第6章

Toteachhimpatience,teachhimtact,Howpromptlyinafixtoact,Heshouldadopt,inpointoffact,Amanager’sprofession。

Tothatconditionheshouldstoop(Despiteatoofondmother),Witheightorten\"stars\"inhistroupe,Alljealousofeachother!

Oh,themanwhocanruleatheatricalcrew,Eachmemberagenius(andsomeofthemtwo),Andmanagetohumourthem,littleandgreat,Cangovernatuppenny—ha’pennyState!

BothAandBrehearsalslight—

Theysaythey’llbe\"allrightatnight\"

(They’vebothtogotoschoolyet);

CineachactMUSTchangeherdress,DWILLattemptto\"squarethepress\";

Ewon’tplayRomeounlessHisgrandmotherplaysJuliet;

Fclaimsallhoydensasherrights(She’splayedthemthirtyseasons);

AndGmustshowherselfintightsFortwoconvincingreasons—

Twoverywell—shapedreasons!

Oh,themanwhocandriveatheatricalteam,Withwheelersandleadersinordersupreme,Cangovernandrule,withawaveofhisfin,AllEuropeandAsia—withIrelandthrownin!

Ballad:OutOfSortsWhenyoufindyou’reabroken—downcritter,Whoisallofatrimmleandtwitter,Withyourpalateunpleasantlybitter,Asifyou’djustbittenapill—

Whenyourlegsareasthinasdividers,Andyou’replaguedwithunrulyinsiders,Andyourspineisallcreepywithspiders,Andyou’rehighlygambogeinthegill—

Whenyou’vegotabeehiveinyourhead,Andasewingmachineineachear,Andyoufeelthatyou’veeatenyourbed,Andyou’vegotabadheadacheDOWNHERE—

Whensuchfactsareabout,AndthesesymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorcrown—

Well,it’stimetolookout,YoumaymakeupyourmindYouhadbetterliedown!

Whenyourlipsareallsmeary—liketallow,Andyourtongueisdecidedlyyallow,WithapintofwarmoilinyourswAllow,Andapoundoftin—tacksinyourchest—

Whenyou’redowninthemouthwiththevapours,AndalloveryournewMorrispapersBlack—beetlesarecuttingtheircapers,Andcrawlythingsneveratrest—

Whenyoudoubtifyourheadisyourown,Andyoujumpwhenanopendoorslams—

Thenyou’vegottoastatewhichisknownTothemedicalworldas\"jim—jams。\"

IfsuchsymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorhead,They’renoteasytoquell—

YoumaymakeupyourmindYouarebetterinbed,Foryou’renotatallwell!

Ballad:HowIt’sDoneBold—facedranger(Perfectstranger)

Meetstwowell—behavedyoungladiesHe’sattractive,Youngandactive—

Eachalittlebitafraidis。

Youthadvances,AthisglancesTotheirdangertheyawaken;

TheyrepelhimAstheytellhimHeisverymuchmistaken。

Thoughtheyspeaktohimpolitely,Pleaseobservethey’resneeringslightly,Justtoshowhe’sactingvainly。

ThisisVirtuesayingplainly,\"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!\"

(Whenaddressedimpertinently,Englishladiesanswergently,\"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!\")

Ashegazes,Hatheraises,Entersintoconversation。

Makesexcuses—

ThisproducesInterestingagitation。

He,withdaring,Undespairing,Giveshiscard—hisrankdiscloses—

LittleheedingThisproceeding,Theyturnuptheirlittlenoses。

Prayobservethislessonvital—

WhenamanofrankandtitleHispositionfirstdiscloses,Alwayscockyourlittlenoses。

Whenathome,letalltheclassTrythisinthelooking—glass。

(Englishgirlsofwell—brednotionsShunallunrehearsedemotions,EnglishgirlsofhighestclassPractisethembeforetheglass。)

HisintentionsThenhementions,Somethingdefinitetogoon—

MakesrecitalsOfhistitles,Hintsatsettlements,andsoon。

Smilingsweetly,They,discreetly,Askforfurtherevidences:

Thusinvited,He,delighted,Givestheusualreferences。

Thisisbusiness。EachisflutteredWhentheoffer’sfairlyuttered。

\"Whichofthemhashisaffection?\"

Hedeclinestomakeselection。

Dotheyquarrelforhisdross?

Notabitofit—theytoss!

