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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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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
E
〃NANCY BELL。〃 （1）
'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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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
〃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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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
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
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
〃We now proceed to something new … Dance as the PAYNES and
LAURIS do； Like this … one； two … one； two … one； two。〃 The Bishop； never
proud； But in an overwhelming heat （His name was PETER； I repeat）
Performed the PAYNE and LAURI feat； And puffed his thanks aloud。
Another game the dancer planned … 〃Just take your ankle in your hand；
And try； my lord； if you can stand …Your body stiff and stark。 If； when
revisiting your see； You learnt to hop on shore … like me …The novelty
would striking be； And must attract remark。〃
〃No；〃 said the worthy Bishop； 〃no； That is a length to which； I trow；
Colonial Bishops cannot go。 You may express surprise At finding Bishops
deal in pride … But if that trick I ever tried； I should appear undignified In
Rum…ti…Foozle's eyes。
〃The islanders of Rum…ti…Foo Are well…conducted persons； who
Approve a joke as much as you； And laugh at it as such； But if they saw
their Bishop land； His leg supported in his hand； The joke they wouldn't
understand … 'T would pain them very much！〃
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
BABY。 A VERY TRUE TALE。 （TO