the home book of verse-4-第19部分
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And called the malt…tax sinful；
Jack heeded not their angry words；
But smiled and drank his skinful。
And when men wasted health and life；
In search of rank and riches；
Jack marched aloof the paltry strife；
And wore his threadbare breeches。
〃I enter not the Church；〃 he said；
〃But I'll not seek to rob it；〃
So worthy Jack Joe Miller read；
While others studied Cobbett。
His talk it was of feast and fun；
His guide the Almanack；
From youth to age thus gaily run
The life of Jolly Jack。
And when Jack prayed； as oft he would；
He humbly thanked his Maker；
〃I am；〃 said he； 〃O Father good！
Nor Catholic nor Quaker：
Give each his creed； let each proclaim
His catalogue of curses；
I trust in Thee； and not in them；
In Thee； and in Thy mercies！
〃Forgive me if； midst all Thy works；
No hint I see of damning；
And think there's faith among the Turks；
And hope for e'en the Brahmin。
Harmless my mind is； and my mirth；
And kindly is my laughter；
I cannot see the smiling earth；
And think there's hell hereafter。〃
Jack died； he left no legacy；
Save that his story teaches： …
Content to peevish poverty；
Humility to riches。
Ye scornful great； ye envious small；
Come fellow in his track；
We all were happier； if we all
Would copy Jolly Jack。
William Makepeace Thackeray ＇1811…1863＇
THE KING OF BRENTFORD
After Beranger
There was a King in Brentford； … of whom no legends tell；
But who； without his glory； … could eat and sleep right well。
His Polly's cotton nightcap … it was his crown of state；
He slept of evenings early； … and rose of mornings late。
All in a fine mud palace； … each day he took four meals；
And for a guard of honor； … a dog ran at his heels。
Sometimes to view his kingdoms； … rode forth this monarch good；
And then a prancing jackass … he royally bestrode。
There were no costly habits … with which this King was cursed；
Except （and where's the harm on't） … a somewhat lively thirst；
But people must pay taxes； … and Kings must have their sport；
So out of every gallon … His Grace he took a quart。
He pleased the ladies round him； … with manners soft and bland；
With reason good； they named him； … the father of his land。
Each year his mighty armies … marched forth in gallant show；
Their enemies were targets； … their bullets they were tow。
He vexed no quiet neighbor； … no useless conquest made；
But by the laws of pleasure； … his peaceful realm he swayed。
And in the years he reigned； … through all this country wide；
There was no cause for weeping； … save when the good man died。
The faithful men of Brentford； … do still their King deplore；
His portrait yet is swinging； … beside an alehouse door。
And topers； tender…hearted； … regard his honest phiz；
And envy times departed； … that knew a reign like his。
William Makepeace Thackeray ＇1811…1863＇
KAISER & CO
Der Kaiser auf der Vaterland
Und Gott on high； all dings gommand；
Ve two； ach don'd you understandt？
Meinself … und Gott。
He reigns in heafen； und always shall；
Und mein own embire don'd vas shmall；
Ein noble bair； I dink you call
Meinself … und Gott。
Vile some mens sing der power divine；
Mein soldiers sing der 〃Wacht am Rhein；〃
Und drink der healt in Rhenish wein
Auf me … und Gott。
Dere's France dot swaggers all aroundt；
She's ausgespieldt … she's no aggoundt；
To mooch ve dinks she don'd amoundt；
Meinself … und Gott。
She vill not dare to fight again；
But if she shouldt； I'll show her blain
Dot Elsass und （in French） Lorraine
Are mein … und Gott's。
Dere's grandma dinks she's nicht shmall beer；
Mit Boers und dings she interfere；
She'll learn none runs dis hemisphere
But me … und Gott。
She dinks； goot frau； some ships she's got；
Und soldiers mit der sgarlet goat；
Ach！ ve could knock dem … pouf！ like dot；
Meinself … und Gott。
In dimes auf peace； brebared for wars；
I bear der helm und sbear auf Mars；
Und care nicht for den dousant czars；
Meinself … und Gott。
In short； I humor efery whim；
Mit aspect dark und visage grim；
Gott pulls mit me und I mit Him …
Meinself … und Gott。
Alexander Macgregor Rose ＇1846…1898＇
NONGTONGPAW
John Bull for pastime took a prance；
Some time ago； to peep at France；
To talk of sciences and arts；
And knowledge gained in foreign parts。
Monsieur； obsequious； heard him speak；
And answered John in heathen Greek；
To all he asked； 'bout all he saw；
'Twas； 〃Monsieur； je vous n'entends pas。〃
John； to the Palais…Royal come；
Its splendor almost struck him dumb。
〃I say； whose house is that there here？〃
〃House！ Je vous n'entends pas； Monsieur。〃
〃What； Nongtongpaw again！〃 cries John；
〃This fellow is some mighty Don：
No doubt he's plenty for the maw； …
I'll breakfast with this Nongtongpaw。〃
John saw Versailles from Marli's height；
