首页 >出版文学> The Works of Rudyard Kipling One>第16章
  Withthebulletskickin’dust-spotsonthegreen。
  Whenthecartridgesranout,Youcouldhearthefront-filesshout,“Hi!ammunition-mulesan’GungaDin!”
  Ishan’tforgitthenightWhenIdroppedbe’indthefightWithabulletwheremybelt-plateshould’a’been。
  Iwaschokin’madwiththirst,An’themanthatspiedmefirstWasourgoodoldgrinnin’,gruntin’GungaDin。
  ’Eliftedupmy’ead,An’hepluggedmewhereIbled,An’’eguvme’arf-a-pinto’water-green:
  Itwascrawlin’anditstunk,ButofallthedrinksI’vedrunk,I’mgratefullesttoonefromGungaDin。
  Itwas“Din!Din!Din!
  ’Ere’sabeggarwithabulletthrough’isspleen;
  ’E’schawin’uptheground,An’’e’skickin’allaround:
  ForGawd’ssakegitthewater,GungaDin!”
  ’EcarriedmeawayTowhereadoolilay,An’abulletcomean’drilledthebeggarclean。
  ’Eputmesafeinside,An’justbefore’edied,“I’opeyoulikedyourdrink“,sezGungaDin。
  SoI’llmeet’imlateronAttheplacewhere’eisgone——
  Whereit’salwaysdoubledrillandnocanteen;
  ’E’llbesquattin’onthecoalsGivin’drinktopoordamnedsouls,An’I’llgetaswiginhellfromGungaDin!
  Yes,Din!Din!Din!
  YouLazarushian-leatherGungaDin!
  ThoughI’vebeltedyouandflayedyou,Bythelivin’Gawdthatmadeyou,You’reabettermanthanIam,GungaDin!
  1Bringwaterswiftly。
  2MrAtkins’equivalentfor“OBrother。”
  3Hityou。
  4bBequick。
  5Waterskin。
  OONTS
  NorthernIndiaTransportTrain
  Wotmakesthesoldier’s’earttopenk,wotmakes’imtoperspire?
  Itisn’tstandin’uptochargenorlyin’downtofire;
  Butit’severlastin’waitin’onaeverlastin’roadForthecommissariatcamelan’’iscommissariatload。
  Otheoont,1Otheoont,Othecommissariatoont!
  With’issillynecka-bobbin’likeabasketfullo’snakes;
  Wepacks’imlikeanidol,an’yououghtto’ear’imgrunt,An’whenwegets’imloadedup’isblessedgirth-ropebreaks。
  Wotmakestherear-guardswearso’ardwhennightisdrorin’in,An’everynativefollowerisshiverin’for’isskin?
  Itain’tthechansto’beingrushedbyPaythansfromthe’ills,It’sthecommissariatcamelputtin’on’isbloomin’frills!
  Otheoont,Otheoont,Othehairyscaryoont!
  A-trippin’overtent-ropeswhenwe’vegotthenightalarm!
  Wesocks’imwithastretcher-polean’’eads’imoffinfront,An’whenwe’vesaved’isbloomin’life’echawsourbloomin’
  arm。
  The’orse’eknowsaboveabit,thebullock’sbutafool,Theelephant’sagentleman,thebattery-mule’samule;
  Butthecommissariatcam-u-el,whenallissaidan’done,’E’sadevilan’aostrichan’aorphan-childinone。
  Otheoont,Otheoont,OtheGawd-forsakenoont!
  Thelumpy-’umpy’ummin’-birda-singin’where’elies,’E’sblockedthewholedivisionfromtherear-guardtothefront,An’whenwegethimupagain——thebeggargoesan’dies!
  ’E’llgallan’chafean’lamean’fight——’esmellsmostawfulvile;
  ’E’lllose’isselfforeverifyoulet’imstrayamile;
  ’E’sgametograzethe’oledaylongan’’owlthe’olenightthrough,An’when’ecomestogreasyground’esplits’isselfintwo。
  Otheoont,Otheoont,Othefloppin’,droppin’oont!
