Allmustsipthecupofsorrow,Ito—dayandthouto—morrow:
Thisthecloseofeverysong—
Dingdong!Dingdong!
Whatthoughsolemnshadowsfall,Sooner,later,overall?
Singamerrymadrigal—
Falla!
Ballad:TheDukeAndTheDuchess[THEDUKE。]
SmalltitlesandordersForMayorsandRecordersIget—andthey’rehighlydelighted。
M。P。sbaronetted,ShamColonelsgazetted,Andsecond—rateAldermenknighted。
Foundation—stonelayingIfindverypaying,Itaddsalargesumtomymakings。
AtcharitydinnersThebestofspeech—spinners,Igettenpercentonthetakings!
[THEDUCHESS。]
IpresentanyladyWhoseconductisshadyOrsmackingofdoubtfulpropriety;
WhenVirtuewouldquashherItakeandwhitewashherAndlaunchherinfirst—ratesociety。
IrecommendacresOfclumsydressmakers—
Theirfitandtheirfinishingtouches;
AsuminadditionTheypayforpermissionTosaythattheymakefortheDuchess!
[THEDUKE。]
Thosepressingprevailers,Theready—madetailors,Quotemeastheirgreatdouble—barrel;
Iallowthemtodoso,ThoughROBINSONCRUSOE
Wouldjibattheirwearingapparel!
Isit,byselection,UponthedirectionOfseveralCompaniesbubble;
Assoonasthey’refloatedI’mfreelybank—noted—
I’mprettywellpaidformytrouble!
[THEDUCHESS。]
Atmiddle—classpartyIplayatECARTE—
AndI’mbynomeansabeginner;
TooneofmystationTheremuneration—
Fiveguineasanightandmydinner。
IwritelettersblatantOnmedicinespatent—
Anduseanyotheryoumustn’t;
AndvowmycomplexionDerivesitsperfectionFromsomebody’ssoap—whichitdoesn’t。
[THEDUKE。]
We’rereadyaswitnessToanyone’sfitnessTofillanyplaceorpreferment;
We’reofteninwaitingAtjunketFETING,Andsometimesattendaninterment。
Inshort,ifyou’dkindleThesparkofaswindle,Luresimpletonsintoyourclutches,Orhoodwinkadebtor,YoucannotdobetterThantrotoutaDukeoraDuchess!
Ballad:EheuFugaces—!
Theairischargedwithamatorynumbers—
Softmadrigals,anddreamylovers’lays。
Peace,peace,oldheart!WhywakenfromitsslumbersTheachingmemoryoftheold,olddays?
TimewaswhenLoveandIwerewellacquainted;
Timewaswhenwewalkedeverhandinhand;
Asaintlyyouth,withworldlythoughtuntainted,NonebetterlovedthanIinalltheland!
Timewas,whenmaidensofthenobleststation,Forsakingevenmilitarymen,Wouldgazeuponme,raptinadoration—
Ahme,Iwasafairyoungcuratethen!
HadIaheadache?sighedthemaidsassembled;
HadIacold?welledforththesilenttear;
DidIlookpale?thenhalfaparishtrembled;
AndwhenIcoughedallthoughttheendwasnear!
Ihadnocare—nojealousdoubtshungo’erme—
ForIwaslovedbeyondallothermen。
Fledgildeddukesandbeltedearlsbeforeme—
Ahme,Iwasapaleyoungcuratethen!
Ballad:They’llNoneOf’EmBeMissedAssomedayitmayhappenthatavictimmustbefound,I’vegotalittlelist—I’vegotalittlelistOfsocialoffenderswhomightwellbeunderground,Andwhoneverwouldbemissed—whoneverwouldbemissed!
