首页 >出版文学> Songs of a Savoyard>第6章
  Toteachhimpatience,teachhimtact,Howpromptlyinafixtoact,Heshouldadopt,inpointoffact,Amanager’sprofession。
  Tothatconditionheshouldstoop(Despiteatoofondmother),Witheightorten"stars"inhistroupe,Alljealousofeachother!
  Oh,themanwhocanruleatheatricalcrew,Eachmemberagenius(andsomeofthemtwo),Andmanagetohumourthem,littleandgreat,Cangovernatuppenny—ha’pennyState!
  BothAandBrehearsalslight—
  Theysaythey’llbe"allrightatnight"
  (They’vebothtogotoschoolyet);
  CineachactMUSTchangeherdress,DWILLattemptto"squarethepress";
  Ewon’tplayRomeounlessHisgrandmotherplaysJuliet;
  Fclaimsallhoydensasherrights(She’splayedthemthirtyseasons);
  AndGmustshowherselfintightsFortwoconvincingreasons—
  Twoverywell—shapedreasons!
  Oh,themanwhocandriveatheatricalteam,Withwheelersandleadersinordersupreme,Cangovernandrule,withawaveofhisfin,AllEuropeandAsia—withIrelandthrownin!
  Ballad:OutOfSortsWhenyoufindyou’reabroken—downcritter,Whoisallofatrimmleandtwitter,Withyourpalateunpleasantlybitter,Asifyou’djustbittenapill—
  Whenyourlegsareasthinasdividers,Andyou’replaguedwithunrulyinsiders,Andyourspineisallcreepywithspiders,Andyou’rehighlygambogeinthegill—
  Whenyou’vegotabeehiveinyourhead,Andasewingmachineineachear,Andyoufeelthatyou’veeatenyourbed,Andyou’vegotabadheadacheDOWNHERE—
  Whensuchfactsareabout,AndthesesymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorcrown—
  Well,it’stimetolookout,YoumaymakeupyourmindYouhadbetterliedown!
  Whenyourlipsareallsmeary—liketallow,Andyourtongueisdecidedlyyallow,WithapintofwarmoilinyourswAllow,Andapoundoftin—tacksinyourchest—
  Whenyou’redowninthemouthwiththevapours,AndalloveryournewMorrispapersBlack—beetlesarecuttingtheircapers,Andcrawlythingsneveratrest—
  Whenyoudoubtifyourheadisyourown,Andyoujumpwhenanopendoorslams—
  Thenyou’vegottoastatewhichisknownTothemedicalworldas"jim—jams。"
  IfsuchsymptomsyoufindInyourbodyorhead,They’renoteasytoquell—
  YoumaymakeupyourmindYouarebetterinbed,Foryou’renotatallwell!
  Ballad:HowIt’sDoneBold—facedranger(Perfectstranger)
  Meetstwowell—behavedyoungladiesHe’sattractive,Youngandactive—
  Eachalittlebitafraidis。
  Youthadvances,AthisglancesTotheirdangertheyawaken;
  TheyrepelhimAstheytellhimHeisverymuchmistaken。
  Thoughtheyspeaktohimpolitely,Pleaseobservethey’resneeringslightly,Justtoshowhe’sactingvainly。
  ThisisVirtuesayingplainly,"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!"
  (Whenaddressedimpertinently,Englishladiesanswergently,"Goaway,youngbachelor,Wearenotwhatyoutakeusfor!")
  Ashegazes,Hatheraises,Entersintoconversation。
  Makesexcuses—
  ThisproducesInterestingagitation。
  He,withdaring,Undespairing,Giveshiscard—hisrankdiscloses—
  LittleheedingThisproceeding,Theyturnuptheirlittlenoses。
  Prayobservethislessonvital—
  WhenamanofrankandtitleHispositionfirstdiscloses,Alwayscockyourlittlenoses。
  Whenathome,letalltheclassTrythisinthelooking—glass。
  (Englishgirlsofwell—brednotionsShunallunrehearsedemotions,EnglishgirlsofhighestclassPractisethembeforetheglass。)
  HisintentionsThenhementions,Somethingdefinitetogoon—
  MakesrecitalsOfhistitles,Hintsatsettlements,andsoon。
  Smilingsweetly,They,discreetly,Askforfurtherevidences:
  Thusinvited,He,delighted,Givestheusualreferences。
  Thisisbusiness。EachisflutteredWhentheoffer’sfairlyuttered。
  "Whichofthemhashisaffection?"
  Hedeclinestomakeselection。
  Dotheyquarrelforhisdross?
  Notabitofit—theytoss!
