TheadvertisingquackwhoweariesWithtalesofcountlesscures,Histeeth,I’veenacted,ShallallbeextractedByterrifiedamateurs:
Themusic—hallsingerattendsaseriesOfmassesandfuguesand"ops"
ByBach,interwovenWithSpohrandBeethoven,AtclassicalMondayPops:
ThebilliardsharpwhomanyonecatchesHisdoom’sextremelyhard—
He’smadetodwellInadungeoncellOnaspotthat’salwaysbarred;
AndthereheplaysextravagantmatchesInfitlessfinger—stalls,OnaclothuntrueWithatwistedcue,Andellipticalbilliardballs!
MyobjectallsublimeIshallachieveintime—
Toletthepunishmentfitthecrime—
Thepunishmentfitthecrime;
AndmakeeachprisonerpentUnwillinglyrepresentAsourceofinnocentmerriment,Ofinnocentmerriment!
Ballad:WillowWaly!
[HE。]PRITHEE,prettymaiden—prithee,tellmetrue(Hey,butI’mdoleful,willow,willowwaly!)
Haveyoue’eralovera—danglingafteryou?
Hey,willowwalyO!
IwouldfaindiscoverIfyouhavealover?
Hey,willowwalyO!
[SHE。]Gentlesir,myheartisfrolicsomeandfree—
(Hey,buthe’sdoleful,willow,willowwaly!)
NobodyIcareforcomesa—courtingme—
Hey,willowwalyO!
NobodyIcareforComesa—courting—therefore,Hey,willowwalyO!
[HE。]Prithee,prettymaiden,willyoumarryme?
(Hey,butI’mhopeful,willow,willowwaly!)
Imaysay,atonce,I’mamanofpropertee—
Hey,willowwalyO!
Money,Idespiseit,Butmanypeopleprizeit,Hey,willowwalyO!
[SHE。]Gentlesir,althoughtomarryIdesign—
(Hey,buthe’shopeful,willow,willowwaly!)
AsyetIdonotknowyou,andsoImustdecline。
Hey,willowwalyO!
Toothermaidensgoyou—
AsyetIdonotknowyou,Hey,willowwalyO!
Ballad:LifeIsLovelyAllTheYearWhenthebudsareblossoming,Smilingwelcometothespring,Loverschooseaweddingday—
LifeisloveinmerryMay!
Springisgreen—Fallalla!
Summer’srose—Fallalla!
ItissadwhenSummergoes,Falla!
Autumn’sgold—Fallalla!
Winter’sgrey—Fallalla!
Winterstillisfaraway—
Falla!
LeavesinAutumnfadeandfall;
Winteristheendofall。
Springandsummerteemwithglee:
Springandsummer,then,forme!
Falla!
IntheSpring—timeseedissown:
IntheSummergrassismown:
IntheAutumnyoumayreap:
Winteristhetimeforsleep。
Springishope—Fallalla!
Summer’sjoy—Fallalla!
SpringandSummernevercloy,Falla!
Autumn,toil—Fallalla!
Winter,rest—Fallalla!
Winter,afterall,isbest—
Falla!
Springandsummerpleasureyou,Autumn,ay,andwinter,too—
Everyseasonhasitscheer;
Lifeislovelyalltheyear!
Falla!
Ballad:TheUsher’sChargeNow,Jurymen,hearmyadvice—
AllkindsofvulgarprejudiceIprayyousetaside:
Withsternjudicialframeofmind—
Frombiasfreeofeverykind,Thistrialmustbetried!
Oh,listentotheplaintiff’scase:
Observethefeaturesofherface—
Thebroken—heartedbride!
Condolewithherdistressofmind—
Frombiasfreeofeverykind,Thistrialmustbetried!
Andwhenamidtheplaintiff’sshrieks,Theruffianlydefendantspeaks—
Upontheotherside;
WhatHEmaysayyouneednotmind—
Frombiasfreeofeverykind,Thistrialmustbetried!
Ballad:TheGreatOakTreeTheregrewalittleflower’Neathagreatoaktree:
Whenthetempest’gantolowerLittleheededshe:
Noneedhadshetocower,Forshedreadednotitspower—
ShewashappyinthebowerOfhergreatoaktree!