There’sthepestilentialnuisanceswhowriteforautographs—
Allpeoplewhohaveflabbyhandsandirritatinglaughs—
Allchildrenwhoareupindates,andflooryouwith’emflat—
Allpersonswhoinshakinghands,shakehandswithyoulikeTHAT—
AndallthirdpersonswhoonspoilingTETE—E—TETESinsist—
They’dnoneof’embemissed—they’dnoneof’embemissed!
There’stheniggerserenader,andtheothersofhisrace,Andthepianoorganist—I’vegothimonthelist!
Andthepeoplewhoeatpeppermintandpuffitinyourface,Theyneverwouldbemissed—theyneverwouldbemissed!
Thentheidiotwhopraises,withenthusiastictone,Allcenturiesbutthis,andeverycountrybuthisown;
Andtheladyfromtheprovinces,whodresseslikeaguy,Andwho"doesn’tthinkshewaltzes,butwouldratherliketotry";
AndthatFIN—DE—SIECLEanomaly,thescorchingmotorist—
Idon’tthinkhe’dbemissed—I’mSUREhe’dnotbemissed!
AndthatNISIPRIUSnuisance,whojustnowisratherrife,TheJudicialhumorist—I’vegotHIMonthelist!
Allfunnyfellows,comicmen,andclownsofprivatelife—
They’dnoneof’embemissed—they’dnoneof’embemissed!
Andapologeticstatesmenofthecompromisingkind,Suchas—What—d’ye—call—him—Thing’em—Bob,andlikewise—Never—
mind,And’St—’st—’st—andWhat’s—his—name,andalso—You—know—who—
(ThetaskoffillinguptheblanksI’dratherleavetoYOU!)
Butitreallydoesn’tmatterwhomyouputuponthelist,Forthey’dnoneof’embemissed—they’dnoneof’embemissed!
Ballad:GirlGraduatesTheyintendtosendawireTothemoon;
Andthey’llsettheThamesonfireVerysoon;
ThentheylearntomakesilkpursesWiththeirrigsFromtheearsofLADYCIRCE’S
Piggy—wigs。
AndweaselsattheirslumbersThey’lltrepan;
TogetsunbeamsfromcuCUMbersThey’veaplan。
They’veafirmlyrootednotionTheycancrossthePolarOcean,Andthey’llfindPerpetualMotionIftheycan!
ThesearethephenomenaThateveryprettydominaHopesthatweshallseeAtthisUniversitee!
Asforfashion,theyforswearit,Sotheysay,Andthecircle—theywillsquareitSomefineday;
Thenthelittlepigsthey’reteachingFortofly;
Andtheniggersthey’llbebleachingBy—and—by!
EachnewlyjoinedaspirantTotheclanMustrepudiatethetyrantKnownasMan;
Theymockathimandflouthim,Fortheydonotcareabouthim,Andthey’re"goingtodowithouthim"
Iftheycan!
ThesearethephenomenaThateveryprettydominaHopesthatweshallseeAtthisUniversitee!
Ballad:BraidTheRavenHairBraidtheravenhair,Weavethesuppletress,DeckthemaidenfairInherloveliness;
Painttheprettyface,Dyethecorallip,EmphasisethegraceOfherladyship!
Artandnature,thusallied,Gotomakeaprettybride!
Sitwithdowncasteye,Letitbrimwithdew;
Tryifyoucancry,Wewilldoso,too。
Whenyou’resummoned,startLikeafrightenedroe;
Flutter,littleheart,Colour,comeandgo!
ModestyatmarriagetideWellbecomesaprettybride!
Ballad:TheWorkingMonarchRisingearlyinthemorning,Weproceedtolightthefire,ThenourMajestyadorningInitswork—a—dayattire,WeembarkwithoutdelayOnthedutiesoftheday。
First,wepolishoffsomebatchesOfpoliticaldespatches,Andforeignpoliticianscircumvent;
Then,ifbusinessisn’theavy,WemayholdaRoyalLEVEE,OrratifysomeActsofParliament:
Thenweprobablyreviewthehouseholdtroops—
Withtheusual"Shalloohumps"and"Shalloohoops!"
