第 14 节
作者:
世纪史诗 更新:2022-11-23 12:13 字数:9321
Oh! the horror of that agonizing thrill! (I can feel the place in frosty
weather still)。 For a week from ten to four I was fastened to the floor;
While a mercenary wopped me with a will
They branded me and broke me on a wheel; And they left me in an
hospital to heal; And; upon my solemn word; I have never never heard
What those Tartars had determined to reveal。
But that day of sorrow; misery; and rage; I shall carry to the Catacombs
of Age; Photographically lined On the tablet of my mind; When a
yesterday has faded from its page
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Ballad: Ellen McJones Aberdeen
MACPHAIRSON CLONGLOCKETTY ANGUS McCLAN Was the
son of an elderly labouring man; You've guessed him a Scotchman; shrewd
reader; at sight; And p'r'aps altogether; shrewd reader; you're right。
From the bonnie blue Forth to the lovely Deeside; Round by Dingwall
and Wrath to the mouth of the Clyde; There wasn't a child or a woman or
man Who could pipe with CLONGLOCKETTY ANGUS McCLAN。
No other could wake such detestable groans; With reed and with
chaunter … with bag and with drones: All day and ill night he delighted the
chiels With sniggering pibrochs and jiggety reels。
He'd clamber a mountain and squat on the ground; And the
neighbouring maidens would gather around To list to the pipes and to gaze
in his een; Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
All loved their McCLAN; save a Sassenach brute; Who came to the
Highlands to fish and to shoot; He dressed himself up in a Highlander way;
Tho' his name it was PATTISON CORBY TORBAY。
TORBAY had incurred a good deal of expense To make him a
Scotchman in every sense; But this is a matter; you'll readily own; That
isn't a question of tailors alone。
A Sassenach chief may be bonily built; He may purchase a sporran; a
bonnet; and kilt; Stick a skean in his hose … wear an acre of stripes … But he
cannot assume an affection for pipes。
CLONGLOCKETY'S pipings all night and all day Quite frenzied poor
PATTISON CORBY TORBAY; The girls were amused at his singular
spleen; Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN;
〃MACPHAIRSON CLONGLOCKETTY ANGUS; my lad; With
pibrochs and reels you are driving me mad。 If you really must play on that
cursed affair; My goodness! play something resembling an air。〃
Boiled over the blood of MACPHAIRSON McCLAN … The Clan of
Clonglocketty rose as one man; For all were enraged at the insult; I ween …
Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
〃Let's show;〃 said McCLAN; 〃to this Sassenach loon That the
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bagpipes CAN play him a regular tune。 Let's see;〃 said McCLAN; as he
thoughtfully sat; 〃'IN MY COTTAGE' is easy … I'll practise at that。〃
He blew at his 〃Cottage;〃 and blew with a will; For a year; seven
months; and a fortnight; until (You'll hardly believe it) McCLAN; I declare;
Elicited something resembling an air。
It was wild … it was fitful … as wild as the breeze … It wandered about
into several keys; It was jerky; spasmodic; and harsh; I'm aware; But still it
distinctly suggested an air。
The Sassenach screamed; and the Sassenach danced; He shrieked in
his agony … bellowed and pranced; And the maidens who gathered rejoiced
at the scene … Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
〃Hech gather; hech gather; hech gather around; And fill a' ye lugs wi'
the exquisite sound。 An air fra' the bagpipes … beat that if ye can! Hurrah
for CLONGLOCKETTY ANGUS McCLAN!〃
The fame of his piping spread over the land: Respectable widows
proposed for his hand; And maidens came flocking to sit on the green …
Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
One morning the fidgety Sassenach swore He'd stand it no longer … he
drew his claymore; And (this was; I think; in extremely bad taste) Divided
CLONGLOCKETTY close to the waist。
Oh! loud were the wailings for ANGUS McCLAN; Oh! deep was the
grief for that excellent man; The maids stood aghast at the horrible scene …
Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
It sorrowed poor PATTISON CORBY TORBAY To find them 〃take
on〃 in this serious way; He pitied the poor little fluttering birds; And
solaced their souls with the following words:
〃Oh; maidens;〃 said PATTISON; touching his hat; 〃Don't blubber; my
dears; for a fellow like that; Observe; I'm a very superior man; A much
better fellow than ANGUS McCLAN。〃
They smiled when he winked and addressed them as 〃dears;〃 And they
all of them vowed; as they dried up their tears; A pleasanter gentleman
never was seen … Especially ELLEN McJONES ABERDEEN。
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Ballad: Peter The Wag
Policeman PETER forth I drag From his obscure retreat: He was a
merry genial wag; Who loved a mad conceit。 If he were asked the time of
day; By country bumpkins green; He not unfrequently would say; 〃A
quarter past thirteen。〃
If ever you by word of mouth Inquired of MISTER FORTH The way
to somewhere in the South; He always sent you North。 With little boys his
beat along He loved to stop and play; He loved to send old ladies wrong;
And teach their feet to stray。
He would in frolic moments; when Such mischief bent upon; Take
Bishops up as betting men … Bid Ministers move on。 Then all the worthy
boys he knew He regularly licked; And always collared people who Had
had their pockets picked。
He was not naturally bad; Or viciously inclined; But from his early
youth he had A waggish turn of mind。 The Men of London grimly scowled
With indignation wild; The Men of London gruffly growled; But PETER
calmly smiled。
Against this minion of the Crown The swelling murmurs grew … From
Camberwell to Kentish Town … From Rotherhithe to Kew。 Still humoured
he his wagsome turn; And fed in various ways The coward rage that dared
to burn; But did not dare to blaze。
Still; Retribution has her day; Although her flight is slow: ONE DAY
THAT CRUSHER LOST HIS WAY NEAR POLAND STREET; SOHO。
The haughty boy; too proud to ask; To find his way resolved; And in the
tangle of his task Got more and more involved。
The Men of London; overjoyed; Came there to jeer their foe; And
flocking crowds completely cloyed The mazes of Soho。 The news on
telegraphic wires Sped swiftly o'er the lea; Excursion trains from distant
shires Brought myriads to see。
For weeks he trod his self…made beats Through Newport… Gerrard…
Bear… Greek… Rupert… Frith… Dean… Poland… Streets; And into Golden
Square。 But all; alas! in vain; for when He tried to learn the way Of little
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boys or grown…up men; They none of them would say。
Their eyes would flash … their teeth would grind … Their lips would
tightly curl … They'd say; 〃Thy way thyself must find; Thou misdirecting
churl!〃 And; similarly; also; when He tried a foreign friend; Italians
answered; 〃IL BALEN〃 … The French; 〃No comprehend。〃
The Russ would say with gleaming eye 〃 Sevastopol!〃 and groan。 The
Greek said; 'GREEK TEXT WHICH CANNOT BE REPRODUCED'。〃 To
wander thus for many a year That Crusher never ceased … The Men of
London dropped a tear; Their anger was appeased
At length exploring gangs were sent To find poor FORTH'S remains …
A handsome grant by Parliament Was voted for their pains。 To seek the
poor policeman out Bold spirits volunteered; And when they swore they'd
solve the doubt; The Men of London cheered。
And in a yard; dark; dank; and drear; They found him; on the floor … It
leads from Richmond Buildings … near The Royalty stage…door。 With
brandy cold and brandy hot They plied him; starved and wet; And made
him sergeant on the spot … The Men of London's pet!
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