Singhey,Lackaday!
LetthetearsfallfreeFortheprettylittleflowerandthegreatoaktree!
Whenshefoundthathewasfickle,Wasthatgreatoaktree,Shewasinaprettypickle,Asshewellmightbe—
Buthisgallantriesweremickle,ForDeathfollowedwithhissickle,AndhertearsbegantotrickleForhergreatoaktree!
Singhey,Lackaday!
LetthetearsfallfreeFortheprettylittleflowerandthegreatoaktree!
Saidshe,"Helovedmenever,Didthatgreatoaktree,ButI’mneitherrichnorclever,Andsowhyshouldhe?
Butthoughfateourfortunessever,TobeconstantI’llendeavour,Ay,foreverandforever,Tomygreatoaktree!"
Singhey,Lackaday!
LetthetearsfallfreeFortheprettylittleflowerandthegreatoaktree!
Ballad:KingGoodheartTherelivedaKing,asI’vebeentoldInthewonder—workingdaysofold,Whenheartsweretwiceasgoodasgold,Andtwentytimesasmellow。
Goodtempertriumphedinhisface,AndinhishearthefoundaplaceForalltheerringhumanraceAndeverywretchedfellow。
WhenhehadRhenishwinetodrinkItmadehimverysadtothinkThatsome,atjunketoratjink,Mustbecontentwithtoddy:
Hewishedallmenasrichashe(Andhewasrichasrichcouldbe),SotothetopofeverytreePromotedeverybody。
Ambassadorscroppeduplikehay,PrimeMinistersandsuchastheyGrewlikeasparagusinMay,AndDukeswerethreeapenny:
LordChancellorswerecheapassprats,AndBishopsintheirshovelhatsWereplentifulastabbycats—
Ifpossible,toomany。
OneverysideField—Marshalsgleamed,SmallbeerwereLords—Lieutenantsdeemed,WithAdmiralstheoceanteemed,Allroundhiswidedominions;
AndPartyLeadersyoumightmeetIntwosandthreesineverystreetMaintaining,withnolittleheat,Theirvariousopinions。
ThatKing,althoughnoonedenies,Hisheartwasofabnormalsize,Yethe’dhaveactedotherwiseIfhehadbeenacuter。
Theendiseasilyforetold,WheneveryblessedthingyouholdIsmadeofsilver,orofgold,Youlongforsimplepewter。
WhenyouhavenothingelsetowearButclothofgoldandsatinsrare,Forclothofgoldyouceasetocare—
Upgoesthepriceofshoddy:
Inshort,whoeveryoumaybe,Tothisconclusionyou’llagree,Wheneveryoneissomebody,Thennoone’sanybody!
Ballad:SleepOn!
Fearnounlicensedentry,Heednobombastictalk,WhileguardstheBritishSentryPallMallandBirdcageWalk。
LetEuropeanthundersOccasionnoalarms,ThoughdiplomaticblundersMaycauseacry"Toarms!"
Sleepon,yepalecivilians;
Allthunder—cloudsdefy:
OnEurope’scountlessmillionsTheSentrykeepshiseye!
Shouldforeign—bornrapscallionsInLondondaretoshowTheirovergrownbattalions,BesureI’llletyouknow。
ShouldRussiansorNorwegiansPolluteourfavouredclimeWithroughbarbariclegions,I’llmentionitintime。
Sosleepinpeace,civilians,TheContinentdefy;
WhileonitscountlessmillionsTheSentrykeepshiseye!
Ballad:TheLove—SickBoyWhenfirstmyold,oldloveIknew,Mybosomwelledwithjoy;
MyrichesatherfeetIthrew;
Iwasalove—sickboy!
NotermsseemedtooextravagantUponhertoemploy—
Iusedtomope,andsigh,andpant,Justlikealove—sickboy!
Butjoyincessantpallsthesense;
Andloveunchangedwillcloy,AndshebecameaboreintenseUntoherlove—sickboy?
Withfitfulglimmerburntmyflame,AndIgrewcoldandcoy,Atlast,onemorning,IbecameAnother’slove—sickboy!