Pleaseobservethiscogentmoral—

Englishladiesneverquarrel。

Whenadoubttheycomeacross,Englishladiesalwaystoss。

Ballad:AClassicalRevivalAttheoutsetImaymentionit’smysovereignintentionTorevivetheclassicmemoriesofAthensatitsbest,Formycompanypossessesallthenecessarydresses,Andacourseofquietcrammingwillsupplyuswiththerest。

We’veachoirhyporchematic(thatis,ballet—operatic)

WhorespondtotheCHOREUTAEofthatcultivatedage,Andourcleverchorus—master,allbutcaptiouscriticaster,WouldacceptastheCHOREGUSoftheearlyAtticstage。

Thisreturntoclassicagesisconsideredintheirwages,Whicharealwayscalculatedbythedayorbytheweek—

AndI’llpay’em(ifthey’llbackme)allinOBOLOIandDRACHMAE,Whichthey’llget(iftheypreferit)attheKalendsthatareGreek!

(AtthisjunctureImaymentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady\"cram。\":

Periphrasticmethodsspurning,TomyreadersalldiscerningIadmitthisshowoflearningIsthefruitofsteadycram。\"!)

IntheperiodSocraticeverydining—roomwasAttic(Whichsuggestsanarchitectureofatopsy—turvykind),Therethey’dsatisfytheirtwistonaRECHERCHEcold[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced],Whichiswhattheycalledtheirlunch—andsomayyou,ifyou’reinclined。

Astheygraduallygoton,they’d[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]

(WhichisAtticforasteadyandaconscientiousdrink)。

Buttheymixedtheirwinewithwater—whichI’msuretheydidn’toughter—

AndweAnglo—Saxonsknowatrickworthtwoofthat,Ithink!

Thencameratherriskydances(undercertaincircumstances)

Whichwouldshockthatworthygentleman,theLicenserofPlays,CorybantianmaniACkick—DionysiacorBacchic—

AndtheDithyrambicrevelsofthoseindecorousdays。

(AndperhapsI’dbettermentionLestalarmingyouIam,Thatitisn’tourintentionToperformaDithyramb—

Itdisplaysalotofstocking,Whichisalwaysveryshocking,AndofcourseI’monlymockingAttheprevalenceof\"cram。\")

Yes,onreconsideration,therearecustomsofthatnationWhicharenotinstrictaccordancewiththehabitsofourday,AndwhenIcometocodify,theirrulesImeantomodify,OrMrs。Grundy,p’r’aps,mayhaveawordortwotosay:

Fortheyhadn’tmacintoshesorumbrellasorgoloshes—

Andashowerwiththeirdressesmusthaveplayedtheverydeuce,Anditmusthavebeenunpleasingwhentheycaughtafitofsneezing,For,itseems,ofpocket—handkerchiefstheydidn’tknowtheuse。

Theyworelittleunderclothing—scarcelyanything—orno—thing—

AndtheirdressofCoansilkwasquitetransparentindesign—

Well,infact,insummerweather,somethinglikethe\"altogether。\"

Andit’sTHERE,Iratherfancy,Ishallhavetodrawtheline!

(AndagainIwishtomentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady\"cram。\"

Yetmyclassicloveaggressive,Ifyou’llpardonthepossessive,IsexceedinglyimpressiveWhenyou’repassinganexam。)

Ballad:ThePracticalJokerOhwhatafundofjoyjocundlieshidinharmlesshoaxes!

WhatkeenenjoymentspringsFromcheapandsimplethings!

Whatdeepdelightfromsourcestriteinventivehumourcoaxes,ThatpainandtroublebrewForeveryonebutyou!

GunpowderplacedinsideitswaistimprovesamildHavanah,ItsunexpectedflashBurnseyebrowsandmoustache;

Whenpeopledinenokindofwinebeatsipecacuanha,ButcommonsensesuggestsYoukeepitforyourguests—

Thennaughtannoystheorganboyslikethrowingred—hotcoppers,AndmuchamusementbidesIncommonbutter—slides。

Andstringysnaresacrossthestairscauseunexpectedcroppers。

Coalscuttles,recollect,Producethesameeffect。

AmanpossessedOfcommonsenseNeednotinvestAtgreatexpense—

ItdoesnotcallForpocketdeep,ThesejokesareallExtremelycheap。

Ifyoucommencewitheighteenpence(it’sallyou’llhavetopay),Youmaycommandapleasantandamostinstructiveday。

Agoodspringgunbreedsendlessfun,andmakesmenjumplikerockets,Andturnip—headsonpostsMakeverydecentghosts:

Thenhornetsstinglikeanything,whenplacedinwaist—coatpockets—

BurntcorkandwalnutjuiceArenotwithouttheiruse。

Nofuncompareswitheasychairswhoseseatsarestuffedwithneedles—

LiveshrimpstheirpatiencetaxWhenputdownpeople’sbacks—

Surprising,too,whatonecandowithfiftyfatblackbeedles—

AndtreacleonachairWillmakeaQuakerswear!

