首页 >出版文学> Songs of a Savoyard>第3章
  It’sacomforttofeelIfyourpartnershouldflit,ThoughYOUsufferadeal,THEYdon’tminditabit—
  Theydon’tblameyou—solongasyou’refunny!
  Ballad:SansSouciIcannottellwhatthislovemaybeThatcomethtoallbutnottome。
  Itcannotbekindasthey’dimply,Orwhydothesegentleladiessigh?
  Itcannotbejoyandrapturedeep,Orwhydothesegentleladiesweep?
  Itcannotbeblissful,as’tissaid,Orwhyaretheireyessowondrousred?
  Ifloveisathorn,theyshownowitWhofoolishlyhugandfosterit。
  Ifloveisaweed,howsimpletheyWhogatherandgatherit,daybyday!
  Ifloveisanettlethatmakesyousmart,Whydoyouwearitnextyourheart?
  Andifitbeneitherofthese,sayI,Whydoyousitandsobandsigh?
  Ballad:ARecipeTakeapairofsparklingeyes,Hidden,everandanon,Inamercifuleclipse—
  Donotheedtheirmildsurprise—
  HavingpassedtheRubicon。
  Takeapairofrosylips;
  Takeafiguretrimlyplanned—
  Suchasadmirationwhets(Beparticularinthis);
  Takeatenderlittlehand,Fringedwithdaintyfingerettes,Pressit—inparenthesis;—
  Takeallthese,youluckyman—
  Takeandkeepthem,ifyoucan。
  Takeaprettylittlecot—
  Quiteaminiatureaffair—
  Hungaboutwithtrellisedvine,FurnishituponthespotWiththetreasuresrichandrareI’veendeavouredtodefine。
  Livetoloveandlovetolive—
  Youwillripenatyourease,Growingonthesunnyside—
  Fatehasnothingmoretogive。
  You’readaintymantopleaseIfyouarenotsatisfied。
  Takemycounsel,happyman:
  Actuponit,ifyoucan!
  Ballad:TheMerrymanAndHisMaid[HE]Ihaveasongtosing,O!
  [SHE]Singmeyoursong,O!
  [HE]ItissungtothemoonByalove—lornloon,Whofledfromthemockingthrong,O!
  It’sthesongofamerryman,mopingmum,Whosesoulwassad,whoseglancewasglum,Whosippednosup,andwhocravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye。
  Heighdy!heighdy!
  Miseryme—lackadaydee!
  Hesippednosup,andhecravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  [SHE]Ihaveasongtosing,O!
  [HE]Singmeyoursong,O!
  [SHE]ItissungwiththeringOfthesongmaidssingWholovewithalovelife—long,O!
  It’sthesongofamerrymaid,peerlyproud,Wholovedalord,andwholaughedaloudAtthemoanofthemerryman,mopingmum,Whosesoulwassore,whoseglancewasglum,Whosippednosup,andwhocravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  Heighdy!heighdy!
  Miseryme—lackadaydee!
  Hesippednosup,andhecravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  [HE]Ihaveasongtosing,O!
  [SHE]Singmeyoursong,O!
  [HE]ItissungtotheknellOfachurchyardbell,Andadolefuldirge,dingdong,O!
  It’sasongofapopinjay,bravelyborn,WhoturneduphisnoblenosewithscornAtthehumblemerrymaid,peerlyproud,Wholovedthatlord,andwholaughedaloudAtthemoanofthemerryman,mopingmum,Whosesoulwassad,whoseglancewasglum,Whosippednosup,andwhocravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  Heighdy!heighdy!
  Miseryme—lackadaydee!
  Hesippednosup,andhecravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  [SHE]Ihaveasongtosing,O!
  [HE]Singmeyoursong,O!
  [SHE]ItissungwithasighAndatearintheeye,Forittellsofarightedwrong,O!
  It’sasongofamerrymaid,oncesogay,WhoturnedonherheelandtrippedawayFromthepeacockpopinjay,bravelyborn,WhoturneduphisnoblenosewithscornAtthehumbleheartthathedidnotprize;
  Andittellshowshebegged,withdowncasteyes,Fortheloveofamerryman,mopingmum,Whosesoulwassad,whoseglancewasglum,Whosippednosup,andwhocravednocrumb,Ashesighedfortheloveofaladye!
  [BOTH]Heighdy!heighdy!
  Miseryme—lackadaydee!
  Hispainswereo’er,andhesighednomore。
  Forhelivedintheloveofaladye!