Ballad:PoetryEverywhereWhattimethepoethathhymnedThewrithingmaid,lithe—limbed,Quiveringonamaranthineasphodel,Howcanhepaintherwoes,Knowing,aswellheknows,Thatallcanbesetrightwithcalomel?
Whenfromthepoet’splinthTheamorouscolocynthYearnsforthealoe,faintwithrapturousthrills,HowcanhehymntheirthroesKnowing,aswellheknows,Thattheyareonlyuncompoundedpills?
Isit,andcanitbe,Naturehaththisdecree,Nothingpoeticintheworldshalldwell?
OrthatinallherworksSomethingpoeticlurks,Evenincolocynthandcalomel?
Ballad:HeLoves!
Heloves!IfinthebygoneyearsThineeyeshaveevershedTears—bitter,unavailingtears,Foroneuntimelydead—
IfintheeventideoflifeSadthoughtsofherarise,ThenletthememoryofthywifePleadformyboy—hedies!
Hedies!IffondlylaidasideInsomeoldcabinet,Memorialsofthylong—deadbrideLie,dearlytreasuredyet,Thenletherhallowedbridaldress—
Herlittledaintygloves—
Herwitheredflowers—herfadedtress—
Pleadformyboy—heloves!
Ballad:TrueDiffidenceMyboy,youmaytakeitfromme,ThatofalltheafflictionsaccurstWithwhichaman’ssaddledAndhamperedandaddled,Adiffidentnature’stheworst。
Thoughcleverasclevercanbe—
ACrichtonofearlyromance—
Youmuststiritandstumpit,Andblowyourowntrumpet,Or,trustme,youhaven’tachance。
Nowtake,forexample,MYcase:
I’veabrightintellectualbrain—
InallLondoncityThere’snoonesowitty—
I’vethoughtsoagainandagain。
I’veahighlyintelligentface—
Myfeaturescannotbedenied—
But,whateverItry,sir,Ifailin—andwhy,sir?
I’mmodestypersonified!
Asapoet,I’mtenderandquaint—
I’vepassionandfervourandgrace—
FromOvidandHoraceToSwinburneandMorris,Theyallofthemtakeabackplace。
ThenIsingandIplayandIpaint;
ThoughnoneareaccomplishedasI,Tosaysoweretreason:
Youaskmethereason?
I’mdiffident,modest,andshy!
Ballad:TheTangledSkeinTrywelife—long,wecanneverStraightenoutlife’stangledskein,Whyshouldwe,invainendeavour,Guessandguessandguessagain?
Life’sapuddingfullofplumsCare’sacankerthatbenumbs。
WhereforewasteourelocutionOnimpossiblesolution?
Life’sapleasantinstitution,Letustakeitasitcomes!
Setasidethedullenigma,Weshallguessitalltoosoon;
Failurebringsnokindofstigma—
Dancewetoanothertune!
Stringthelyreandfillthecup,Lestonsorrowweshouldsup;
HopandskiptoFancy’sfiddle,Handsacrossanddownthemiddle—
Life’sperhapstheonlyriddleThatweshrinkfromgivingup!
Ballad:MyLadyBedeckedinfashiontrim,Witheverycurla—quiver;
Orleaping,lightoflimb,O’errivuletandriver;
Orskippingo’ertheleaOndaffodilanddaisy;
Orstretchedbeneathatree,Alllanguishingandlazy;
Whateverbehermood—
BeshedemurelyprudeOrlanguishinglylazy—
Myladydrivesmecrazy!
Invainherheartiswooed,Whateverbehermood!
WhatprofitshouldIgainSupposeshelovedmedearly?
HercoldnessturnsmybrainToVERGEofmadnessmerely。
Herkiss—though,Heavenknows,Todreamofitweretreason—
Wouldtend,asIsuppose,Toutterlossofreason!
Mystateisnotamiss;
IwouldnothaveakissWhich,inoroutofseason,Mighttendtolossofreason:
Whatprofitinsuchbliss?
Afigforsuchakiss!
Ballad:OneAgainstTheWorldIt’smyopinion—thoughIownInthinkingsoI’mquitealone—
InsomerespectsI’mbutafright。
YOUlikemyfeatures,Isuppose?
