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ascetic; He jumped and thumped upon his hat; He was so very energetic。
His Bishop at this moment chanced To pass; and found the road
encumbered; He noticed how the Churchman danced; And how his
congregation slumbered。
The hundred and eleventh head The priest completed of his stricture;
〃Oh; bosh!〃 the worthy Bishop said; And walked him off as in the picture。
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Ballad: The Yarn Of The 〃Nancy
Bell〃
'Twas on the shores that round our coast From Deal to Ramsgate span;
That I found alone on a piece of stone An elderly naval man。
His hair was weedy; his beard was long; And weedy and long was he;
And I heard this wight on the shore recite; In a singular minor key:
〃Oh; I am a cook and a captain bold; And the mate of the NANCY brig;
And a bo'sun tight; and a midshipmite; And the crew of the captain's gig。〃
And he shook his fists and he tore his hair; Till I really felt afraid; For I
couldn't help thinking the man had been drinking; And so I simply said:
〃Oh; elderly man; it's little I know Of the duties of men of the sea; And
I'll eat my hand if I understand However you can be
〃At once a cook; and a captain bold; And the mate of the NANCY brig;
And a bo'sun tight; and a midshipmite; And the crew of the captain's gig。〃
Then he gave a hitch to his trousers; which Is a trick all seamen larn;
And having got rid of a thumping quid; He spun this painful yarn:
〃'Twas in the good ship NANCY BELL That we sailed to the Indian
Sea; And there on a reef we come to grief; Which has often occurred to
me。
〃And pretty nigh all the crew was drowned (There was seventy…seven
o' soul); And only ten of the NANCY'S men Said 'Here!' to the muster…
roll。
〃There was me and the cook and the captain bold; And the mate of the
NANCY brig; And the bo'sun tight; and a midshipmite; And the crew of
the captain's gig。
〃For a month we'd neither wittles nor drink; Till a…hungry we did feel;
So we drawed a lot; and; accordin' shot The captain for our meal。
〃The next lot fell to the NANCY'S mate; And a delicate dish he made;
Then our appetite with the midshipmite We seven survivors stayed。
〃And then we murdered the bo'sun tight; And he much resembled pig;
Then we wittled free; did the cook and me; On the crew of the captain's
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gig。
〃Then only the cook and me was left; And the delicate question;
'Which Of us two goes to the kettle?' arose; And we argued it out as sich。
〃For I loved that cook as a brother; I did; And the cook he worshipped
me; But we'd both be blowed if we'd either be stowed In the other chap's
hold; you see。
〃'I'll be eat if you dines off me;' says TOM; 'Yes; that;' says I; 'you'll be;
… 'I'm boiled if I die; my friend;' quoth I; And 'Exactly so;' quoth he。
〃Says he; 'Dear JAMES; to murder me Were a foolish thing to do; For
don't you see that you can't cook ME; While I can … and will … cook YOU!'
〃So he boils the water; and takes the salt And the pepper in portions
true (Which he never forgot); and some chopped shalot。 And some sage
and parsley too。
〃'Come here;' says he; with a proper pride; Which his smiling features
tell; ''T will soothing be if I let you see How extremely nice you'll smell。'
〃And he stirred it round and round and round; And he sniffed at the
foaming froth; When I ups with his heels; and smothers his squeals In the
scum of the boiling broth。
〃And I eat that cook in a week or less; And … as I eating be The last of
his chops; why; I almost drops; For a wessel in sight I see!
* * * *
〃And I never larf; and I never smile; And I never lark nor play; But sit
and croak; and a single joke I have … which is to say:
〃Oh; I am a cook and a captain bold; And the mate of the NANCY brig;
And a bo'sun tight; and a midshipmite; And the crew of the captain's gig!'〃
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Ballad: The Bishop Of Rum…Ti…Foo
From east and south the holy clan Of Bishops gathered to a man; To
Synod; called Pan…Anglican; In flocking crowds they came。 Among them
was a Bishop; who Had lately been appointed to The balmy isle of Rum…ti…
Foo; And PETER was his name。
His people … twenty…three in sum … They played the eloquent tum…tum;
And lived on scalps served up; in rum … The only sauce they knew。 When
first good BISHOP PETER came (For PETER was that Bishop's name);
To humour them; he did the same As they of Rum…ti…Foo。
His flock; I've often heard him tell; (His name was PETER) loved him
well; And; summoned by the sound of bell; In crowds together came。 〃Oh;
massa; why you go away? Oh; MASSA PETER; please to stay。〃 (They
called him PETER; people say; Because it was his name。)
He told them all good boys to be; And sailed away across the sea; At
London Bridge that Bishop he Arrived one Tuesday night; And as that
night he homeward strode To his Pan…Anglican abode; He passed along
the Borough Road; And saw a gruesome sight。
He saw a crowd assembled round A person dancing on the ground;
Who straight began to leap and bound With all his might and main。 To see
that dancing man he stopped; Who twirled and wriggled; skipped and
hopped; Then down incontinently dropped; And then sprang up again。
The Bishop chuckled at the sight。 〃This style of dancing would delight
A simple Rum…ti…Foozleite。 I'll learn it if I can; To please the tribe when I
get back。〃 He begged the man to teach his knack。 〃Right Reverend Sir; in
half a crack! Replied that dancing man。
The dancing man he worked away; And taught the Bishop every day …
The dancer skipped like any fay … Good PETER did the same。 The Bishop
buckled to his task; With BATTEMENTS; and PAS DE BASQUE。 (I'll tell
you; if you care to ask; That PETER was his name。)
〃Come; walk like this;〃 the dancer said; 〃Stick out your toes … stick in
your head; Stalk on with quick; galvanic tread … Your fingers thus extend;
The attitude's considered quaint。〃 The weary Bishop; feeling faint; Replied;
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〃I do not say it ain't; But 'Time!' my Christian friend!〃
〃We now proceed to something new … Dance as the PAYNES and
LAURIS do; Like this … one; two …