  Pleaseobservethiscogentmoral—
  Englishladiesneverquarrel。
  Whenadoubttheycomeacross,Englishladiesalwaystoss。
  Ballad:AClassicalRevivalAttheoutsetImaymentionit’smysovereignintentionTorevivetheclassicmemoriesofAthensatitsbest,Formycompanypossessesallthenecessarydresses,Andacourseofquietcrammingwillsupplyuswiththerest。
  We’veachoirhyporchematic(thatis,ballet—operatic)
  WhorespondtotheCHOREUTAEofthatcultivatedage,Andourcleverchorus—master,allbutcaptiouscriticaster,WouldacceptastheCHOREGUSoftheearlyAtticstage。
  Thisreturntoclassicagesisconsideredintheirwages,Whicharealwayscalculatedbythedayorbytheweek—
  AndI’llpay’em(ifthey’llbackme)allinOBOLOIandDRACHMAE,Whichthey’llget(iftheypreferit)attheKalendsthatareGreek!
  (AtthisjunctureImaymentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady"cram。":
  Periphrasticmethodsspurning,TomyreadersalldiscerningIadmitthisshowoflearningIsthefruitofsteadycram。"!)
  IntheperiodSocraticeverydining—roomwasAttic(Whichsuggestsanarchitectureofatopsy—turvykind),Therethey’dsatisfytheirtwistonaRECHERCHEcold[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced],Whichiswhattheycalledtheirlunch—andsomayyou,ifyou’reinclined。
  Astheygraduallygoton,they’d[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
  (WhichisAtticforasteadyandaconscientiousdrink)。
  Buttheymixedtheirwinewithwater—whichI’msuretheydidn’toughter—
  AndweAnglo—Saxonsknowatrickworthtwoofthat,Ithink!
  Thencameratherriskydances(undercertaincircumstances)
  Whichwouldshockthatworthygentleman,theLicenserofPlays,CorybantianmaniACkick—DionysiacorBacchic—
  AndtheDithyrambicrevelsofthoseindecorousdays。
  (AndperhapsI’dbettermentionLestalarmingyouIam,Thatitisn’tourintentionToperformaDithyramb—
  Itdisplaysalotofstocking,Whichisalwaysveryshocking,AndofcourseI’monlymockingAttheprevalenceof"cram。")
  Yes,onreconsideration,therearecustomsofthatnationWhicharenotinstrictaccordancewiththehabitsofourday,AndwhenIcometocodify,theirrulesImeantomodify,OrMrs。Grundy,p’r’aps,mayhaveawordortwotosay:
  Fortheyhadn’tmacintoshesorumbrellasorgoloshes—
  Andashowerwiththeirdressesmusthaveplayedtheverydeuce,Anditmusthavebeenunpleasingwhentheycaughtafitofsneezing,For,itseems,ofpocket—handkerchiefstheydidn’tknowtheuse。
  Theyworelittleunderclothing—scarcelyanything—orno—thing—
  AndtheirdressofCoansilkwasquitetransparentindesign—
  Well,infact,insummerweather,somethinglikethe"altogether。"
  Andit’sTHERE,Iratherfancy,Ishallhavetodrawtheline!
  (AndagainIwishtomentionThatthiseruditionshamIsbutclassicalpretension,Theresultofsteady"cram。"
  Yetmyclassicloveaggressive,Ifyou’llpardonthepossessive,IsexceedinglyimpressiveWhenyou’repassinganexam。)
  Ballad:ThePracticalJokerOhwhatafundofjoyjocundlieshidinharmlesshoaxes!
  WhatkeenenjoymentspringsFromcheapandsimplethings!
  Whatdeepdelightfromsourcestriteinventivehumourcoaxes,ThatpainandtroublebrewForeveryonebutyou!
  GunpowderplacedinsideitswaistimprovesamildHavanah,ItsunexpectedflashBurnseyebrowsandmoustache;
  Whenpeopledinenokindofwinebeatsipecacuanha,ButcommonsensesuggestsYoukeepitforyourguests—
  Thennaughtannoystheorganboyslikethrowingred—hotcoppers,AndmuchamusementbidesIncommonbutter—slides。
  Andstringysnaresacrossthestairscauseunexpectedcroppers。
  Coalscuttles,recollect,Producethesameeffect。
  AmanpossessedOfcommonsenseNeednotinvestAtgreatexpense—
  ItdoesnotcallForpocketdeep,ThesejokesareallExtremelycheap。
  Ifyoucommencewitheighteenpence(it’sallyou’llhavetopay),Youmaycommandapleasantandamostinstructiveday。
  Agoodspringgunbreedsendlessfun,andmakesmenjumplikerockets,Andturnip—headsonpostsMakeverydecentghosts:
  Thenhornetsstinglikeanything,whenplacedinwaist—coatpockets—
  BurntcorkandwalnutjuiceArenotwithouttheiruse。
  Nofuncompareswitheasychairswhoseseatsarestuffedwithneedles—
  LiveshrimpstheirpatiencetaxWhenputdownpeople’sbacks—
  Surprising,too,whatonecandowithfiftyfatblackbeedles—
  AndtreacleonachairWillmakeaQuakerswear!
