the bab ballads(巴布民谣)-第18章
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〃To that Fust Lord I'll go And say you love her dearly。〃 And JOE said
（weeping low）； 〃I wish you would； sincerely！〃
That sailor to that Lord Went； soon as he had landed； And of his own
accord An interview demanded。
Says he； with seaman's roll； 〃My Captain （wot's a Tartar） Guv JOE
twelve months' black…hole； For lovering your darter。
〃He loves MISS LADY JANE （I own she is his betters）； But if you'll
jine them twain； They'll free him from his fetters。
〃And if so be as how You'll let her come aboard ship； I'll take her with
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me now。〃 〃Get out！〃 remarked his Lordship。
That honest tar repaired To JOE upon the billow； And told him how
he'd fared。 JOE only whispered； 〃Willow！〃
And for that dreadful crime （Young sailors； learn to shun it） He's
working out his time； In six months he'll have done it。
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Ballad： To The Terrestrial Globe。
By A Miserable Wretch
Roll on； thou ball； roll on！ Through pathless realms of Space Roll on！
What though I'm in a sorry case？ What though I cannot meet my bills？
What though I suffer toothache's ills？ What though I swallow countless
pills？ Never YOU mind！ Roll on！
Roll on； thou ball； roll on！ Through seas of inky air Roll on！ It's true
I've got no shirts to wear； It's true my butcher's bill is due； It's true my
prospects all look blue … But don't let that unsettle you！ Never YOU mind！
Roll on！
＇IT ROLLS ON。
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Ballad： Gentle Alice Brown
It was a robber's daughter； and her name was ALICE BROWN； Her
father was the terror of a small Italian town； Her mother was a foolish；
weak； but amiable old thing； But it isn't of her parents that I'm going for to
sing。
As ALICE was a…sitting at her window…sill one day； A beautiful young
gentleman he chanced to pass that way； She cast her eyes upon him； and
he looked so good and true； That she thought； 〃I could be happy with a
gentleman like you！〃
And every morning passed her house that cream of gentlemen； She
knew she might expect him at a quarter unto ten； A sorter in the Custom…
house； it was his daily road （The Custom…house was fifteen minutes' walk
from her abode）。
But ALICE was a pious girl； who knew it wasn't wise To look at
strange young sorters with expressive purple eyes； So she sought the
village priest to whom her family confessed； The priest by whom their
little sins were carefully assessed。
〃Oh； holy father；〃 ALICE said； 〃't would grieve you； would it not； To
discover that I was a most disreputable lot？ Of all unhappy sinners I'm the
most unhappy one！〃 The padre said； 〃Whatever have you been and gone
and done？〃
〃I have helped mamma to steal a little kiddy from its dad； I've assisted
dear papa in cutting up a little lad； I've planned a little burglary and forged
a little cheque； And slain a little baby for the coral on its neck！〃
The worthy pastor heaved a sigh； and dropped a silent tear； And said；
〃You mustn't judge yourself too heavily； my dear： It's wrong to murder
babies； little corals for to fleece； But sins like these one expiates at half…a…
crown apiece。
〃Girls will be girls … you're very young； and flighty in your mind； Old
heads upon young shoulders we must not expect to find： We mustn't be too
hard upon these little girlish tricks … Let's see … five crimes at half…a…crown
… exactly twelve…and…six。〃
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〃Oh； father；〃 little Alice cried； 〃your kindness makes me weep； You do
these little things for me so singularly cheap … Your thoughtful liberality I
never can forget； But； oh！ there is another crime I haven't mentioned yet！
〃A pleasant…looking gentleman； with pretty purple eyes； I've noticed at
my window； as I've sat a…catching flies； He passes by it every day as
certain as can be … I blush to say I've winked at him； and he has winked at
me！〃
〃For shame！〃 said FATHER PAUL； 〃my erring daughter！ On my
word This is the most distressing news that I have ever heard。 Why；
naughty girl； your excellent papa has pledged your hand To a promising
young robber； the lieutenant of his band！
〃This dreadful piece of news will pain your worthy parents so！ They
are the most remunerative customers I know； For many many years
they've kept starvation from my doors： I never knew so criminal a family
as yours！
〃The common country folk in this insipid neighbourhood Have
nothing to confess； they're so ridiculously good； And if you marry any one
respectable at all； Why； you'll reform； and what will then become of
FATHER PAUL？〃
The worthy priest； he up and drew his cowl upon his crown； And
started off in haste to tell the news to ROBBER BROWN … To tell him
how his daughter； who was now for marriage fit； Had winked upon a
sorter； who reciprocated it。
Good ROBBER BROWN he muffled up his anger pretty well： He said；
〃I have a notion； and that notion I will tell； I will nab this gay young sorter；
terrify him into fits； And get my gentle wife to chop him into little bits。
〃I've studied human nature； and I know a thing or two： Though a girl
may fondly love a living gent； as many do … A feeling of disgust upon her
senses there will fall When she looks upon his body chopped particularly
small。〃
He traced that gallant sorter to a still suburban square； He watched his
opportunity； and seized him unaware； He took a life…preserver and he hit
him on the head； And MRS。 BROWN dissected him before she went to
bed。
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And pretty little ALICE grew more settled in her mind； She never
more was guilty of a weakness of the kind； Until at length good ROBBER
BROWN bestowed her pretty hand On the promising young robber； the
lieutenant of his band。
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