  When’islonglegsgivefromunderan’’ismeltin’eyeisdim,Thetribesisupbe’indus,andthetribesisoutinfront——
  Itain’tnojamforTommy,butit’skitesan’crowsfor’im。
  Sowhenthecruelmarchisdone,an’whentheroadsisblind,An’whenweseesthecampinfrontan’’earstheshotsbe’ind,Ho!thenwestrips’issaddleoff,andall’iswoesispast:
  ’Ethinksonusthatused’imso,andgetsrevengeatlast。
  Otheoont,Otheoont,Othefloatin’,bloatin’oont!
  Thelatelamentedcamelinthewater-cut’elies;
  Wekeepsamilebe’ind’iman’wekeepsamileinfront,But’egetsintothedrinkin’-casks,andtheno’coursewedies。
  1Camel-ooispronouncedlikeuin“bull。”butbyMrAtkinstorhymewith“front。”
  LOOT
  Ifyou’veeverstoleapheasant-eggbe’indthekeeper’sback,Ifyou’veeversniggedthewashin’fromtheline,Ifyou’veevercrammedaganderinyourbloomin’’aversack,Youwillunderstandthislittlesongo’mine。
  Buttheservicerulesare’ard,an’fromsuchwearedebarred,ForthesamewithEnglishmoralsdoesnotsuit。
  Cornet:Toot!toot!
  W’y,theycallamanarobberif’estuffs’ismarchin’clobberWiththe——
  ChorusLoo!loo!Lulu!lulu!Loo!loo!Loot!loot!loot!
  Owtheloot!
  Bloomin’loot!
  That’sthethingtomaketheboysgitupan’shoot!
  It’sthesamewithdogsan’men,Ifyou’dmake’emcomeagainClap’emforwardwithaLoo!loo!Lulu!Loot!
  ffWhoopee!Tear’im,puppy!Loo!loo!Lulu!Loot!loot!
  loot!
  Ifyou’veknockedaniggeredgewayswhen’e’sthrustin’foryourlife,Youmustleave’imverycarefulwhere’efell;
  An’maythankyourstarsan’gaitersifyoudidn’tfeel’isknifeThatyouain’ttoldofftobury’imaswell。
  Thenthesweatin’TommieswonderastheyspadethebeggarsunderWhylootin’shouldbeenteredasacrime;
  Soifmysongyou’ll’ear,Iwilllearnyouplainan’clear’Owtopayyourselfforfightin’overtime。
  ChorusWiththeloot,。
  Nowrememberwhenyou’re’ackingroundagildedBurmagodThat’iseyesisveryoftenpreciousstones;
  An’ifyoutreataniggertoadoseo’cleanin’-rod’E’sliketoshowyoueverything’eowns。
  When’ewon’tprodoocenomore,poursomewateronthefloorWhereyou’earitanswer’ollowtothebootCornet:Toot!toot!——
  Whenthegroundbeginstosink,shoveyourbaynickdownthechink,An’you’resuretotouchthe——
  ChorusLoo!loo!Lulu!Loot!loot!loot!
  Owtheloot!。
  Whenfrom’ouseto’ouseyou’re’unting,youmustalwaysworkinpairs——
  It’alvesthegain,butsaferyouwillfind——
  Forasinglemangetsbottledonthemtwisty-wistystairs,An’awomancomesandclobs’imfrombe’ind。
  Whenyou’veturned’eminsideout,an’itseemsbeyondadoubtAsifthereweren’tenoughtodustafluteCornet:Toot!toot!——
  Beforeyouslingyour’ook,atthe’ousetopstakealook,Forit’sunderneaththetilesthey’idetheloot。
  ChorusOwtheloot!。
  YoucanmostlysquareaSergintan’aQuartermastertoo,Ifyouonlytaketheproperwaytogo;
  Icouldneverkeepmypickin’s,butI’velearnedyouallIknew——
  An’don’tyouneversayItoldyouso。
  An’nowI’llbidgood-bye,forI’mgettin’ratherdry,An’Iseeanothertunin’uptotootCornet:Toot!toot!——
  So’ere’sgood-lucktothosethatwearstheWidow’sclo’es,An’theDevilsend’emalltheywanto’loot!