OrreceivewithceremonialandstateAninterestingEasternPotentate。
AfterthatwegenerallyGoanddressourprivateVALET—
(It’sarathernervousduty—heatouchylittleman)—
WritesomelettersliteraryForourprivatesecretary—
(Heisshakyinhisspelling,sowehelphimifwecan。)
Then,inviewofcravingsinner,Wegodownandorderdinner;
OrwepolishtheRegaliaandtheCoronationPlate—
SpendanhourintitivatingAllourGentlemen—in—Waiting;
OrwerunonlittleerrandsfortheMinistersofState。
Oh,philosophersmaysingOfthetroublesofaKing,Yetthedutiesaredelightful,andtheprivilegesgreat;
ButtheprivilegeandpleasureThatwetreasurebeyondmeasureIstorunonlittleerrandsfortheMinistersofState!
Afterluncheon(makingmerryOnabunandglassofsherry),Ifwe’venothinginparticulartodo,WemaymakeaProclamation,OrreceiveaDeputation—
ThenwepossiblycreateaPeerortwo。
Thenwehelpafellow—creatureonhispathWiththeGarterortheThistleortheBath:
Orwedressandtoddleoffinsemi—StateToafestival,afunction,oraFETE。
ThenwegoandstandassentryAtthePalace(privateentry),Marchinghither,marchingthither,upanddownandtoandfro,WhilethewarriorondutyGoesinsearchofbeerandbeauty(Anditgenerallyhappensthathehasn’tfartogo)。
Herelievesus,ifhe’sable,Justintimetolaythetable。
Thenwedineandservethecoffee;andathalf—pasttwelveorone,Withapleasurethat’semphatic;
ThenweseekourlittleatticWiththegratifyingfeelingthatourdutyhasbeendone。
Oh,philosophersmaysingOfthetroublesofaKing,Butofpleasurestherearemanyandoftroublestherearenone;
AndtheculminatingpleasureThatwetreasurebeyondmeasureIsthegratifyingfeelingthatourdutyhasbeendone!
Ballad:TheApeAndTheLadyALADYfair,oflineagehigh,WaslovedbyanApe,inthedaysgoneby—
TheMaidwasradiantasthesun,TheApewasamostunsightlyone—
Soitwouldnotdo—
Hisschemefellthrough;
FortheMaid,whenhislovetookformalshape,ExpressedsuchterrorAthismonstrouserror,Thathestammeredanapologyandmadehis’scape,ThepictureofadisconcertedApe。
Withaviewtoriseinthesocialscale,Heshavedhisbristles,andhedockedhistail,Hegrewmoustachios,andhetookhistub,Andhepaidaguineatoatoiletclub。
Butitwouldnotdo,Theschemefellthrough—
FortheMaidwasBeauty’sfairestQueen,Withgoldentresses,Likearealprincess’s,WhiletheApe,despitehisrazorkeen,WastheapiestApethateverwasseen!
Heboughtwhiteties,andheboughtdresssuits,Hecrammedhisfeetintobrighttightboots,Andtostarthislifeonabrand—newplan,HechristenedhimselfDarwinianMan!
Butitwouldnotdo,Theschemefellthrough—
FortheMaidenfair,whomthemonkeycraved,WasaradiantBeing,Withabrainfar—seeing—
WhileaMan,howeverwell—behaved,Atbestisonlyamonkeyshaved!
Ballad:OnlyRosesToagardenfullofposiesComethonetogatherflowers;
AndhewandersthroughitsbowersToyingwiththewantonroses,Who,uprisingfromtheirbeds,HoldonhightheirshamelessheadsWiththeirprettylipsa—pouting,Neverdoubting—neverdoubtingThatforCythereanposiesHewouldgatheraughtbutroses。
Inanestofweedsandnettles,Layaviolet,halfhidden;
HopingthathisglanceunbiddenYetmightfalluponherpetals。
Thoughshelivedalone,apart,Hopelaynestlingatherheart,But,alas!thecruelawakingSetherlittlehearta—breaking,ForhegatheredforhisposiesOnlyroses—onlyroses!