  Ballad:TheSusceptibleChancellorThelawisthetrueembodimentOfeverythingthat’sexcellent。
  Ithasnokindoffaultorflaw,AndI,mylords,embodytheLaw。
  TheconstitutionalguardianI
  OfprettyyoungWardsinChancery,Allveryagreeablegirls—andnoneIsovertheageoftwenty—one。
  ApleasantoccupationforArathersusceptibleChancellor!
  ButthoughthecomplimentimpliedInflatesmewithlegitimatepride,Itneverthelesscan’tbedeniedThatithasitsinconvenientside。
  ForI’mnotsoold,andnotsoplain,AndI’mquitepreparedtomarryagain,Butthere’dbethedeucetopayintheLordsIfIfellinlovewithoneofmyWards:
  Whichrathertriesmytemper,forI’mSUCHasusceptibleChancellor!
  Andeveryonewho’dmarryaWardMustcometomeformyaccord:
  SoinmycourtIsitallday,Givingagreeablegirlsaway,Withoneforhim—andoneforhe—
  Andoneforyou—andoneforye—
  Andoneforthou—andoneforthee—
  Butnever,ohneveraoneforme!
  Whichisexasperating,forAhighlysusceptibleChancellor!
  Ballad:WhenAMerryMaidenMarriesWhenamerrymaidenmarries,Sorrowgoesandpleasuretarries;
  Everysoundbecomesasong,Allisrightandnothing’swrong!
  Fromto—dayandeverafterLetyourtearsbetearsoflaughter—
  EverysighthatfindsaventBeasighofsweetcontent!
  Whenyoumarrymerrymaiden,Thentheairwithloveisladen;
  Everyflowerisarose,Everygoosebecomesaswan,EverykindoftroublegoesWherethelastyear’ssnowshavegone;
  SunlighttakestheplaceofshadeWhenyoumarrymerrymaid!
  WhenamerrymaidenmarriesSorrowgoesandpleasuretarries;
  Everysoundbecomesasong,Allisright,andnothing’swrong。
  GnawingCareandachingSorrow,Getyegoneuntilto—morrow;
  Jealousiesingrimarray,Yearethingsofyesterday!
  Whenyoumarrymerrymaiden,Thentheairwithjoyisladen;
  AllthecornersoftheearthRingwithmusicsweetlyplayed,Worryismelodiousmirth,Griefisjoyinmasquerade;
  Sullennightislaughingday—
  AlltheyearismerryMay!
  Ballad:TheBritishTarABritishtarisasoaringsoul,Asfreeasamountainbird,HisenergeticfistshouldbereadytoresistAdictatorialword。
  Hisnoseshouldpantandhislipshouldcurl,Hischeeksshouldflameandhisbrowshouldfurl,Hisbosomshouldheaveandhisheartshouldglow,Andhisfistbeeverreadyforaknock—downblow。
  Hiseyesshouldflashwithaninbornfire,Hisbrowwithscornberung;
  Henevershouldbowdowntoadomineeringfrown,Orthetangofatyranttongue。
  Hisfootshouldstampandhisthroatshouldgrowl,Hishairshouldtwirlandhisfaceshouldscowl;
  Hiseyesshouldflashandhisbreastprotrude,Andthisshouldbehiscustomaryattitude!
  Ballad:AManWhoWouldWooAFairMaidAmanwhowouldwooafairmaid,Should’prenticehimselftothetrade;
  Andstudyallday,Inmethodicalway,Howtoflatter,cajole,andpersuade。
  Heshould’prenticehimselfatfourteenAndpractisefrommorningtoe’en;
  Andwhenhe’sofage,Ifhewill,I’llengage,Hemaycapturetheheartofaqueen!
  Itispurelyamatterofskill,Whichallmayattainiftheywill:
  ButeveryJackHemuststudytheknackIfhewantstomakesureofhisJill!
  Ifhe’smadethebestuseofhistime,Histwighe’llsocarefullylimeThateverybirdWillcomedownathisword。
  Whateveritsplumageandclime。
  HemustlearnthatthethrillofatouchMaymeanlittle,ornothing,ormuch;
  It’saninstrumentrare,Tobehandledwithcare,Andoughttobetreatedassuch。
  Itispurelyamatterofskill,Whichallmayattainiftheywill:
  ButeveryJack,HemuststudytheknackIfhewantstomakesureofhisJill!
  Thenaglancemaybetimidorfree;
  Itwillvaryinmightydegree,FromanimpudentstareToalookofdespairThatnomaidwithoutpitycansee。
  Andaglanceofdespairisnoguide—
  Itmayhaveitsridiculousside;
  ItmaydrawyouatearOraboxontheear;
  Youcanneverbesuretillyou’vetried。
  Itispurelyamatterofskill,Whichallmayattainiftheywill:
  ButeveryJackHemuststudytheknackIfhewantstomakesureofhisJill!
