第4章

Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourmysticway,\"IfthisyoungmanexpresseshimselfintermstoodeepforME,Why,whataverysingularlydeepyoungmanthisdeepyoungmanmustbe!\"

Beeloquentinpraiseoftheverydullolddayswhichhavelongsincepassedaway,Andconvince’em,ifyoucan,thatthereignofgoodQUEENANNEwasCulture’spalmiestday。

Ofcourseyouwillpooh—poohwhatever’sfreshandnew,anddeclareit’scrudeandmean,AndthatArtstoppedshortinthecultivatedcourtoftheEMPRESS

JOSEPHINE。

Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourmysticway,\"Ifthat’snotgoodenoughforhimwhichisgoodenoughforME,Why,whataverycultivatedkindofyouththiskindofyouthmustbe!\"

Thenasentimentalpassionofavegetablefashionmustexciteyourlanguidspleen,AnattachmentELAPlatoforabashfulyoungpotato,oranot—too—

FrenchFrenchbean。

ThoughthePhilistinesmayjostle,youwillrankasanapostleinthehighaestheticband,IfyouwalkdownPiccadillywithapoppyoralilyinyourmediaevalhand。

Andeveryonewillsay,Asyouwalkyourfloweryway,\"Ifhe’scontentwithavegetablelovewhichwouldcertainlynotsuitME,Why,whatamostparticularlypureyoungmanthispureyoungmanmustbe!\"

Ballad:SaidIToMyself,SaidI

WhenIwenttotheBarasaveryyoungman(SaidItomyself—saidI),I’llworkonanewandoriginalplan(SaidItomyself—saidI),I’llneverassumethatarogueorathiefIsagentlemanworthyimplicitbelief,Becausehisattorney,hassentmeabrief(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

I’llneverthrowdustinajuryman’seyes(SaidItomyself—saidI),Orhoodwinkajudgewhoisnotover—wise(SaidItomyself—saidI),OrassumethatthewitnessessummonedinforceInExchequer,Queen’sBench,CommonPleas,orDivorce,Haveperjuredthemselvesasamatterofcourse(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

EreIgointocourtIwillreadmybriefthrough(SaidItomyself—saidI),AndI’llnevertakeworkI’munabletodo(SaidItomyself—saidI)。

MylearnedprofessionI’llneverdisgraceBytakingafeewithagrinonmyface,WhenIhaven’tbeentheretoattendtothecase(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

Inotherprofessionsinwhichmenengage(SaidItomyself—saidI),TheArmy,theNavy,theChurch,andtheStage,(SaidItomyself—saidI),Professionallicence,ifcarriedtoofar,Yourchanceofpromotionwillcertainlymar—

AndIfancytherulemightapplytotheBar(SaidItomyself—saidI!)

Ballad:SorryHerLotSorryherlotwholovestoowell,Heavytheheartthathopesbutvainly,SadarethesighsthatownthespellUtteredbyeyesthatspeaktooplainly;

HeavythesorrowthatbowstheheadWhenLoveisaliveandHopeisdead!

SadisthehourwhensetstheSun—

DarkisthenighttoEarth’spoordaughters,WhentothearktheweariedoneFliesfromtheemptywasteofwaters!

HeavythesorrowthatbowstheheadWhenLoveisaliveandHopeisdead!

Ballad:TheContemplativeSentryWhenallnightlongachapremainsOnsentry—go,tochasemonotonyHeexercisesofhisbrains,Thatis,assumingthathe’sgotany。

ThoughnevernurturedinthelapOfluxury,yetIadmonishyou,Iamanintellectualchap,Andthinkofthingsthatwouldastonishyou。

Ioftenthinkit’scomicalHowNaturealwaysdoescontriveThateveryboyandeverygal,That’sbornintotheworldalive,IseitheralittleLiberal,OrelsealittleConservative!

Fallalla!

WheninthathouseM。P。’sdivide,Ifthey’veabrainandcerebellum,too,They’vegottoleavethatbrainoutside,Andvotejustastheirleaderstell’emto。

ButthentheprospectofalotOfstatesmen,allincloseproximity,A—thinkingforthemselves,iswhatNomancanfacewithequanimity。

Thenlet’srejoicewithloudFallalThatNaturewiselydoescontriveThateveryboyandeverygal,That’sbornintotheworldalive,IseitheralittleLiberal,OrelsealittleConservative!