ThensharptintacksAndpocketsquirts—

Andcobblers’waxForladies’skirts—

AndslimyslugsOnbedroomfloors—

AndwaterjugsOnopendoors—

Preparedwiththesecheapproperties,amusingtrickstoplay,Uponafriendamanmayspendamostdelightfulday!

Ballad:TheNationalAnthemAmonarchispesteredwithcares,Though,nodoubt,hecanoftentrepanthem;

Butonecomesinashapehecanneverescape—

TheimplacableNationalAnthem!

Thoughforquietandresthemayyearn,Itpursueshimateveryturn—

NochanceofforsakingItsROCOCOnumbers;

Theyhaunthimwhenwaking—

Theypoisonhisslumbers—

LiketheBanburyLady,whomeveryoneknows,He’scursedwithitsmusicwhereverhegoes!

Thoughitswordsbutimperfectlyrhyme,Andthedevilhimselfcouldn’tscanthem;

WithcomposurepoliteheenduresdayandnightThatilliterateNationalAnthem!

Itservesagoodpurpose,Iown:

Itsstrainsaredevoutandimpressive—

Itsheart—stirringnotesraisealumpinourthroatsAsweburnwithdevotionexcessive:

ButtheKing,who’sbeenboredbythatsongFromhiscradle—eachday—alldaylong—

Who’shearditloud—shoutedBythroatsoperatic,AndloyallyspoutedBycourtiersemphatic—

Bysoldier—bysailor—bydrumandbyfife—

Smallblameifhethinksittheplagueofhislife!

Whilehissubjectssingloudlyandlong,TheirKing—whowouldwillinglybanthem—

Sits,worrydisguising,anathematisingThatBogie,theNationalAnthem!

Ballad:HerTermsMyweddedlifeMusteverypleasurebringOnscaleextensive!

IfI’myourwifeImusthaveeverythingThat’smostexpensive—

Alady’s—maid—

(MyhairalonetodoIamnotable)—

AndI’mafraidI’vebeenaccustomedtoAfirst—ratetable。

Thesethingsonemustconsiderwhenonemarries—

AndeverythingIwearmustcomefromParis!

Oh,thinkofthat!

Oh,thinkofthat!

Ican’twearanythingthat’snotfromParis!

FromtoptotoesQuiteFrenchifiedIam,Ifyouexamine。

Andthen—whoknows?—

Perhapssomedayafam—

Perhapsafamine!

Myargument’scorrect,ifyouexamine,Whatshouldwedo,ifthereshouldcomeaf—famine!

ThoughingreenpeaYourselfyouneedn’tstintInJulysunny,InJanuareeItreallycostsamint—

Amintofmoney!

Nolambforus—

HouselambatChristmassellsAtpriceshandsome:

Asparagus,Inwinter,parallelsAMonarch’sransom:

Whenpursetobreadandbutterbarelyreaches,Whatisyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?

Ah!tellmethat!

Ah!tellmethat!

WhatISyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?

YourheartandhandThoughatmyfeetyoulay,Allothersscorning!

Asmattersstand,There’snothingnowtosayExcept—goodmorning!

Thoughvirtuebeahusband’sbestadorning,Thatwon’tpayratesandtaxes—so,goodmorning!

Ballad:TheIndependentBeeAhiveofbees,asI’veheardsay,SaidtotheirQueenonesultryday,\"PleaseyourMajesty’shighposition,Thehiveisfullandtheweatheriswarm,Weratherthink,withaduesubmission,Thetimehascomewhenweoughttoswarm。\"

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

UpspaketheirQueenandthusspakeshe—

\"Thisisamatterthatrestswithme,Whodaresopinionsthustoform?

I’LLtellyouwhenitistimetoswarm!\"

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

HerMajestyworeanangryfrown,Infact,herMajesty’sfootwasdown—

HerMajestysulked—declinedtosup—

Inshort,herMajesty’sbackwasup。

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

Herfootwasdownandherbackwasup!