  Ballad:TheSorcerer’sSongOh!mynameisJOHNWELLINGTONWELLS—
  I’madealerinmagicandspells,Inblessingsandcurses,Andever—filledpurses,Inprophecies,witches,andknells!
  Ifyouwantaproudfoeto"maketracks"—
  Ifyou’dmeltarichuncleinwax—
  You’vebuttolookinOnourresidentDjinn,Numberseventy,SimmeryAxe。
  We’veafirst—classassortmentofmagic;
  AndforraisingaposthumousshadeWitheffectsthatarecomicortragic,There’snocheaperhouseinthetrade。
  Love—philtre—we’vequantitiesofit;
  Andforknowledgeifanyoneburns,Wekeepanextremelysmallprophet,aprophetWhobringsusunboundedreturns:
  ForhecanprophesyWithawinkOFhiseye,PeepwithsecurityIntofuturity,Sumupyourhistory,Clearupamystery,HumourproclivityForanativity。
  Withmirrorssomagical,Tetrapodstragical,Bogiesspectacular,Answersoracular,Factsastronomical,Solemnorcomical,And,ifyouwantit,heMakesareductionontakingaquantity!
  Oh!
  Ifanyoneanythinglacks,He’llfinditallreadyinstacks,Ifhe’llonlylookinOntheresidentDjinn,Numberseventy,SimmeryAxe!
  Hecanraiseyouhosts,Ofghosts,Andthatwithoutreflectors;
  AndcreepythingsWithwings,Andgauntandgrislyspectres!
  HecanfillyoucrowdsOfshrouds,Andhorrifyyouvastly;
  HecanrackyourbrainsWithchains,Andgibberingsgrimandghastly。
  Then,ifyouplanit,heChangesorganityWithanurbanity,FullofSatanity,VexeshumanityWithaninanityFataltovanity—
  Drivingyourfoestothevergeofinsanity。
  Barringtautology,Indemonology,’Lectrobiology,Mysticnosology,Spiritphilology,Highclassastrology,Suchishisknowledge,heIsn’tthemantorequireanapologyOh!
  MynameisJOHNWELLINGTONWELLS,I’madealerinmagicandspells,Inblessingsandcurses,Andever—filledpurses—
  Inprophecies,witches,andknells。
  Ifanyoneanythinglacks,He’llfinditallreadyinstacks,Ifhe’llonlylookinOntheresidentDjinn,Numberseventy,SimmeryAxe!
  Ballad:TheFickleBreezeSighingsoftlytotheriverComesthelovingbreeze,Settingnaturealla—quiver,Rustlingthroughthetrees!
  AndthebrookinripplingmeasureLaughsforverylove,Whilethepoplars,intheirpleasure,Wavetheirarmsabove!
  River,river,littleriver,Maythylovingprosperever。
  Heavenspeedthee,poplartree,Maythywooinghappybe!
  Yet,thebreezeisbutarover,Whenhewingsaway,Brookandpoplarmournalover!
  Sighingwell—a—day!
  Ah,thedoingandundoingThattheroguecouldtell!
  Whenthebreezeisouta—wooing,Whocanwoosowell?
  Prettybrook,thydreamisover,Forthyloveisbutarover!
  Sadthelotofpoplartrees,Courtedbytheficklebreeze!
  Ballad:TheFirstLord’sSongWhenIwasaladIservedatermAsofficeboytoanAttorney’sfirm;
  IcleanedthewindowsandIsweptthefloor,AndIpolishedupthehandleofthebigfrontdoor。
  Ipolishedupthathandlesosuccessfullee,ThatnowIamtheRuleroftheQueen’sNavee!
  AsofficeboyImadesuchamarkThattheygavemethepostofajuniorclerk;
  Iservedthewritswithasmilesobland,AndIcopiedallthelettersinabigroundhand。
  Icopiedallthelettersinahandsofree,ThatnowIamtheRuleroftheQueen’sNavee!
  InservingwritsImadesuchanameThatanarticledclerkIsoonbecame;
  Iworecleancollarsandabrand—newsuitForthePassExaminationattheInstitute:
  AndthatPassExaminationdidsowellforme,ThatnowIamtheRuleroftheQueen’sNavee!
  OflegalknowledgeIacquiredsuchagripThattheytookmeintothepartnership,AndthatjuniorpartnershipIween,WastheonlyshipthatIeverhadseen:
  Butthatkindofshipsosuitedme,ThatnowIamtheRuleroftheQueen’sNavee!
  IgrewsorichthatIwassentByapocketboroughintoParliament;
  IalwaysvotedatmyParty’scall,AndIneverthoughtofthinkingformyselfatall。
  Ithoughtsolittle,theyrewardedme,BymakingmetheRuleroftheQueen’sNavee!