Fallalla!

Ballad:ThePhilosophicPillI’vewisdomfromtheEastandfromtheWest,That’ssubjecttonoacademicrule;

Youmayfinditinthejeeringofajest,Ordistilitfromthefollyofafool。

Icanteachyouwithaquip,ifI’veamind;

Icantrickyouintolearningwithalaugh;

Oh,winnowallmyfolly,andyou’llfindAgrainortwooftruthamongthechaff!

Icansetabraggartquailingwithaquip,TheupstartIcanwitherwithawhim;

Hemaywearamerrylaughuponhislip,Buthislaughterhasanechothatisgrim。

Whenthey’veofferedtotheworldinmerryguise,Unpleasanttruthsareswallowedwithawill—

Forhewho’dmakehisfellow—creatureswiseShouldalwaysgildthephilosophicpill!

Ballad:BlueBloodSpurnnotthenoblybornWithloveaffected,NortreatwithvirtuousscornThewellconnected。

Highrankinvolvesnoshame—

WeboastanequalclaimWithhimofhumblenameToberespected!

Blueblood!Blueblood!

Whenvirtuousloveissought,Thypowerisnaught,ThoughdatingfromtheFlood,Blueblood!

SpareusthebitterpainOfsterndenials,Norwithlow—borndisdainAugmentourtrials。

HeartsjustaspureandfairMaybeatinBelgraveSquareAsinthelowlyairOfSevenDials!

Blueblood!Blueblood!

OfwhatavailartthouToservemenow?

ThoughdatingfromtheFlood,Blueblood!

Ballad:TheJudge’sSongWhenI,goodfriends,wascalledtotheBar,I’danappetitefreshandhearty,ButIwas,asmanyyoungbarristersare,Animpecuniousparty。

I’daswallow—tailcoatofabeautifulblue—

Abriefwhichwasbroughtbyabooby—

Acoupleofshirtsandacollarortwo,Andaringthatlookedlikearuby!

InWestminsterHallIdancedadance,Likeasemi—despondentfury;

ForIthoughtIshouldneverhitonachanceOfaddressingaBritishJury—

ButIsoongottiredofthird—classjourneys,Anddinnersofbreadandwater;

SoIfellinlovewitharichattorney’sElderly,uglydaughter。

Therichattorney,hewipedhiseyes,Andrepliedtomyfondprofessions:

\"Youshallreaptherewardofyourenterprise,AttheBaileyandMiddlesexSessions。

You’llsoongetusedtoherlooks,\"saidhe,\"Andaverynicegirlyou’llfindher—

Shemayverywellpassforforty—threeInthedusk,withalightbehindher!\"

Therichattorneywasasgoodashisword:

Thebriefscametroopinggaily,AndeverydaymyvoicewasheardAttheSessionsorAncientBailey。

AllthieveswhocouldmyfeesaffordReliedonmyorations,AndmanyaburglarI’verestoredTohisfriendsandhisrelations。

AtlengthIbecameasrichastheGURNEYS—

AnincubusthenIthoughther,SoIthrewoverthatrichattorney’sElderly,uglydaughter。

TherichattorneymycharacterhighTriedvainlytodisparage—

Andnow,ifyouplease,I’mreadytotryThisBreachofPromiseofMarriage!

Ballad:WhenIFirstPutThisUniformOnWhenIfirstputthisuniformon,Isaid,asIlookedintheglass,\"It’sonetoamillionThatanycivilianMyfigureandformwillsurpass。

Goldlacehasacharmforthefair,AndI’veplentyofthat,andtospare,Whilealover’sprofessions,WhenutteredinHessians,Areeloquenteverywhere!\"

AfactthatIcountedupon,WhenIfirstputthisuniformon!

Isaid,whenIfirstputiton,\"ItisplaintotheveriestdunceThateverybeautyWillfeelitherdutyToyieldtoitsglamouratonce。

TheywillseethatI’mfreelygold—lacedInauniformhandsomeandchaste\"—

ButtheperipateticsOflong—hairedaesthetics,Areverymuchmoretotheirtaste—

WhichInevercounteduponWhenIfirstputthisuniformon!

