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The Bab Ballads
Ballad： Hongree And Mahry。 A
Recollection Of A Surrey Melodrama
The sun was setting in its wonted west； When HONGREE； Sub…
Lieutenant of Chassoores； Met MAHRY DAUBIGNY； the Village Rose；
Under the Wizard's Oak … old trysting…place Of those who loved in rosy
Aquitaine。
They thought themselves unwatched； but they were not； For
HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores； Found in LIEUTENANT…
COLONEL JOOLES DUBOSC A rival； envious and unscrupulous； Who
thought it not foul scorn to dodge his steps； And listen； unperceived； to all
that passed Between the simple little Village Rose And HONGREE； Sub…
Lieutenant of Chassoores。
A clumsy barrack…bully was DUBOSC； Quite unfamiliar with the
well…bred tact That animates a proper gentleman In dealing with a girl of
humble rank。 You'll understand his coarseness when I say He would have
married MAHRY DAUBIGNY； And dragged the unsophisticated girl Into
the whirl of fashionable life； For which her singularly rustic ways； Her
breeding （moral； but extremely rude）； Her language （chaste； but
ungrammatical）； Would absolutely have unfitted her。 How different to this
unreflecting boor Was HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores。
Contemporary with the incident Related in our opening paragraph；
Was that sad war 'twixt Gallia and ourselves That followed on the treaty
signed at Troyes； And so LIEUTENANT…COLONEL JOOLES DUBOSC
（Brave soldier； he； with all his faults of style） And HONGREE； Sub…
Lieutenant of Chassoores； Were sent by CHARLES of France against the
lines Of our Sixth HENRY （Fourteen twenty…nine）； To drive his legions
out of Aquitaine。
When HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores； Returned；
suspecting nothing； to his camp； After his meeting with the Village Rose；
He found inside his barrack letter…box A note from the commanding
officer； Requiring his attendance at head…quarters。 He went； and found
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LIEUTENANT…COLONEL JOOLES。
〃Young HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores； This night we
shall attack the English camp： Be the 'forlorn hope' yours … you'll lead it；
sir； And lead it too with credit； I've no doubt。 As every man must certainly
be killed （For you are twenty 'gainst two thousand men）； It is not likely
that you will return。 But what of that？ you'll have the benefit Of knowing
that you die a soldier's death。〃
Obedience was young HONGREE'S strongest point； But he imagined
that he only owed Allegiance to his MAHRY and his King。 〃If MAHRY
bade me lead these fated men； I'd lead them …but I do not think she would。
If CHARLES； my King； said； 'Go； my son； and die；' I'd go； of course … my
duty would be clear。 But MAHRY is in bed asleep； I hope； And
CHARLES； my King； a hundred leagues from this。 As for LIEUTENANT…
COLONEL JOOLES DUBOSC； How know I that our monarch would
approve The order he has given me to…night？ My King I've sworn in all
things to obey … I'll only take my orders from my King！〃 Thus HONGREE；
Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores； Interpreted the terms of his commission。
And HONGREE； who was wise as he was good； Disguised himself
that night in ample cloak； Round flapping hat； and vizor mask of black；
And made； unnoticed； for the English camp。 He passed the unsuspecting
sentinels （Who little thought a man in this disguise Could be a proper
object of suspicion）； And ere the curfew bell had boomed 〃lights out；〃 He
found in audience Bedford's haughty Duke。
〃Your Grace；〃 he said； 〃start not … be not alarmed； Although a
Frenchman stands before your eyes。 I'm HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of
Chassoores。 My Colonel will attack your camp to…night； And orders me to
lead the hope forlorn。 Now I am sure our excellent KING CHARLES
Would not approve of this； but he's away A hundred leagues； and rather
more than that。 So； utterly devoted to my King； Blinded by my attachment
to the throne； And having but its interest at heart； I feel it is my duty to
disclose All schemes that emanate from COLONEL JOOLES； If I believe
that they are not the kind Of schemes that our good monarch would
approve。〃
〃But how；〃 said Bedford's Duke； 〃do you propose That we should
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The Bab Ballads
overthrow your Colonel's scheme？〃 And HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of
Chassoores； Replied at once with never…failing tact： 〃Oh； sir； I know this
cursed country well。 Entrust yourself and all your host to me； I'll lead you
safely by a secret path Into the heart of COLONEL JOOLES' array； And
you can then attack them unprepared； And slay my fellow…countrymen
unarmed。〃
The thing was done。 The DUKE of BEDFORD gave The order；
and two thousand fighting men Crept silently into the Gallic camp； And
slew the Frenchmen as they lay asleep； And Bedford's haughty Duke slew
COLONEL JOOLES； And gave fair MAHRY； pride of Aquitaine； To
HONGREE； Sub…Lieutenant of Chassoores。
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The Bab Ballads
Ballad： Etiquette
The BALLYSHANNON foundered off the coast of Cariboo； And
down in fathoms many went the captain and the crew； Down went the
owners … greedy men whom hope of gain allured： Oh； dry the starting tear；
for they were heavily insured。
Besides the captain and the mate； the owners and the crew； The
passengers were also drowned excepting only two： Young PETER GRAY；
who tasted teas for BAKER； CROOP； AND CO。； And SOMERS； who
from Eastern shores imported indigo。
These passengers； by reason of their clinging to a mast； Upon a desert
island were eventually cast。 They hunted for their meals； as
ALEXANDER SELKIRK used； But they couldn't chat together … they had
not been introduced。
For PETER GRAY； and SOMERS too； though certainly in trade； Were
properly particular about the friends they made； And somehow thus they
settled it without a word of mouth