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第9章

50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第9章

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

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43 



Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

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

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

POLICEMAN PETER FORTH I drag From his obscure retreat: He 
was a merry genial wag; Who loved a mad conceit。 If he were asked the 
time of day; By country bumpkins green; He not unfrequently would say; 
〃A quarter past thirteen。〃 

If ever you by word of mouth Inquired of MISTER FORTH The way 
to somewhere in the South; He always sent you North。 With little boys his 
beat along He loved to stop and play; He loved to send old ladies wrong; 
And teach their feet to stray。 

He would in frolic moments; when Such mischief bent upon; Take 
Bishops up as betting men … Bid Ministers move on。 Then all the worthy 
boys he knew He regularly licked; And always collared people who Had 
had their pockets picked。 

He was not naturally bad; Or viciously inclined; But from his early 
youth he had A waggish turn of mind。 The Men of London grimly scowled 
With indignation wild; The Men of London gruffly growled; But PETER 
calmly smiled。 

Against this minion of the Crown The swelling murmurs grew … From 
Camberwell to Kentish Town … From Rotherhithe to Kew。 Still humoured 
he his wagsome turn; And fed in various ways The coward rage that dared 
to burn; But did not dare to blaze。 

Still; Retribution has her day; Although her flight is slow: ONE DAY 
THAT CRUSHER LOST HIS WAY NEAR POLAND STREET; SOHO。 
The haughty boy; too proud to ask; To find his way resolved; And in the 
tangle of his task Got more and more involved。 

The Men of London; overjoyed; Came there to jeer their foe; And 
flocking crowds completely cloyed The mazes of Soho。 The news on 
telegraphic wires Sped swiftly o'er the lea; Excursion trains from distant 
shires Brought myriads to see。 

For weeks he trod his self…made beats Through Newport… Gerrard…
Bear… Greek… Rupert… Frith… Dean… Poland… Streets; And into Golden 
Square。 But all; alas! in vain; for when He tried to learn the way Of little 

45 



Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Their eyes would flash … their teeth would grind …Their lips would 
tightly curl …They'd say; 〃Thy way thyself must find; Thou misdirecting 
churl!〃 And; similarly; also; when He tried a foreign friend; Italians 
answered; 〃IL BALEN〃 … The French; 〃No comprehend。〃 

The Russ would say with gleaming eye 〃 Sevastopol!〃 and groan。 The 
Greek said; 'GREEK TEXT WHICH CANNOT BE REPRODUCED'。〃 To 
wander thus for many a year That Crusher never ceased … The Men of 
London dropped a tear; Their anger was appeased 

At length exploring gangs were sent To find poor FORTH'S remains A 
handsome grant by Parliament Was voted for their pains。 To seek the 
poor policeman out Bold spirits volunteered; And when they swore they'd 
solve the doubt; The Men of London cheered。 

And in a yard; dark; dank; and drear; They found him; on the floor … It 
leads from Richmond Buildings … near The Royalty stage…door。 With 
brandy cold and brandy hot They plied him; starved and wet; And made 
him sergeant on the spot … The Men of London's pet! 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

ROLL on; thou ball; roll on! Through pathless realms of Space Roll on! 
What though I'm in a sorry case? What though I cannot meet my bills? 
What though I suffer toothache's ills? What though I swallow countless 
pills? Never YOU mind! Roll on! 

Roll on; thou ball; roll on! Through seas of inky air Roll on! It's true 
I've got no shirts to wear; It's true my butcher's bill is due; It's true my 
prospects all look blue … But don't let that unsettle you! Never YOU mind! 
Roll on! 

'IT ROLLS ON。 

47 



Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

IT was a robber's daughter; and her name was ALICE BROWN; Her 
father was the terror of a small Italian town; Her mother was a foolish; 
weak; but amiable old thing; But it isn't of her parents that I'm going for to 
sing。 

As ALICE was a…sitting at her window…sill one day; A beautiful young 
gentleman he chanced to pass that way; She cast her eyes upon him; and 
he looked so good and true; That she thought; 〃I could be happy with a 
gentleman like you!〃 

And every morning passed her house that cream of gentlemen; She 
knew she might expect him at a quarter unto ten; A sorter in the Customhouse; 
it was his daily road (The Custom…house was fifteen minutes' walk 
from her abode)。 

But ALICE was a pious girl; who knew it wasn't wise To look at 
strange young sorters with expressive purple eyes; So she sought the 
village priest to whom her family confessed; The priest by whom their 
little sins were carefully assessed。 

〃Oh; holy father;〃 ALICE said; 〃't would grieve you; would it not; To 
discover that I was a most disreputable lot? Of all unhappy sinners I'm the 
most unhappy one!〃 The padre said; 〃Whatever have you been and gone 
and done?〃 

〃I have helped mamma to steal a little kiddy from its dad; I've assisted 
dear papa in cutting up a little lad; I've planned a little burglary and forged 
a little cheque; And slain a little baby for the coral on its neck!〃 

The worthy pastor heaved a sigh; and dropped a silent tear; And said; 
〃You mustn't judge yourself too heavily; my dear: It's wrong to murder 
babies; little corals for to fleece; But sins like these one expiates at half…acrown 
apiece。 

〃Girls will be girls … you're very young; and flighty in your mind; Old 
heads upon young shoulders we must not expect to find: We mustn't be too 
hard upon these little girlish tricks … Let's see … five crimes at half…a…crown 

… exactly twelve…and…six。〃 
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

〃A pleasant…looking gentleman; with pretty purple eyes; I've noticed at 
my window; as I've sat a…catching flies; He passes by it every day as 
certain as can be … I blush to say I've winked at him; and he has winked at 
me!〃 

〃For shame!〃 said FATHER PAUL; 〃my erring daughter! On my word 
This is the most distressing news that I have ever heard。 Why; naughty girl; 
your excellent papa has pledged your hand To a promising young robber; 
the lieutenant of his band! 

〃This dreadful piece of news will pain your worthy parents so! They 
are the most remunerative customers I know; For many many years 
they've kept starvation from my doors: I never knew so criminal a family 
as yours! 

〃The common country folk in this insipid neighbourhood Have 
nothing to confess; they're so ridiculously good; And if you marry any one 
respectable at all; Why; you'll reform; and what will then become of 
FATHER PAUL?〃 

The worthy priest; he up and drew his cowl upon his crown; And 
started off in haste to tell the news to ROBBER BROWN …To tell him 
how his daughter; who was now for marriage fit; Had winked upon a 
sorter; who reciprocated it。 

Good ROBBER BROWN he muffled up his anger pretty well: He said; 
〃I have a notion; and that notion I will tell; I will nab this gay young sorter; 
terrify him into fits; And get my gentle wife to chop him into little bits。 

〃I've studied human nature; and I know a thing or two: Though a girl 
may fondly love a living gent; as many do … A feeling of disgust upon her 
senses there will fall When she looks upon his body chopped particularly 
small。〃 

He traced that gallant sorter to a still suburban square; He watched his 
opportunity; and seized him unaware; He took a life…preserver and he hit 
him on the head; And MRS。 BROWN dissected him before she went to 
bed。 

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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

50 



Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense 

OH; listen to the tale of MISTER WILLIAM; if you please; Whom 

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