Ballad:SolatiumComesthebrokenflower—

Comesthecheatedmaid—

Thoughthetempestlower,Rainandcloudwillfade!

Take,Omaid,theseposies:

ThoughthybeautyrareShametheblushingroses,Theyarepassingfair!

Weartheflowerstilltheyfade;

Happybethylife,Omaid!

O’ertheseasonvernal,Timemaycastashade;

Sunshine,ifeternal,Makestherosesfade:

Timemaydohisduty;

Letthethiefalone—

WinterhathabeautyThatisallhisown。

Fairestdaysaresunandshade:

Happybethylife,Omaid!

Ballad:ANightmareWhenyou’relyingawakewithadismalheadache,andreposeistaboo’dbyanxiety,Iconceiveyoumayuseanylanguageyouchoosetoindulgeinwithoutimpropriety;

Foryourbrainisonfire—thebedclothesconspireofusualslumbertoplunderyou:

Firstyourcounterpanegoesanduncoversyourtoes,andyoursheetslipsdemurelyfromunderyou;

Thentheblanketingtickles—youfeellikemixedpickles,soterriblysharpisthepricking,Andyou’rehot,andyou’recross,andyoutumbleandtosstillthere’snothing’twixtyouandtheticking。

Thenthebedclothesallcreeptothegroundinaheap,andyoupick’emallupinatangle;

Nextyourpillowresignsandpolitelydeclinestoremainatitsusualangle!

Well,yougetsomereposeintheformofadoze,withhoteyeballsandheadeveraching,Butyourslumberingteemswithsuchhorribledreamsthatyou’dverymuchbetterbewaking;

ForyoudreamyouarecrossingtheChannel,andtossingaboutinasteamerfromHarwich,Whichissomethingbetweenalargebathing—machineandaverysmallsecond—classcarriage;

Andyou’regivingatreat(pennyiceandcoldmeat)toapartyoffriendsandrelations—

They’rearavenoushorde—andtheyallcameonboardatSloaneSquareandSouthKensingtonStations。

Andboundonthatjourneyyoufindyourattorney(whostartedthatmorningfromDevon);

He’sabitundersized,andyoudon’tfeelsurprisedwhenhetellsyouhe’sonlyeleven。

Well,you’redrivinglikemadwiththissingularlad(bythebyetheship’snowafour—wheeler),Andyou’replayingroundgames,andhecallsyoubadnameswhenyoutellhimthat\"tiespaythedealer\";

Butthisyoucan’tstand,soyouthrowupyourhand,andyoufindyou’reascoldasanicicle,Inyourshirtandyoursocks(theblacksilkwithgoldclocks),crossingSalisburyPlainonabicycle:

Andheandthecrewareonbicyclestoo—whichthey’vesomehoworotherinvestedin—

Andhe’stellingthetarsalltheparticuLARSofacompanyhe’sinterestedin—

It’saschemeofdevices,togetatlowprices,allgoodsfromcoughmixturestocables(Whichtickledthesailors)bytreatingretailers,asthoughtheywereallvegeTAbles—

Yougetagoodspadesmantoplantasmalltradesman(firsttakeoffhisbootswithaboot—tree),Andhislegswilltakeroot,andhisfingerswillshoot,andthey’llblossomandbudlikeafruit—tree—

Fromthegreengrocertreeyougetgrapesandgreenpea,cauliflower,pineapple,andcranberries,Whilethepastry—cookplantcherry—brandywillgrant—applepuffs,andthree—corners,andbanberries—

Thesharesareapenny,andeversomanyaretakenbyROTHSCHILD

andBARING,Andjustasafewareallottedtoyou,youawakewithashudderdespairing—

You’rearegularwreck,withacrickinyourneck,andnowonderyousnore,foryourhead’sonthefloor,andyou’veneedlesandpinsfromyoursolestoyourshins,andyourfleshisa—creep,foryourleftleg’sasleep,andyou’vecrampinyourtoes,andaflyonyournose,andsomefluffinyourlung,andafeverishtongue,andathirstthat’sintense,andageneralsensethatyouhaven’tbeensleepinginclover;

Butthedarknesshaspassed,andit’sdaylightatlast,andthenighthasbeenlong—ditto,dittomysong—andthankgoodnessthey’rebothofthemover!