  ChorusYes,theloot,Bloomin’loot!
  Inthetunican’themess-tinan’theboot!
  It’sthesamewithdogsan’men,Ifyou’dmake’emcomeagainfffWhoop’emforwardwithaLoo!loo!Lulu!Loot!loot!
  loot!
  Heeya!Sick’im,puppy!Loo!loo!Lulu!Loot!loot!loot!
  ’SNARLEYOW’
  This’appenedinabattletoabatt’ryofthecorpsWhichisfirstamongthewomenan’amazin’firstinwar;
  An’whatthebloomin’battlewasIdon’tremembernow,ButTwo’soff-lead’eansweredtothenameo’Snarleyow。
  DownintheInfantry,nobodycares;
  DownintheCavalry,Colonel’eswears;
  ButdownintheleadwiththewheelattheflogTurnstheboldBombardiertoalittlewhippeddog!
  Theywasmovin’intoaction,theywasneededverysore,Tolearnalittleschoolin’toanativearmycorps,They’adnippedagainstanuphill,theywastuckin’downthebrow,Whenatricky,trundlin’roundshotgivetheknocktoSnarleyow。
  Theycut’imloosean’left’im——’ewasalmosttoreintwo——
  Buthetriedtofollowafterasawell-trained’orseshoulddo;
  ’Ewentan’fouledthelimber,an’theDriver’sBrothersqueals:
  “Pullup,pullupforSnarleyow——’ishead’sbetween’is’eels!”
  TheDriver’umped’isshoulder,forthewheelswasgoin’round,An’thereain’tno“Stop,conductor!”whenabatt’ry’schangin’
  ground;
  Sez’e:“Ibrokethebeggarin,an’verysadIfeels,ButIcouldn’tpullup,notforyou——your’eadbetweenyour’eels!”
  ’E’adn’t’ardlyspoketheword,beforeadroppin’shellAlittlerightthebatt’ryan’betweenthesectionsfell;
  An’whenthesmoke’adclearedaway,beforethelimberwheels,TherelaytheDriver’sBrotherwith’is’eadbetween’is’eels。
  ThenseztheDriver’sBrother,an’’iswordswasveryplain,“ForGawd’sownsakegetoverme,an’putmeouto’pain。”
  Theysaw’iswoundswasmortial,an’theyjudgedthatitwasbest,Sotheytookan’drovethelimberstraightacross’isbackan’chest。
  TheDriver’egivenothin’’ceptalittlecoughin’grunt,But’eswung’is’orses’andsomewhenitcameto“ActionFront!”
  An’ifonewheelwasjuicy,youmaylayyourMondayhead’Twasjuicierfortheniggerswhenthecasebeguntospread。
  Themorilofthisstory,itisplainlytobeseen:
  You’avn’tgotnofamilieswhenservin’oftheQueen——
  You’avn’tgotnobrothers,fathers,sisters,wives,orsons——
  Ifyouwanttowinyourbattlestakean’workyourbloomin’guns!
  DownintheInfantry,nobodycares;
  DownintheCavalry,Colonel’eswears;
  ButdownintheleadwiththewheelattheflogTurnstheboldBombardiertoalittlewhippeddog!
  THEWIDOWATWINDSOR
  ’Aveyou’eardo’theWidowatWindsorWithahairygoldcrownon’er’ead?
  She’asshipsonthefoam——she’asmillionsat’ome,An’shepaysuspoorbeggarsinred。
  Ow,poorbeggarsinred!
  There’s’ernickonthecavalry’orses,There’s’ermarkonthemedicalstores###第17章
  An’’ertroopersyou’llfindwithafairwindbe’indThattakesustovariouswars。
  Poorbeggars!——barbariouswars!
  Then’ere’stotheWidowatWindsor,An’’ere’stothestoresan’theguns,Themenan’the’orseswhatmakesuptheforcesO’MissisVictorier’ssons。
  Poorbeggars!Victorier’ssons!
