the bab ballads(巴布民谣)-第12章
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！
the exquisite sound。 An air fra' the bagpipes … beat that if ye can！ Hurrah
for CLONGLOCKETTY ANGUS McCLAN！〃
The fame of his piping spread over the land： Respectable widows
proposed for his hand； And maidens came flocking to sit on the green …
Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
One morning the fidgety Sassenach swore He'd stand it no longer … he
drew his claymore； And （this was； I think； in extremely bad taste） Divided
CLONGLOCKETTY close to the waist。
Oh！ loud were the wailings for ANGUS McCLAN； Oh！ deep was the
grief for that excellent man； The maids stood aghast at the horrible scene …
Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
It sorrowed poor PATTISON CORBY TORBAY To find them 〃take
on〃 in this serious way； He pitied the poor little fluttering birds； And
solaced their souls with the following words：
〃Oh； maidens；〃 said PATTISON； touching his hat； 〃Don't blubber； my
dears； for a fellow like that； Observe； I'm a very superior man； A much
better fellow than ANGUS McCLAN。〃
They smiled when he winked and addressed them as 〃dears；〃 And they
all of them vowed； as they dried up their tears； A pleasanter gentleman
never was seen … Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
71
… Page 72…
The Bab Ballads
Ballad： Peter The Wag
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
72
… Page 73…
The Bab Ballads
boys or grown…up men； They none of them would say。
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！
73
… Page 74…
The Bab Ballads
Ballad： Ben Allah Achmet； … Or；
The Fatal Tum
I once did know a Turkish man Whom I upon a two…pair…back met； His
name it was EFFENDI KHAN BACKSHEESH PASHA BEN ALLAH
ACHMET。
A DOCTOR BROWN I also knew … I've often eaten of his bounty； The
Turk and he they lived at Hooe； In Sussex； that delightful county！
I knew a nice young lady there； Her name was EMILY
MACPHERSON； And though she wore another's hair； She was an
interesting person。
The Turk adored the maid of Hooe （Although his harem would have
shocked her）。 But BROWN adored that maiden too： He was a most
seductive doctor。
They'd follow her where'er she'd go … A course of action most improper；
She neither knew by sight； and so For neither of them cared a copper。
BROWN did not know that Turkish male； He might have been his
sainted mother： The people in this simple tale Are total strangers to each
other。
One day that Turk he sickened sore； And suffered agonies oppressive；
He threw himself upon the floor And rolled about in pain excessive。
It made him moan； it made him groan； And almost wore him to a
mummy。 Why should I hesitate to own That pain was in his little tummy？
At length a doctor came； and rung （As ALLAH ACHMET had desired）；
Who felt his pulse； looked up his tongue； And hemmed and hawed； and
then inquired：
〃Where is the pain that long has preyed Upon you in so sad a way；
sir？〃 The Turk he giggled； blushed； and said： I don't exactly like to say；
sir。〃
〃Come； nonsense！〃 said good DOCTOR BROWN。 〃So this is Turkish
coyness； is it？ You must contrive to fight it down … Come； come； sir； please
to be explicit。〃
74
… Page 75…
The Bab Ballads
The Turk he shyly bit his thumb； And coyly blushed like one half…
witted； 〃The pain is in my little tum；〃 He； whispering； at length admitted。
〃Then take you this； and take you that … Your blood flows sluggish in
its channel … You must get rid of all this fat； And wear my medicated
flannel。
〃You'll send for me when you're in need … My name is BROWN … your
life I've saved it。〃 〃My rival！〃 shrieked the invalid； And drew a mighty
sword and waved it：
〃This to thy weazand； Christian pest！〃 Aloud the Turk in frenzy yelled
it； And drove right through the doctor's chest The sabre and the hand that
held it。
The blow was a decisive one； And DOCTOR BROWN grew deadly
pasty； 〃Now see the mischief that you've done … You Turks are so
extremely hasty。
〃There are two DOCTOR BROWNS in Hooe … HE'S short and stout；
I'M tall and wizen； You've been and run the wrong one through； That's
how the error has arisen。〃
The accident was thus explained； Apologies were only heard now： 〃At
my mistake I'm really pained … I am； indeed … upon my word now。
〃With me； sir； you shall be interred； A mausoleum grand awaits me。〃
〃Oh； pray don't say another word； I'm sure that more than compensates
me。
〃But p'r'aps； kind Turk； you're full inside？〃 〃There's room；〃 said he；
〃for any number。〃 And so they laid them down and died。 In proud
Stamboul they sleep their slumber；
75
… Page 76…
The Bab Ballads
Ballad： The Three Kings Of
Chickeraboo
There were three niggers of Chickeraboo … PACIFICO； BANG…BANG；
POPCHOP … who Exclaimed； one terribly sultry day； 〃Oh； let's be kings in
a humble way。〃
The first was a highly…accomplished 〃bones；〃 The next elicited banjo
tones； The third was a quiet； retiring chap； Who danced an excellent break…
down 〃flap。〃
〃We niggers；〃 said they； 〃have formed a plan By which； whenever we
like； we can Extemporise kingdoms near the beach； And then we'll collar a
kingdom each。
〃Three casks； from somebody else's stores； Shall represent our island
shores； Their sides the ocean wide shall lave； Their heads just topping the
briny wave。
〃Great Britain's navy scours the sea； And everywhere her ships they be；
She'll recognise our rank； perhaps； When she discovers we're Royal
Chaps。
〃If to her skirts you want to cling； It's quite sufficient that you're a king；
She does not push inquiry far To learn what sort of king you are。〃
A ship of several thousand tons； And mounting seventy…something
guns； Ploughed； every year； the ocean blue； Discovering kings and
countries new。
The brave REAR…ADMIRAL BAILEY PIP； Commanding that
magnificent ship； Perceived one day； his glasses through； The kings that
came from Chickeraboo。
〃Dear eyes！〃 said ADMIRAL PIP； 〃I see Three flourishing islands on
our lee。 And； bless me！ most remarkable thing！ On every island stands a
king！
〃Come； lower the Admiral's gig；〃 he cried； 〃And over the dancing
waves I'll glide； That low obeisance I may do To those three kings of
Chickeraboo！〃
76
… Page 77…
The Bab Ballads
The Admiral pulled to the islands three； The kings saluted him
graciousLEE。 The
