'Tis now some thirty…seven years ago Since first began the plot that
I'm revealing； A fine young woman； whom you ought to know； Lived with
her husband down in Drum Lane； Ealing。 Herself by means of mangling
reimbursing； And now and then （at intervals） wet…nursing。
〃Two little babes dwelt in their humble cot： One was her own … the
other only lent to her： HER OWN SHE SLIGHTED。 Tempted by a lot Of
gold and silver regularly sent to her； She ministered unto the little other In
the capacity of foster…mother。
〃I WAS HER OWN。 Oh！ how I lay and sobbed In my poor cradle deeply；
deeply cursing The rich man's pampered bantling； who had robbed
My only birthright … an attentive nursing！ Sometimes in hatred of my
foster…brother； I gnashed my gums … which terrified my mother。
〃One day … it was quite early in the week … I IN MY CRADLE
HAVING PLACED THE BANTLING … Crept into his！ He had not learnt
to speak； But I could see his face with anger mantling。 It was imprudent well；
disgraceful maybe； For； oh！ I was a bad； blackhearted baby！
〃So great a luxury was food； I think No wickedness but I was game to
try for it。 NOW if I wanted anything to drink At any time； I only had to cry
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