  Walkwideo’theWidowatWindsor,For’alfo’Creationsheowns:
  We’avebought’erthesamewiththeswordan’theflame,An’we’vesalteditdownwithourbones。
  Poorbeggars!——it’sbluewithourbones!
  Handsoffo’thesonso’theWidow,Handsoffo’thegoodsin’ershop,FortheKingsmustcomedownan’theEmperorsfrownWhentheWidowatWindsorsays“Stop“!
  Poorbeggars!——we’resenttosay“Stop“!
  Then’ere’stotheLodgeo’theWidow,FromthePoletotheTropicsitruns——
  TotheLodgethatwetilewiththerankan’thefile,An’openinformwiththeguns。
  Poorbeggars!——it’salwaystheyguns!
  We’ave’eardo’theWidowatWindsor,It’ssafesttolet’eralone:
  For’ersentrieswestandbytheseaan’thelandWhereverthebuglesareblown。
  Poorbeggars!——an’don’twegetblown!
  Take’oldo’theWingso’theMornin’,An’floproundtheearthtillyou’redead;
  Butyouwon’tgetawayfromthetunethattheyplayTothebloomin’oldragover’ead。
  Poorbeggars!——it’s’otover’ead!
  Then’ere’stothesonso’theWidow,Wherever,’owevertheyroam。
  ’Ere’salltheydesire,an’iftheyrequireAspeedyreturntotheir’ome。
  Poorbeggars!——they’llneversee’ome!
  BELTS
  TherewasarowinSilverStreetthat’sneartoDublinQuay,BetweenanIrishregimentan’Englishcavalree;
  ItstartedatRevellyan’itlastedontilldark:
  ThefirstmandroppedatHarrison’s,thelastforninstthePark。
  Foritwas:——“Belts,belts,belts,an’that’soneforyou!”
  An’itwas“Belts,belts,belts,an’that’sdoneforyou!”
  Obucklean’tongueWasthesongthatwesungFromHarrison’sdowntothePark!
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——theregimentswasout,Theycalledus“DelhiRebels“,an’weanswered“Threesabout!”
  Thatdrewthemlikeahornet’snest——wemetthemgoodan’large,TheEnglishatthedoublean’theIrishatthecharge。
  Thenitwas:——“Belts。
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——an’Iwasinittoo;
  Wepassedthetimeo’day,an’thenthebeltswentwhirraru!
  Imisrememberwhatoccurred,butsubsequintthestormAFreeman’sJournalSupplemintwasallmyuniform。
  Oitwas:——“Belts。
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——theysentthePolisthere,TheEnglishweretoodrunktoknow,theIrishdidn’tcare;
  Butwhentheygrewimpertinintwesimultaneousrose,Tillhalfo’themwasLiffeymudan’halfwastattheredclo’es。
  Foritwas:——“Belts。
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——itmightha’ragedtillnow,Butsomeonedrewhisside-armclear,an’nobodyknewhow;
  ’TwasHogantookthepointan’dropped;wesawtheredbloodrun:
  An’soweallwasmurderersthatstartedoutinfun。
  Whileitwas:——“Belts。
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——butthatputdowntheshine,Wideachmanwhisperin’tohisnext:“’Twasneverworko’mine!”
  Wewentawaylikebeatendogs,an’downthestreetweborehim,Thepoordumbcorpsethatcouldn’ttellthebhoysweresorryforhim。
  Whenitwas:——“Belts。
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——itisn’toveryet,Forhalfofusareunderguardwidpunishmentstoget;
  ’TisallamerricletomeasintheClinkIlie:
  TherewasarowinSilverStreet——begod,Iwonderwhy!
  Butitwas:——“Belts,belts,belts,an’that’soneforyou!”
  An’itwas“Belts,belts,belts,an’that’sdoneforyou!”
  Obucklean’tongueWasthesongthatwesungFromHarrison’sdowntothePark!