  ThensharptintacksAndpocketsquirts—
  Andcobblers’waxForladies’skirts—
  AndslimyslugsOnbedroomfloors—
  AndwaterjugsOnopendoors—
  Preparedwiththesecheapproperties,amusingtrickstoplay,Uponafriendamanmayspendamostdelightfulday!
  Ballad:TheNationalAnthemAmonarchispesteredwithcares,Though,nodoubt,hecanoftentrepanthem;
  Butonecomesinashapehecanneverescape—
  TheimplacableNationalAnthem!
  Thoughforquietandresthemayyearn,Itpursueshimateveryturn—
  NochanceofforsakingItsROCOCOnumbers;
  Theyhaunthimwhenwaking—
  Theypoisonhisslumbers—
  LiketheBanburyLady,whomeveryoneknows,He’scursedwithitsmusicwhereverhegoes!
  Thoughitswordsbutimperfectlyrhyme,Andthedevilhimselfcouldn’tscanthem;
  WithcomposurepoliteheenduresdayandnightThatilliterateNationalAnthem!
  Itservesagoodpurpose,Iown:
  Itsstrainsaredevoutandimpressive—
  Itsheart—stirringnotesraisealumpinourthroatsAsweburnwithdevotionexcessive:
  ButtheKing,who’sbeenboredbythatsongFromhiscradle—eachday—alldaylong—
  Who’shearditloud—shoutedBythroatsoperatic,AndloyallyspoutedBycourtiersemphatic—
  Bysoldier—bysailor—bydrumandbyfife—
  Smallblameifhethinksittheplagueofhislife!
  Whilehissubjectssingloudlyandlong,TheirKing—whowouldwillinglybanthem—
  Sits,worrydisguising,anathematisingThatBogie,theNationalAnthem!
  Ballad:HerTermsMyweddedlifeMusteverypleasurebringOnscaleextensive!
  IfI’myourwifeImusthaveeverythingThat’smostexpensive—
  Alady’s—maid—
  (MyhairalonetodoIamnotable)—
  AndI’mafraidI’vebeenaccustomedtoAfirst—ratetable。
  Thesethingsonemustconsiderwhenonemarries—
  AndeverythingIwearmustcomefromParis!
  Oh,thinkofthat!
  Oh,thinkofthat!
  Ican’twearanythingthat’snotfromParis!
  FromtoptotoesQuiteFrenchifiedIam,Ifyouexamine。
  Andthen—whoknows?—
  Perhapssomedayafam—
  Perhapsafamine!
  Myargument’scorrect,ifyouexamine,Whatshouldwedo,ifthereshouldcomeaf—famine!
  ThoughingreenpeaYourselfyouneedn’tstintInJulysunny,InJanuareeItreallycostsamint—
  Amintofmoney!
  Nolambforus—
  HouselambatChristmassellsAtpriceshandsome:
  Asparagus,Inwinter,parallelsAMonarch’sransom:
  Whenpursetobreadandbutterbarelyreaches,Whatisyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?
  Ah!tellmethat!
  Ah!tellmethat!
  WhatISyourwifetodoforhot—housepeaches?
  YourheartandhandThoughatmyfeetyoulay,Allothersscorning!
  Asmattersstand,There’snothingnowtosayExcept—goodmorning!
  Thoughvirtuebeahusband’sbestadorning,Thatwon’tpayratesandtaxes—so,goodmorning!
  Ballad:TheIndependentBeeAhiveofbees,asI’veheardsay,SaidtotheirQueenonesultryday,"PleaseyourMajesty’shighposition,Thehiveisfullandtheweatheriswarm,Weratherthink,withaduesubmission,Thetimehascomewhenweoughttoswarm。"
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  UpspaketheirQueenandthusspakeshe—
  "Thisisamatterthatrestswithme,Whodaresopinionsthustoform?
  I’LLtellyouwhenitistimetoswarm!"
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  HerMajestyworeanangryfrown,Infact,herMajesty’sfootwasdown—
  HerMajestysulked—declinedtosup—
  Inshort,herMajesty’sbackwasup。
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  Herfootwasdownandherbackwasup!