I’Mdisappointedwithmynose:
Someraveaboutit—perhapsthey’reright。
Myfigurejustsetsoffafit;
Butwhentheysayit’sexquisite(AndtheyDOsayso),that’stoostrong。
IhopeI’mnotwhatpeoplecallOpinionated!Afterall,I’mbutagoose,andmaybewrong!
WhencharmsenthralThere’ssomeexcuseFormeasuresstrong;
AndafterallI’mbutagoose,Andmaybewrong!
Myteethareveryneat,nodoubt;
ButafteralltheyMAYfallout:
Ithinktheywill—somethinktheywon’t。
Myhandsaresmall,asyoumaysee,Butnotassmallastheymightbe,Atleast,Ithinkso—othersdon’t。
Butthere,agirlmaypreachandprateFrommorningsixtoeveningeight,Andneverstoptodine,Whenalltheworld,althoughmisled,Isquiteagreedonanyhead—
Anditisquiteagreedonmine!
Allsaidanddone,It’slittleI
Againstathrong。
I’monlyone,AndpossiblyImaybewrong!
Ballad:PutAPennyInTheSlotIfmyaction’sstiffandcrude,Donotlaugh,becauseit’srude。
Ifmygesturespromiselarks,Donotmakeunkindremarks。
ClockworkfiguresmaybefoundEverywhereandallaround。
Tentoone,ifIbutknew,Youareclockworkfigurestoo。
Andthemottoofthelot,"Putapennyintheslot!"
Usurer,formoneylent,Makingouthiscentpercent—
Widowplumpormaidenrare,Deafanddumbtosuitor’sprayer—
Taxcollectors,whominvainYouimploreto"callagain"—
Cautiousvoter,whomyoufindSlowinmakinguphismind—
Ifyou’dmovethemonthespot,Putapennyintheslot!
Blandreportersinthecourts,Whosuppresspolicereports—
Sheriff’syeoman,peninfist,Makingoutajurylist—
Sternpolicemen,tallandspare,Actingall"uponthesquare"—
(Whichinwordsthatplainerfall,Meansthatyoucansquarethemall)—
Ifyouwanttomovethelot,Putapennyintheslot!
Ballad:GoodLittleGirlsAlthoughofnativemaidsthecream,We’rebroughtupontheEnglishscheme—
ThebestofallForgreatandsmallWhomodestyadore。
ForEnglishgirlsaregoodasgold,Extremelymodest(sowe’retold),Demurelycoy—divinelycold—
Andwearethat—andmore。
Topleasepapa,whoarguesthus—
Allgirlsshouldmouldthemselvesonus,Becauseweare,Byfurlongsfar,Thebestofallthebunch;
WeshowourselvestoloudapplauseFromtentofourwithoutapause—
WhichisanawkwardtimebecauseItcutsintoourlunch。
Oh,maidsofhighandlowdegree,Whosesocialcodeisratherfree,PleaselookatusandyouwillseeWhatgoodyoungladiesoughttobe!
Andaswestand,likeclockworktoys,AlecturerpapaemploysTopuffandpraiseOurmodestwaysAndguilelesscharacter—
Ourwell—knownblush—ourdowncasteyes—
Ourfamouslookofmildsurprise(Whichcompetitionstilldefies)—
Ourcelebrated"Sir!!!"
ThenallthecrowdtakedownourlooksInpocketmemorandumbooks。
Todiagnose,OurmodestposeThekodaksdotheirbest:
IfevidenceyouwouldpossessOfwhatismaidenbashfulness,Youonlyneedabuttonpress—
AndWEdoalltherest。
Ballad:LifeFirstyou’reborn—andI’llbeboundyouFindadozenstrangersroundyou。
"Hallo,"criesthenew—bornbaby,"Where’smyparents?whichmaytheybe?"
Awkwardsilence—noreply—
Puzzledbabywonderswhy!
Fatherrises,bowspolitely—
Mothersmiles(butnottoobrightly)—
Doctormumbleslikeadumbthing—
Nurseisbusymixingsomething。—
EverysymptomtendstoshowYou’redecidedlyDETROP—
Ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!he!ho!ho!