  THEYOUNGBRITISHSOLDIER
  Whenthe’arf-maderecruitygoesouttotheEast’Eactslikeababean’’edrinkslikeabeast,An’’ewondersbecause’eisfrequentdeceasedEre’e’sfitfortoserveasasoldier。
  Serve,serve,serveasasoldier,Serve,serve,serveasasoldier,Serve,serve,serveasasoldier,So-oldieroftheQueen!
  Nowallyourecruitieswhat’sdraftedto-day,Youshutupyourrag-boxan’’arktomylay,An’I’llsingyouasoldierasfarasImay:
  Asoldierwhat’sfitforasoldier。
  Fit,fit,fitforasoldier。
  Firstmindyousteerclearo’thegrog-sellers’huts,FortheysellyouFixedBay’netsthatrotsoutyourguts——
  Ay,drinkthat’udeatthelivesteelfromyourbutts——
  An’it’sbadfortheyoungBritishsoldier。
  Bad,bad,badforthesoldier。
  Whenthecholeracomes——asitwillpastadoubt——
  Keepoutofthewetanddon’tgoontheshout,Forthesicknessgetsinastheliquordiesout,An’itcrumplestheyoungBritishsoldier。
  Crum-,crum-,crumplesthesoldier。
  Buttheworsto’yourfoesisthesunover’ead:
  Youmustwearyour’elmetforallthatissaid:
  If’efindsyouuncovered’e’llknockyoudowndead,An’you’lldielikeafoolofasoldier。
  Fool,fool,foolofasoldier。
  Ifyou’recastforfatiguebyasergeantunkind,Don’tgrouselikeawomannorcrackonnorblind;
  Behandyandcivil,andthenyouwillfindThatit’sbeerfortheyoungBritishsoldier。
  Beer,beer,beerforthesoldier。
  Now,ifyoumustmarry,takecaresheisold——
  Atroop-sergeant’swidow’sthenicestI’mtold,Forbeautywon’thelpifyourrationsiscold,Norloveain’tenoughforasoldier。
  ’Nough,’nough,’noughforasoldier。
  Ifthewifeshouldgowrongwithacomrade,beloathToshootwhenyoucatch’em——you’llswing,onmyoath!——
  Make’imtake’erandkeep’er:that’sHellforthemboth,An’you’reshuto’thecurseofasoldier。
  Curse,curse,curseofasoldier。
  Whenfirstunderfirean’you’rewishfultoduck,Don’tlooknortake’eedatthemanthatisstruck,Bethankfulyou’relivin’,andtrusttoyourluckAndmarchtoyourfrontlikeasoldier。
  Front,front,frontlikeasoldier。
  When’arfofyourbulletsflywideintheditch,Don’tcallyourMartiniacross-eyedoldbitch;
  She’shumanasyouare——youtreatherassich,An’she’llfightfortheyoungBritishsoldier。
  Fight,fight,fightforthesoldier。
  Whenshakin’theirbustleslikeladiessofine,Thegunso’theenemywheelintoline,Shootlowatthelimbersan’don’tmindtheshine,Fornoiseneverstartlesthesoldier。
  Start-,start-,startlesthesoldier。
  Ifyourofficer’sdeadandthesergeantslookwhite,Rememberit’sruintorunfromafight:
  Sotakeopenorder,liedown,andsittight,Andwaitforsupportslikeasoldier。
  Wait,wait,waitlikeasoldier。
  Whenyou’rewoundedandleftonAfghanistan’splains,Andthewomencomeouttocutupwhatremains,JestrolltoyourrifleandblowoutyourbrainsAn’gotoyourGawdlikeasoldier。
  Go,go,golikeasoldier,Go,go,golikeasoldier,Go,go,golikeasoldier,So-oldieroftheQueen!
  MANDALAY
  BytheoldMoulmeinPagoda,lookin’eastwardtothesea,There’saBurmagirla-settin’,andIknowshethinkso’me;
  Forthewindisinthepalm-trees,andthetemple-bellstheysay:
  “Comeyouback,youBritishsoldier;comeyoubacktoMandalay!”
  ComeyoubacktoMandalay,WheretheoldFlotillalay:
  Can’tyou’eartheirpaddleschunkin’fromRangoontoMandalay?