Ballad:Don’tForget!

Now,Marco,dear,Mywisheshear:

Whileyou’reawayIt’sunderstoodYouwillbegood,Andnottoogay。

ToeverytraceOfmaidengraceYouwillbeblind,AndwillnotglanceByanychanceOnwomankind!

Ifyouarewise,You’llshutyoureyesTillwearrive,AndnotaddressAladylessThanforty—five;

You’llpleasetofrownOneverygownThatyoumaysee;

AndO,mypet,Youwon’tforgetYou’vemarriedme!

O,mydarling,O,mypet,Whateverelseyoumayforget,Inyonderislebeyondthesea,O,don’tforgetyou’vemarriedme!

You’lllayyourheadUponyourbedAtsetofsun。

YouwillnotsingOfanythingToanyone:

You’llsitandmopeAllday,Ihope,AndshedatearUponthelifeYourlittlewifeIspassinghere!

AndifsobeYouthinkofme,Pleasetellthemoon;

I’llreaditallInraysthatfallOnthelagoon:

You’llbesokindAstellthewindHowyoumaybe,AndsendmewordsBylittlebirdsTocomfortme!

AndO,mydarling,O,mypet,Whateverelseyoumayforget,Inyonderislebeyondthesea,O,don’tforgetyou’vemarriedme!

Ballad:TheSuicide’sGraveOnatreebyariveralittletomtitSang\"Willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

AndIsaidtohim,\"Dicky—bird,whydoyousitSinging’Willow,titwillow,titwillow’?

Isitweaknessofintellect,birdie?\"Icried,\"Orarathertoughworminyourlittleinside?\"

Withashakeofhispoorlittleheadhereplied,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

Heslappedathischest,ashesatonthatbough,Singing\"Willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

Andacoldperspirationbespangledhisbrow,Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!

Hesobbedandhesighed,andagurglehegave,Thenhethrewhimselfintothebillowywave,Andanechoarosefromthesuicide’sgrave—

\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

NowIfeeljustassureasI’msurethatmynameIsn’tWillow,titwillow,titwillow,That’twasblightedaffectionthatmadehimexclaim,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

Andifyouremaincallousandobdurate,I

Shallperishashedid,andyouwillknowwhy,ThoughIprobablyshallnotexclaimasIdie,\"Oh,willow,titwillow,titwillow!\"

Ballad:HeAndShe[HE。]Iknowayouthwholovesalittlemaid—

(Hey,buthisfaceisasightfortosee!)

Silentishe,forhe’smodestandafraid—

(Hey,buthe’stimidasayouthcanbe!)

[SHE。]Iknowamaidwholovesagallantyouth—

(Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

SHEcannottellhimallthesad,sadtruth—

(Hey,butIthinkthatlittlemaidwilldie!)

[BOTH。]Nowtellmepray,andtellmetrue,Whatintheworldshouldthepoorsouldo?

[HE。]Hecannoteatandhecannotsleep—

(Hey,buthisfaceisasightfortosee!)

Dailyhegoesfortowail—fortoweep—

(Hey,buthe’swretchedasayouthcanbe!)

[SHE。]She’sverythinandshe’sverypale—

(Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

Dailyshegoesfortoweep—fortowail—

(Hey,butIthinkthatlittlemaidwilldie!)

[BOTH。]Nowtellmepray,andtellmetrue,Whatintheworldshouldthepoorsouldo?

[SHE。]IfIweretheyouthIshouldofferhermyname—

(Hey,butherfaceisasightfortosee!)

[HE。]IfIwerethemaidIshouldfanhishonestflame—

(Hey,buthe’sbashfulasayouthcanbe!)

[SHE。]IfIweretheyouthIshouldspeaktoherto—day—

(Hey,butshesickensasthedaysgoby!)

[HE。]IfIwerethemaidIshouldmeettheladhalfway—

(ForIreallydobelievethattimidyouthwilldie!)

