按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Common the following night； Then lay on their oars for a fortnight or two；
Becalmed in the ocean of Honololu。
One day ALUM saw； with alarm in his breast； A cloud on the nor…sow…
sow…nor…sow…nor…west； The wind it arose； and the crew gave a scream； For
they knew it … they knew it！ … the dreaded Hareem！！
The mast it went over； and so did the sails； Brave ALUM threw over
his casks and his bales； The billows arose as the weather grew thick； And
all except ALUM were terribly sick。
The crew were but three； but they holloa'd for nine； They howled and
they blubbered with wail and with whine： The skipper he fainted away in
the fore； For he hadn't the heart for to skip any more。
37
… Page 38…
The Bab Ballads
〃Ho； coward！〃 said ALUM； 〃with heart of a child！ Thou son of a party
whose grave is defiled！ Is ALUM in terror？ is ALUM afeard？ Ho！ ho！ If
you had one I'd laugh at your beard。〃
His eyeball it gleamed like a furnace of coke； He boldly inflated his
clothes as he spoke； He daringly felt for the corks on his chest； And he
recklessly tightened the belt at his breast。
For he knew； the brave ALUM； that； happen what might； With belts
and cork…jacketing； HE was all right； Though others might sink； he was
certain to swim； … No Hareem whatever had terrors for him！
They begged him to spare from his personal store A single cork
garment … they asked for no more； But he couldn't； because of the number
of oaths That he never … no； never！ … would take off his clothes。
The billows dash o'er them and topple around； They see they are pretty
near sure to be drowned。 A terrible wave o'er the quarter…deck breaks； And
the vessel it sinks in a couple of shakes！
The dreadful Hareem； though it knows how to blow； Expends all its
strength in a minute or so； When the vessel had foundered； as I have
detailed； The tempest subsided； and quiet prevailed。
One seized on a cork with a yelling 〃Ha！ ha！〃 （Its bottle had 'prisoned
a pint of Pacha） … Another a toothpick … another a tray … 〃Alas！ it is
useless！〃 said brave ALUM BEY。
〃To holloa and kick is a very bad plan： Get it over； my tulips； as soon
as you can； You'd better lay hold of a good lump of lead； And cling to it
tightly until you are dead。
〃Just raise your hands over your pretty heads … so … Right down to the
bottom you're certain to go。 Ta！ ta！ I'm afraid we shall not meet again〃 …
For the truly courageous are truly humane。
Brave ALUM was picked up the very next day … A man…o'…war sighted
him smoking away； With hunger and cold he was ready to drop； So they
sent him below and they gave him a chop。
O reader； or readress； whichever you be； You weep for the crew who
have sunk in the sea？ O reader； or readress； read farther； and dry The
bright sympathetic ka…bob in your eye。
That ship had a grapple with three iron spikes； … It's lowered； and； ha！
38
… Page 39…
The Bab Ballads
on a something it strikes！ They haul it aboard with a British 〃heave…ho！〃
And what it has fished the drawing will show。
There was WILSON； and PARKER； and TOMLINSON； too … （The
first was the captain； the others the crew） … As lively and spry as a Malabar
ape； Quite pleased and surprised at their happy escape。
And ALUM； brave fellow； who stood in the fore； And never expected
to look on them more； Was really delighted to see them again； For the
truly courageous are truly humane。
39
… Page 40…
The Bab Ballads
Ballad： Sir Barnaby Bampton
Boo
This is SIR BARNABY BAMPTON BOO； Last of a noble race；
BARNABY BAMPTON； coming to woo； All at a deuce of a pace。
BARNABY BAMPTON BOO； Here is a health to you： Here is wishing
you luck； you elderly buck … BARNABY BAMPTON BOO！
The excellent women of Tuptonvee Knew SIR BARNABY BOO； One
of them surely his bride would be； But dickens a soul knew who。 Women
of Tuptonvee； Here is a health to ye For a Baronet； dears； you would cut
off your ears； Women of Tuptonvee！
Here are old MR。 and MRS。 DE PLOW （PETER his Christian name）；
They kept seven oxen； a pig； and a cow … Farming it was their game。
Worthy old PETER DE PLOW； Here is a health to thou： Your race isn't
run； though you're seventy…one； Worthy old PETER DE PLOW！
To excellent MR。 and MRS。 DE PLOW Came SIR BARNABY BOO；
He asked for their daughter； and told 'em as how He was as rich as a Jew。
BARNABY BAMPTON'S wealth； Here is your jolly good health： I'd
never repine if you came to be mine； BARNABY BAMPTON'S wealth！
〃O great SIR BARNABY BAMPTON BOO〃 （Said PLOW to that
titled swell）； 〃My missus has given me daughters two … AMELIA and
VOLATILE NELL！〃 AMELIA and VOLATILE NELL； I hope you're
uncommonly well： You two pretty pearls … you extremely nice girls …
AMELIA and VOLATILE NELL！
〃AMELIA is passable only； in face； But； oh！ she's a worthy girl；
Superior morals like hers would grace The home of a belted Earl。〃
Morality； heavenly link！ To you I'll eternally drink： I'm awfully fond of
that heavenly bond； Morality； heavenly link！
〃Now NELLY'S the prettier； p'raps； of my gals； But； oh！ she's a
wayward chit； She dresses herself in her showy fal…lals； And doesn't read
TUPPER a bit！〃 O TUPPER； philosopher true； How do you happen to do？
A publisher looks with respect on your books； For they DO sell；
40
… Page 41…
The Bab Ballads
philosopher true！
The Bart。 （I'll be hanged if I drink him again； Or care if he's ill or
well）； He sneered at the goodness of MILLY THE PLAIN； And cottoned
to VOLATILE NELL！ O VOLATILE NELLY DE P。！ Be hanged if I'll
empty to thee： I like worthy maids； not mere frivolous jades； VOLATILE
NELLY DE P。！
They bolted； the Bart。 and his frivolous dear； And MILLY was left to
pout； For years they've got on very well； as I hear； But soon he will rue it；
no doubt。 O excellent MILLY DE PLOW； I really can't drink to you now；
My head isn't strong； and the song has