  OntheroadtoMandalay,Wheretheflyin’-fishesplay,An’thedawncomesuplikethunderouterChina’crosttheBay!
  ’Erpetticoatwasyalleran’’erlittlecapwasgreen,An’’ernamewasSupi-yaw-lat——jes’thesameasTheebaw’sQueen,An’Iseedherfirsta-smokin’ofawhackin’whitecheroot,An’a-wastin’Christiankissesonan’eathenidol’sfoot:
  Bloomin’idolmadeo’mud——
  WottheycalledtheGreatGawdBudd——
  PluckylotshecaredforidolswhenIkissed’erwhereshestud!
  OntheroadtoMandalay。
  Whenthemistwasontherice-fieldsan’thesunwasdroppin’slow,She’dgit’erlittlebanjoan’she’dsing“Kulla-lo-lo!”
  With’erarmuponmyshoulderan’’ercheekagin’mycheekWeuseterwatchthesteamersan’thehathispilin’teak。
  Elephintsa-pilin’teakInthesludgy,squdgycreek,Wherethesilence’ungthat’eavyyouwas’arfafraidtospeak!
  OntheroadtoMandalay。
  Butthat’sallshovebe’indme——longagoan’furaway,An’thereain’tno’bussesrunnin’fromtheBanktoMandalay;
  An’I’mlearnin’’ereinLondonwhattheten-yearsoldiertells:
  “Ifyou’ve’eardtheEasta-callin’,youwon’tnever’eednaughtelse。”
  No!youwon’t’eednothin’elseButthemspicygarlicsmells,An’thesunshinean’thepalm-treesan’thetinklytemple-bells;
  OntheroadtoMandalay。
  Iamsicko’wastin’leatheronthesegrittypavin’-stones,An’theblastedHenglishdrizzlewakesthefeverinmybones;
  Tho’Iwalkswithfifty’ousemaidsouterChelseatotheStrand,An’theytalksaloto’lovin’,butwotdotheyunderstand?
  Beefyfacean’grubby’and——
  Law!wotdotheyunderstand?
  I’veaneater,sweetermaideninacleaner,greenerland!
  OntheroadtoMandalay。
  ShipmesomewhereseastofSuez,wherethebestisliketheworst,Wheretherearen’tnoTenCommandmentsan’amancanraiseathirst;
  Forthetemple-bellsarecallin’,an’it’stherethatIwouldbe——
  BytheoldMoulmeinPagoda,lookinglazyatthesea;
  OntheroadtoMandalay,WheretheoldFlotillalay,WithoursickbeneaththeawningswhenwewenttoMandalay!
  OntheroadtoMandalay,Wheretheflyin’-fishesplay,An’thedawncomesuplikethunderouterChina’crosttheBay!
  TROOPIN’
  OurArmyintheEast
  Troopin’,troopin’,troopin’tothesea:
  ’Ere’sSeptembercomeagain——thesix-yearmenarefree。
  Oleavethedeadbe’indus,fortheycannotcomeawayTowheretheship’sa-coalin’upthattakesus’ometo-day。
  We’regoin’’ome,we’regoin’’ome,Ourshipisattheshore,An’youmustpackyour’aversack,Forwewon’tcomebacknomore。
  Ho,don’tyougrieveforme,MylovelyMary-Ann,ForI’llmarryyouyitonafourp’nybitAsatime-expiredman。
  TheMalabar’sin’arbourwiththeJumnerat’ertail,An’thetime-expired’swaitin’of’isordersfortosail。
  Ho!thewearywaitin’whenonKhyber’illswelay,Butthetime-expired’swaitin’of’isorders’ometo-day。
  They’llturnusoutatPortsmouthwharfincoldan’wetan’rain,Allwearin’Injiancottonkit,butwewillnotcomplain;
  They’llkillusofpneumonia——forthat’stheirlittleway——
  Butdamnthechillsandfever,men,we’regoin’’ometo-day!
  Troopin’,troopin’,winter’sroundagain!