Thathivecontainedoneobstinatebee(HisnamewasPeter),andthusspakehe—

\"Thougheverybeehasshownwhitefeather,TobowtotyrannyI’mnotprone—

Whyshouldahiveswarmalltogether?

Surelyabeecanswarmalone?\"

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

Upsidedownandinsideout,Backwards,forwards,roundabout,Twirlinghereandtwistingthere,Topsyturvilyeverywhere—

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

PitifulsightitwastoseeRespectableelderlyhigh—classbee,Whokickedthebeamatsixteenstone,Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!

Thehivewereshockedtoseetheirchum(Astrictteetotaller)teetotum—

TheQueenexclaimed,\"Howterrible,very!

It’sperfectlycleartoallthethrongPeter’sbeenattheoldbrownsherry。

Oldbrownsherryismuchtoostrong—

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

Ofallwhothusthemselvesdegrade,Asternexamplemustbemade,ToCoventrygo,youtipsybee!\"

SoofftoCoventrytownwenthe。

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

There,classedwithallwhomisbehave,Bothplausiblerogueandnoisomeknave,IndismaldumpshelivedtoownThefollyoftryingtoswarmalone!

Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。

Allcameoftryingtoswarmalone。

Ballad:TheDisconcertedTenorAtenor,allsingersabove(Thisdoesn’tadmitofaquestion),Shouldkeephimselfquiet,Attendtohisdiet,Andcarefullynursehisdigestion。

Butwhenheismadlyinlove,It’scertaintotellonhissinging—

Youcan’tdochromaticsWithproperemphaticsWhenanguishyourbosomiswringing!

Whendistractedwithworriesinplenty,Andhispulseisahundredandtwenty,Andhisflutteringbosomtheslaveofmistrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。

Nowobserve—(SINGSAHIGHNOTE)—

Yousee,Ican’tdomyselfjustice!

Icouldsing,ifmyfervourweremock,It’seasyenoughifyou’reacting,Butwhenone’semotionIsbornofdevotion,Youmustn’tbeover—exacting。

OneoughttobefirmasarockToventureashakeinVIBRATO;

Whenfervour’sexpected,Keepcoolandcollected,OrneverattemptAGITATO。

But,ofcourse,whenhistongueisofleather,Andhislipsappearpastedtogether,Andhissensitivepalateasdryasacrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。

Nowobserve—(SINGSACADENCE)—

It’snouse—Ican’tdomyselfjustice!

Ballad:ThePlayed—OutHumoristQuixoticishisenterprise,andhopelesshisadventureis,Whoseeksforjocularitiesthathaven’tyetbeensaid。

Theworldhasjokedincessantlyforoverfiftycenturies,Andeveryjokethat’spossiblehaslongagobeenmade。

Istartedasahumoristwithlotsofmentalfizziness,Buthumourisadrugwhichit’sthefashiontoabuse;

Formystock—in—trade,myfixtures,andthegoodwillofthebusinessNoreasonableofferIamlikelytorefuse。

AndifanybodychooseHemaycirculatethenewsThatnoreasonableofferI’mlikelytorefuse。

Ohhappywasthathumorist—thefirstthatmadeapunatall—

Whowhenajokeoccurredtohim,howeverpoorandmean,Wasabsolutelycertainthatitneverhadbeendoneatall—

Howpopularatdinnersmustthathumoristhavebeen!

Ohthedayswhensomestepfatherforthequeryheldahandleout,Thedoor—matfromthescraper,isitdistantveryfar?

AndwhennooneknewwhereMoseswaswhenAaronblewthecandleout,Andnoonehaddiscoveredthatadoorcouldbea—jar!

ButyourmodernhearersareIntheirtastesparticular,Andtheysneerifyouinformthemthatadoorcanbea—jar!

Insearchofquipandquiddity,I’vesatallday,alone,apart—

AndallthatIcouldhitonasaproblemwas—tofindAnalogybetweenascragofmuttonandaBony—part,Whichoffersslightemploymenttothespeculativemind:

Foryoucannotcallitverygood,howevergreatyourcharity—

It’snotthesortofhumourthatisgreetedwithashout—

AndI’vecometotheconclusionthatmymineofjocularityInpresentAnnoDomini,isworkedcompletelyout!

Thoughthenotionyoumayscout,IcanprovebeyondadoubtThatmymineofjocularityisutterlyworkedout。