And cried； astonished at the sight；
〃Whose fine estate is that there here？〃
〃State！ Je vous n'entends pas； Monsieur。〃
〃His？ what； the land and houses too？
The fellow's richer than a Jew：
On everything he lays his claw！
I should like to dine with Nongtongpaw。〃
Next tripping came a courtly fair；
John cried； enchanted with her air；
〃What lovely wench is that there here？〃
〃Ventch！ Je vous n'entends pas； Monsieur。〃
〃What； he again？ Upon my life！
A palace； lands； and then a wife
Sir Joshua might delight to draw：
I should like to sup with Nongtongpaw。
〃But hold！ whose funeral's that？〃 cries John。
〃Je vous n'entends pas。〃 … 〃What； is he gone？
Wealth； fame； and beauty could not save
Poor Nongtongpaw； then； from the grave！
His race is run； his game is up； …
I'd with him breakfast； dine； and sup；
But since he chooses to withdraw；
Good night t' ye； Mounseer Nongtongpaw！〃
Charles Dibdin ＇1745…1814＇
THE LION AND THE CUB
How fond are men of rule and place；
Who court it from the mean and base！
These cannot bear an equal nigh；
But from superior merit fly。
They love the cellar's vulgar joke；
And lose their hours in ale and smoke。
There o'er some petty club preside；
So poor； so paltry； is their pride！
Nay； even with fools whole nights will sit；
In hopes to be supreme in wit。
If these can read； to these I write；
To set their worth in truest light。
A Lion…cub of sordid mind；
Avoided all the lion kind；
Fond of applause； he sought the feasts
Of vulgar and ignoble beasts；
With asses all his time he spent；
Their club's perpetual president。
He caught their manners； looks； and airs；
An ass in everything but ears！
If e'er his Highness meant a joke；
They grinned applause before he spoke；
But at each word what shouts of praise！
〃Good gods！ how natural he brays！〃
Elate with flattery and conceit；
He seeks his royal sire's retreat；
Forward； and fond to show his parts；
His Highness brays； the Lion starts。
〃Puppy！ that cursed vociferation
Betrays thy life and conversation：
Coxcombs； an ever…noisy race；
Are trumpets of their own disgrace。〃
〃Why so severe？〃 the Cub replies；
〃Our senate always held me wise！〃
〃How weak is pride；〃 returns the sire：
〃All fools are vain when fools admire！
But know； what stupid asses prize；
Lions and noble beasts despise。〃
John Gay ＇1685…1732＇
THE HARE WITH MANY FRIENDS
Friendship； like love； is but a name；
Unless to one you stint the flame。
The child； whom many fathers share；
Hath seldom known a father's care。
'Tis thus in friendship； who depend
On many； rarely find a friend。
A Hare； who； in a civil way；
Complied with everything； like Gay；
Was known by all the bestial train；
Who haunt the wood； or graze the plain；
Her care was never to offend；
And every creature was her friend。
As forth she went at early dawn；
To taste the dew…besprinkled lawn；
Behind she hears the hunter's cries；
And from the deep…mouthed thunder flies：
She starts； she stops； she pants for breath；
She hears the near advance of death；
She doubles； to mislead the hound；
And measures back her mazy round：
Till； fainting in the public way；
Half dead with fear she gasping lay。
What transport in her bosom grew；
When first the Horse appeared in view！
〃Let me；〃 says she； 〃your back ascend；
And owe my safety to a friend。
You know my feet betray my flight：
To friendship every burden's light。〃
The Horse replied： 〃Poor honest Puss；
It grieves my heart to see thee thus；
Be comforted； relief is near；
For all your friends are in the rear。〃
She next the stately Bull implored；
And thus replied the mighty lord：
〃Since every beast alive can tell
That I sincerely wish you well；
I may； without offence； pretend；
To take the freedom of a friend。
Love calls me hence； a favorite cow
Expects me near yon barley…mow；
And when a lady's in the case；
You know； all other things give place。
To leave you thus might seem unkind；
But see； the Goat is just behind。〃
The Goat remarked her pulse was high；
Her languid head； her heavy eye；
〃My back；〃 says he； 〃may do you harm；
The Sheep's at hand； and wool is warm。〃
The Sheep was feeble； and complained
His sides a load of wool sustained：
Said he was slow； confessed his fears；
For hounds eat sheep as well as Hares。
She now the trotting Calf addressed；
To save from death a friend distressed。
〃Shall I；〃 says he； 〃of tender age；
In this important care engage？
Older and abler passed you by；
How strong are those； how weak am I！
Should I presume to bear you hence；
Those friends of mine may take offence。
Excuse me； then。 You know my heart；
But dearest friends； alas！ must part。
How shall we all lament！ Adieu！
For see； the hounds are just in view。〃
John Gay ＇1685…1732＇
THE SYCOPHANTIC FOX AND THE GULLIBLE RAVEN
A raven sat upon a tree；
And not a word he spoke； for
His beak contained a piece of