  Now,landsmenall,whoeveryoumaybe,Ifyouwanttorisetothetopofthetree—
  Ifyoursoulisn’tfetteredtoanofficestool,Becarefultobeguidedbythisgoldenrule—
  StickclosetoyourdesksandNEVERGOTOSEA,AndyouallmaybeRulersoftheQueen’sNavee!
  Ballad:WouldYouKnow?
  WouldyouknowthekindofmaidSetsmyheartaflame—a?
  Eyesmustbedowncastandstaid,Cheeksmustflushforshame—a!
  Shemayneitherdancenorsing,But,demureineverything,HangherheadinmodestwayWithpoutinglipsthatseemtosay,"Kissme,kissme,kissme,kissme,ThoughIdieofshame—a!"
  Pleaseyou,that’sthekindofmaidSetsmyheartaflame—a!
  WhenamaidisboldandgayWithatonguegoesclang—a,Flauntingitinbravearray,Maidenmaygohang—a!
  SunflowergayandhollyhockNevershallmygardenstock;
  MinetheblushingroseofMay,Withpoutinglipsthatseemtosay"Oh,kissme,kissme,kissme,kissme,ThoughIdieforshame—a!"
  Pleaseyou,that’sthekindofmaidSetsmyheartaflame—a!
  Ballad:SpeculationComesatrainoflittleladiesFromscholastictrammelsfree,Eachalittlebitafraidis,Wonderingwhattheworldcanbe!
  Isitbutaworldoftrouble—
  Sadnesssettosong?
  IsitsbeautybutabubbleBoundtobreakerelong?
  AreitspalacesandpleasuresFantasiesthatfade?
  AndthegloryofitstreasuresShadowofashade?
  Schoolgirlswe,eighteenandunder,Fromscholastictrammelsfree,Andwewonder—howwewonder!—
  Whatonearththeworldcanbe!
  Ballad:AhMe!
  Whenmaidenloves,shesitsandsighs,Shewanderstoandfro;
  Unbiddentear—dropsfillhereyes,Andtoallquestionsshereplies,Withasadheigho!
  ’Tisbutalittleword—"heigho!"
  Sosoft,’tisscarcelyheard—"heigho!"
  Anidlebreath—
  YetlifeanddeathMayhanguponamaid’s"heigho!"
  Whenmaidenloves,shemopesapart,Asowlmopesonatree;
  Althoughshekeenlyfeelsthesmart,Shecannottellwhatailsherheart,Withitssad"Ahme!"
  ’Tisbutafoolishsigh—"Ahme!"
  Bornbuttodroopanddie—"Ahme!"
  YetallthesenseOfeloquenceLieshiddeninamaid’s"Ahme!"
  Ballad:TheDukeOfPlaza—ToroInenterpriseofmartialkind,Whentherewasanyfighting,Heledhisregimentfrombehind(Hefounditlessexciting)。
  Butwhenawayhisregimentran,Hisplacewasatthefore,O—
  Thatcelebrated,Cultivated,UnderratedNobleman,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  Inthefirstandforemostflight,ha,ha!
  Youalwaysfoundthatknight,ha,ha!
  Thatcelebrated,Cultivated,UnderratedNobleman,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  When,toevadeDestruction’shand,Tohidetheyallproceeded,NosoldierinthatgallantbandHidhalfaswellashedid。
  Helayconcealedthroughoutthewar,Andsopreservedhisgore,O!
  Thatunaffected,Undetected,WellconnectedWarrior,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  Ineverydoughtydeed,ha,ha!
  Healwaystookthelead,ha,ha!
  Thatunaffected,Undetected,WellconnectedWarrior,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  WhentoldthattheywouldallbeshotUnlesstheylefttheservice,Thatherohesitatednot,Somarvelloushisnerveis。
  Hesenthisresignationin,Thefirstofallhiscorps,O!
  Thatveryknowing,Overflowing,Easy—goingPaladin,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  Tomenofgrosserclay,ha,ha!
  Healwaysshowedtheway,ha,ha!
  Thatveryknowing,Overflowing,Easy—goingPaladin,TheDukeofPlaza—Toro!
  Ballad:TheAestheteIfyou’reanxiousfortoshineinthehighaestheticline,asamanofculturerare,Youmustgetupallthegermsofthetranscendentalterms,andplantthemeverywhere。
  Youmustlieuponthedaisiesanddiscourseinnovelphrasesofyourcomplicatedstateofmind(Themeaningdoesn’tmatterifit’sonlyidlechatterofatranscendentalkind)。