Time’steetotum,Ifyouspinit,GiveitsquotumOnceaminute:
I’llgobailYouhitthenail,AndifyoufailThedeuceisinit!
Yougrowup,andyoudiscoverWhatitistobealover。
Someyoungladyisselected—
Poor,perhaps,butwell—connected,Whomyouhail(forLoveisblindAstheQueenofFairy—kind。
Thoughshe’splain—perhapsunsightly,Makesherfaceup—lacestightly,InherformyourfancytracesAllthegiftsofallthegraces。
Rivalsnonethemaidenwoo,Soyoutakeherandshetakesyou!
Ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!
Jokebeginning,Neverceases,TillyourinningTimereleases;
OnyourwayYoublindlystray,AnddaybydayThejokeincreases!
Tenyearslater—Timeprogresses—
Soursyourtemper—thinsyourtresses;
Fancy,then,herchainrelaxes;
Ratesarefactsandsoaretaxes。
FairyQueen’snolongeryoung—
FairyQueenhassuchatongue!
Twinshaveprobablyintruded—
Quiteunbidden—justasyoudid;
They’reasourceofcareandtrouble—
Justasyouwere—onlydouble。
Comesatlastthefinalstroke—
Timehashadhislittlejoke!
Ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!
Dailydriven(Wifeasdrover)
Illyou’vethriven—
Ne’erinclover:
Lastly,whenThreescoreandten(Andnottillthen),Thejokeisover!
Ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!ho!
Then—andthenThejokeisover!
Ballad:LimitedLiabilitySomesevenmenformanAssociation(Ifpossible,allPeersandBaronets),TheystartoffwithapublicdeclarationTowhatextenttheymeantopaytheirdebts。
That’scalledtheirCapital:iftheyarewaryTheywillnotquoteitatasumimmense。
Thefigure’simmaterial—itmayvaryFromeighteenmilliondowntoeighteenpence。
Ishouldputitratherlow;
ThegoodsenseofdoingsoWillbeevidentatoncetoanydebtor。
Whenit’slefttoyoutosayWhatamountyoumeantopay,Why,theloweryoucanputitat,thebetter。
Theythenproceedtotradewithallwho’lltrust’em,Quiteirrespectiveoftheircapital(It’sshady,butit’ssanctifiedbycustom);
Bank,Railway,Loan,orPanamaCanal。
Youcan’tembarkontradingtootremendous—
It’sstrictlyfair,andbasedoncommonsense—
Ifyousucceed,yourprofitsarestupendous—
Andifyoufail,popgoesyoureighteenpence。
Makethemoney—spinnerspin!
Foryouonlystandtowin,Andyou’llneverwithdishonestybetwitted。
Fornobodycanknow,Toamillionorso,Towhatextentyourcapital’scommitted!
Ifyoucometogrief,andcreditorsarecraving(FornothingthatisplannedbymortalheadIscertaininthisValeofSorrow—savingThatone’sLiabilityisLimited),—
Doyousupposethatsignifiesperdition?
Ifsoyou’rebutamonetarydunce—
YoumerelyfileaWinding—UpPetition,AndstartanotherCompanyatonce!
ThoughaRothschildyoumaybeInyourowncapacity,AsaCompanyyou’vecometouttersorrow—
ButtheLiquidatorssay,"Nevermind—youneedn’tpay,"
SoyoustartanotherCompanyto—morrow!
Ballad:AnglicisedUtopiaSocietyhasquiteforsakenallherwickedcourses,Whichemptiesourpolicecourts,andabolishesdivorces。
(DivorceisnearlyobsoleteinEngland。)
Notoleranceweshowtoundeservingrankandsplendour;
Forthehigherhispositionis,thegreatertheoffender。
(That’samaximthatisprevalentinEngland。)
NoPeeressatourDrawing—RoombeforethePresencepassesWhowouldn’tbeacceptedbythelower—middleclasses;
Eachshadydame,whateverbeherrank,isbowedoutneatly。
Inshort,thishappycountryhasbeenAnglicisedcompletely!
ItreallyissurprisingWhatathoroughAnglicisingWe’vebroughtabout—Utopia’squiteanotherland;
Inherenterprisingmovements,SheisEngland—withimprovements,Whichwedutifullyoffertoourmother—land!