  Thathivecontainedoneobstinatebee(HisnamewasPeter),andthusspakehe—
  "Thougheverybeehasshownwhitefeather,TobowtotyrannyI’mnotprone—
  Whyshouldahiveswarmalltogether?
  Surelyabeecanswarmalone?"
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  Upsidedownandinsideout,Backwards,forwards,roundabout,Twirlinghereandtwistingthere,Topsyturvilyeverywhere—
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  PitifulsightitwastoseeRespectableelderlyhigh—classbee,Whokickedthebeamatsixteenstone,Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  Tryinghisbesttoswarmalone!
  Thehivewereshockedtoseetheirchum(Astrictteetotaller)teetotum—
  TheQueenexclaimed,"Howterrible,very!
  It’sperfectlycleartoallthethrongPeter’sbeenattheoldbrownsherry。
  Oldbrownsherryismuchtoostrong—
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  Ofallwhothusthemselvesdegrade,Asternexamplemustbemade,ToCoventrygo,youtipsybee!"
  SoofftoCoventrytownwenthe。
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  There,classedwithallwhomisbehave,Bothplausiblerogueandnoisomeknave,IndismaldumpshelivedtoownThefollyoftryingtoswarmalone!
  Buzz,buzz,buzz,buzz。
  Allcameoftryingtoswarmalone。
  Ballad:TheDisconcertedTenorAtenor,allsingersabove(Thisdoesn’tadmitofaquestion),Shouldkeephimselfquiet,Attendtohisdiet,Andcarefullynursehisdigestion。
  Butwhenheismadlyinlove,It’scertaintotellonhissinging—
  Youcan’tdochromaticsWithproperemphaticsWhenanguishyourbosomiswringing!
  Whendistractedwithworriesinplenty,Andhispulseisahundredandtwenty,Andhisflutteringbosomtheslaveofmistrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。
  Nowobserve—(SINGSAHIGHNOTE)—
  Yousee,Ican’tdomyselfjustice!
  Icouldsing,ifmyfervourweremock,It’seasyenoughifyou’reacting,Butwhenone’semotionIsbornofdevotion,Youmustn’tbeover—exacting。
  OneoughttobefirmasarockToventureashakeinVIBRATO;
  Whenfervour’sexpected,Keepcoolandcollected,OrneverattemptAGITATO。
  But,ofcourse,whenhistongueisofleather,Andhislipsappearpastedtogether,Andhissensitivepalateasdryasacrustis,Atenorcan’tdohimselfjustice。
  Nowobserve—(SINGSACADENCE)—
  It’snouse—Ican’tdomyselfjustice!
  Ballad:ThePlayed—OutHumoristQuixoticishisenterprise,andhopelesshisadventureis,Whoseeksforjocularitiesthathaven’tyetbeensaid。
  Theworldhasjokedincessantlyforoverfiftycenturies,Andeveryjokethat’spossiblehaslongagobeenmade。
  Istartedasahumoristwithlotsofmentalfizziness,Buthumourisadrugwhichit’sthefashiontoabuse;
  Formystock—in—trade,myfixtures,andthegoodwillofthebusinessNoreasonableofferIamlikelytorefuse。
  AndifanybodychooseHemaycirculatethenewsThatnoreasonableofferI’mlikelytorefuse。
  Ohhappywasthathumorist—thefirstthatmadeapunatall—
  Whowhenajokeoccurredtohim,howeverpoorandmean,Wasabsolutelycertainthatitneverhadbeendoneatall—
  Howpopularatdinnersmustthathumoristhavebeen!
  Ohthedayswhensomestepfatherforthequeryheldahandleout,Thedoor—matfromthescraper,isitdistantveryfar?
  AndwhennooneknewwhereMoseswaswhenAaronblewthecandleout,Andnoonehaddiscoveredthatadoorcouldbea—jar!
  ButyourmodernhearersareIntheirtastesparticular,Andtheysneerifyouinformthemthatadoorcanbea—jar!
  Insearchofquipandquiddity,I’vesatallday,alone,apart—
  AndallthatIcouldhitonasaproblemwas—tofindAnalogybetweenascragofmuttonandaBony—part,Whichoffersslightemploymenttothespeculativemind:
  Foryoucannotcallitverygood,howevergreatyourcharity—
  It’snotthesortofhumourthatisgreetedwithashout—
  AndI’vecometotheconclusionthatmymineofjocularityInpresentAnnoDomini,isworkedcompletelyout!
  Thoughthenotionyoumayscout,IcanprovebeyondadoubtThatmymineofjocularityisutterlyworkedout。