Ballad:TheRover’sApologyOh,gentlemen,listen,Ipray;
ThoughIownthatmyhearthasbeenranging,OfnaturethelawsIobey,Fornatureisconstantlychanging。
Themooninherphasesisfound,Thetimeandthewindandtheweather,Themonthsinsuccessioncomeround,Andyoudon’tfindtwoMondaystogether。
Considerthemoral,Ipray,Norbringayoungfellowtosorrow,Wholovesthisyoungladyto—day,Andlovesthatyoungladyto—morrow!
Youcannoteatbreakfastallday。
Norisittheactofasinner,Whenbreakfastistakenaway,Toturnyourattentiontodinner;
Andit’snotintherangeofbeliefThatyoucouldholdhimasaglutton,Who,whenheistiredofbeef,Determinestotacklethemutton。
ButthisIamreadytosay,Ifitwilldiminishtheirsorrow,I’llmarrythisladyto—day,AndI’llmarrythatladyto—morrow!
Ballad:AnAppealOh!istherenotonemaidenbreastWhichdoesnotfeelthemoralbeautyOfmakingworldlyinterestSubordinatetosenseofduty?
WhowouldnotgiveupwillinglyAllmatrimonialambitionTorescuesuchaoneasI
Fromhisunfortunateposition?
Oh,istherenotonemaidenhere,WhosehomelyfaceandbadcomplexionHavecausedallhopestodisappearOfeverwinningman’saffection?
Tosuchaone,ifsuchtherebe,Iswearbyheaven’sarchaboveyou,Ifyouwillcastyoureyesonme,—
Howeverplainyoube—I’llloveyou!
Ballad:TheRewardOfMeritDR。BELVILLEwasregardedastheCRICHTONofhisage:
Histragedieswerereckonedmuchtoothoughtfulforthestage;
Hispoemsheldanoblerank,althoughit’sverytrueThat,beingveryproper,theywerereadbyveryfew。
HewasafamousPainter,too,andshoneuponthe"line,"
AndevenMR。RUSKINcameandworshippedathisshrine;
But,alas,theschoolhefollowedwasheroicallyhigh—
ThekindofArtmenraveabout,butveryseldombuy;
Andeverybodysaid"Howcanheberepaid—
Thisverygreat—thisverygood—thisverygiftedman?"
Butnobodycouldhituponapracticableplan!
HewasagreatInventor,anddiscovered,allalone,Aplanformakingeverybody’sfortunebuthisown;
For,inbusiness,anInventor’slittlebetterthanafool,Andmyhighly—giftedfriendwasnoexceptiontotherule。
Hispoems—peoplereadthemintheQuarterlyReviews—
Hispictures—theyengravedthemintheILLUSTRATEDNEWS—
Hisinventions—they,perhaps,mighthaveenrichedhimbydegrees,ButallhislittleincomewentinPatentOfficefees;
Andeverybodysaid"Howcanheberepaid—
Thisverygreat—thisverygood—thisverygiftedman?"
Butnobodycouldhituponapracticableplan!
Atlastthepointwasgivenupinabsolutedespair,Whenadistantcousindied,andhebecameamillionaire,WithacountyseatinParliament,amoorortwoofgrouse,AndatasteformakinginconvenientspeechesintheHouse!
THENitflasheduponBritanniathatthefittestofrewardsWas,totakehimfromtheCommonsandtoputhimintheLords!
Andwhosofittositinit,denyitifyoucan,Asthisverygreat—thisverygood—thisverygiftedman?
(ThoughI’mmorethanhalfafraidThatitsometimesmaybesaidThatwenevershouldhaverevelledinthatsourceofproperpride,Howevergreathismerits—ifhiscousinhadn’tdied!)