Ourcitywehavebeautified—we’vedoneitwilly—nilly—
Andallthatisn’tBelgraveSquareisStrandandPiccadilly。
(Theyhaven’tanyslummeriesinEngland。)
Wehavesolvedthelabourquestionwithdiscriminationpolished,Sopovertyisobsoleteandhungerisabolished—
(TheyaregoingtoabolishitinEngland。)
TheChamberlainournativestagehaspurged,beyondaquestion,Of"risky"situationandindelicatesuggestion;
Nopieceistoleratedifit’scostumedindiscreetly—
Inshort,thishappycountryhasbeenAnglicisedcompletely!
ItreallyissurprisingWhatathoroughAnglicisingWe’vebroughtabout—Utopia’squiteanotherland;
Inherenterprisingmovements,SheisEngland—withimprovements,Whichwedutifullyoffertoourmother—land!
OurPeeragewe’veremodelledonanintellectualbasis,Whichcertainlyisroughonourhereditaryraces—
(TheyaregoingtoremodelitinEngland。)
TheBrewersandtheCottonLordsnolongerseekadmission,AndLiteraryMeritmeetswithproperrecognition—
(AsLiteraryMeritdoesinEngland!)
WhoknowsbutwemaycountamongourintellectualchickensLikethemanEarlofThackerayandp’rapsaDukeofDickens—
LordFildesandViscountMillais(whentheycome)we’llwelcomesweetly—
Andthen,thishappycountrywillbeAnglicisedcompletely!
ItreallyissurprisingWhatathoroughAnglicisingWe’vebroughtabout—Utopia’squiteanotherland;
Inherenterprisingmovements,SheisEngland—withimprovements,Whichwedutifullyoffertoourmother—land!
Ballad:AnEnglishGirlAwonderfuljoyoureyestobless,Inhermagnificentcomeliness,IsanEnglishgirlofelevenstonetwo,Andfivefootteninherdancingshoe!
Shefollowsthehounds,andonshepounds—
The"field"tailsoffandthemuffsdiminish—
Overthehedgesandbrooksshebounds—
Straightasacrow,fromfindtofinish。
Atcricket,herkinwillloseorwin—
Sheandhermaids,ongrassandclover,Elevenmaidsout—elevenmaidsin—
(Andperhapsanoccasional"maidenover")。
Gosearchtheworldandsearchthesea,ThencomeyouhomeandsingwithmeThere’snosuchgoldandnosuchpearlAsabrightandbeautifulEnglishgirl!
Withaten—milespinshestretchesherlimbs,Shegolfs,shepunts,sherows,sheswims—
Sheplays,shesings,shedances,too,Fromtenoreleventillallisblue!
Atballordrum,tillsmallhourscome(Chaperon’sfanconcealsheryawning),She’llwaltzawaylikeateetotum,Andnevergohometilldaylight’sdawning。
Lawntennismayshareherfavoursfair—
Hereyesa—danceandhercheeksa—glowing—
Downcomesherhair,butwhatdoesshecare?
It’sallherownandit’sworththeshowing!
Gosearchtheworldandsearchthesea,ThencomeyouhomeandsingwithmeThere’snosuchgoldandnosuchpearlAsabrightandbeautifulEnglishgirl!
Hersoulissweetastheoceanair,Forpruderyknowsnohaventhere;
Tofindmock—modesty,pleaseapplyTotheconsciousblushandthedowncasteye。
Richinthethingscontentmentbrings,Ineverypureenjoymentwealthy,Blitheasabeautifulbirdshesings,Forbodyandmindarehaleandhealthy。
Hereyestheythrillwithrightgoodwill—
Herheartislightasafloatingfeather—
AspureandbrightasthemountainrillThatleapsandlaughsintheHighlandheather!
Gosearchtheworldandsearchthesea,ThencomeyouhomeandsingwithmeThere’snosuchgoldandnosuchpearlAsabrightandbeautifulEnglishgirl!
Ballad:AManager’sPerplexitiesWereIakinginverytruth,Andhadason—aguilelessyouth—
Inprobablesuccession;