[BOTH。]Ithankyoumuchforyourcounseltrue;

I’velearntwhatthatpoorsouloughttodo!

Ballad:TheMightyMustComemightyMust!

InevitableShall!

IntheeItrust。

Timeweavesmycoronal!

GomockingIs!

GodisappointingWas!

ThatIamthisYearethecursedcause!

YethumbleSecondshallbeFirst,Iween;

AnddeadandburiedbethecurstHasBeen!

OhweakMightBe!

OhMay,Might,Could,Would,Should!

HowpowerlessyeForevilorforgood!

IneverysenseYourmoodsIcheerlesscall,Whate’eryourtenseYeareImperfect,all!

YehavedeceivedthetrustI’veshownInye!

Away!TheMightyMustaloneShallbe!

Ballad:AMirageWereIthybride,ThenthewholeworldbesideWerenottoowideToholdmywealthoflove—

WereIthybride!

UponthybreastMylovingheadwouldrest,AsonhernestThetenderturtle—dove—

WereIthybride!

ThisheartofmineWouldbeoneheartwiththine,AndinthatshrineOurhappinesswoulddwell—

WereIthybride!

AndalldaylongOurlivesshouldbeasong:

Nogrief,nowrongShouldmakemyheartrebel—

WereIthybride!

Thesilveryflute,Themelancholylute,Werenight—owl’shootTomylow—whisperedcoo—

WereIthybride!

Theskylark’strillWerebutdiscordanceshrillTothesoftthrillOfwooingasI’dwoo—

WereIthybride!

Therose’ssighWereasacarrion’scryTolullabySuchasI’dsingtothee—

WereIthybride!

Afeather’spressWereleadenheavinessTomycaress。

Butthen,unhappily,I’mnotthybride!

Ballad:TheGhosts’HighNoonWhenthenightwindhowlsinthechimneycowls,andthebatinthemoonlightflies,Andinkyclouds,likefuneralshrouds,sailoverthemidnightskies—

Whenthefootpadsquailatthenight—bird’swail,andblackdogsbaythemoon,Thenisthespectres’holiday—thenistheghosts’highnoon!

Asthesobofthebreezesweepsoverthetrees,andthemistslielowonthefen,Fromgreytombstonesaregatheredthebonesthatoncewerewomenandmen,Andawaytheygo,withamopandamow,totherevelthatendstoosoon,Forcockcrowlimitsourholiday—thedeadofthenight’shighnoon!

Andtheneachghostwithhisladye—toasttotheirchurchyardbedstakeflight,Withakiss,perhaps,onherlanternchaps,andagrislygrim\"goodnight\";

Tillthewelcomeknellofthemidnightbellringsforthitsjolliesttune,Andushersournexthighholiday—thedeadofthenight’shighnoon!

Ballad:TheHumaneMikadoAmorehumaneMikadoneverDidinJapanexist;

Tonobodysecond,I’mcertainlyreckonedAtruephilanthropist。

ItismyveryhumaneendeavourTomake,tosomeextent,EachevilliverArunningriverOfharmlessmerriment。

MyobjectallsublimeIshallachieveintime—

Toletthepunishmentfitthecrime—

Thepunishmentfitthecrime;

AndmakeeachprisonerpentUnwillinglyrepresentAsourceofinnocentmerriment—

Ofinnocentmerriment!

Allprosydullsocietysinners,Whochatterandbleatandbore,AresenttohearsermonsFrommysticalGermansWhopreachfromtentofour:

Theamateurtenor,whosevocalvillainiesAlldesiretoshirk,Shall,duringoff—hours,ExhibithispowersToMadameTussaud’swaxwork:

Theladywhodyesachemicalyellow,Orstainshergreyhairpuce,Orpinchesherfigger,IsblackedlikeaniggerWithpermanentwalnutjuice:

Theidiotwho,inrailwaycarriages,Scribblesonwindowpanes,WeonlysufferTorideonabufferInParliamentarytrains。

MyobjectallsublimeIshallachieveintime—

Toletthepunishmentfitthecrime—

Thepunishmentfitthecrime;

AndmakeeachprisonerpentUnwillinglyrepresentAsourceofinnocentmerriment—

Ofinnocentmerriment!