Ballad:TheMagnetAndTheChurnAMAGNEThunginahardwareshop,AndallaroundwasalovingcropOfscissorsandneedles,nailsandknives,Offeringloveforalltheirlives;
ButforirontheMagnetfeltnowhim,Thoughhecharmediron,itcharmednothim,Fromneedlesandnailsandkniveshe’dturn,Forhe’dsethisloveonaSilverChurn!
Hismostaesthetic,VerymagneticFancytookthisturn—
"IfIcanwheedleAknifeorneedle,WhynotaSilverChurn?"
AndIronandSteelexpressedsurprise,Theneedlesopenedtheirwell—drilledeyes,Thepen—knivesfelt"shutup,"nodoubt,Thescissorsdeclaredthemselves"cutout,"
Thekettlestheyboiledwithrage,’tissaid,Whileeverynailwentoffitshead,Andhitherandthitherbegantoroam,Tillahammercameup—anddroveithome,WhilethismagneticPeripateticLoverhelivedtolearn,Bynoendeavour,CanMagneteverAttractaSilverChurn!
Ballad:TheFamilyFoolOh!aprivatebuffoonisalight—heartedloon,Ifyoulistentopopularrumour;
Frommorningtonighthe’ssojoyousandbright,Andhebubbleswithwitandgoodhumour!
He’ssoquaintandsoterse,bothinproseandinverse;
Yetthoughpeopleforgivehistransgression,ThereareoneortworulesthatallFamilyFoolsMustobserve,iftheylovetheirprofession。
Thereareoneortworules,Half—a—dozen,maybe,Thatallfamilyfools,Ofwhateverdegree,Mustobserveiftheylovetheirprofession。
Ifyouwishtosucceedasajester,you’llneedToconsidereachperson’sauricular:
WhatisallrightforBwouldquitescandaliseC
(ForCissoveryparticular);
AndDmaybedull,andE’sverythickskullIsasemptyofbrainsasaladle;
WhileFisFsharp,andwillcrywithacarp,Thathe’sknownyourbestjokefromhiscradle!
Whenyourhumourtheyflout,Youcan’tletyourselfgo;
AnditDOESputyououtWhenapersonsays,"Oh!
Ihaveknownthatoldjokefrommycradle!"
Ifyourmasterissurly,fromgettingupearly(Andtempersareshortinthemorning),AninopportunejokeisenoughtoprovokeHimtogiveyou,atonce,amonth’swarning。
Thenifyourefrain,heisatyouagain,Forhelikestogetvalueformoney:
He’llaskthenandthere,withaninsolentstare,"Ifyouknowthatyou’repaidtobefunny?"
ItaddstothetasksOfamerryman’splace,Whenyourprincipalasks,Withascowlonhisface,Ifyouknowthatyou’repaidtobefunny?
ComesaBishop,maybe,orasolemnD。D。—
Oh,bewareofhisangerprovoking!
Betternotpullhishair—don’tstickpinsinhischair;
Hewon’tunderstandpracticaljoking。
Ifthejeststhatyoucrackhaveanorthodoxsmack,Youmaygetablandsmilefromthesesages;
Butshouldit,bychance,beimportedfromFrance,Half—a—crownisstoppedoutofyourwages!
It’sageneralrule,Thoughyourzealitmayquench,IftheFamilyFoolMakesajokethat’sTOOFrench,Half—a—crownisstoppedoutofhiswages!
Thoughyourheaditmayrackwithabiliousattack,Andyoursenseswithtoothacheyou’relosing,Andyou’remopyandflat—theydon’tfineyouforthatIfyou’reproperlyquaintandamusing!
Thoughyourwiferanawaywithasoldierthatday,Andtookwithheryourtrifleofmoney;
Blessyourheart,theydon’tmind—they’reexceedinglykind—
Theydon’tblameyou—aslongasyou’refunny!