Из полного собрания бессмыслиц
Шрифт:
I
The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and Tongs,They all took a drive in the Park,And they each sang a song, Ding-a-dong, Ding-a-dong,Before they went back in the dark.Mr. Poker he sate quite upright in the coach,Mr. Tongs made a clatter and clash,Miss Shovel was dressed all in black (with a brooch),Mr. Broom was in blue (with a sash).Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!And they all sang a song! II
“O Shovely so lovely!” the Poker he sang,“You have perfectly conquered my heart!Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! If you’re pleased with my song,I will feed you with cold apple tart!When you scrape up the coals with a delicate soundYou enrapture my life with delight!Your nose is so shiny! your head is so round!And your shape is so slender and bright!Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!Ain’t you pleased with my song?” III
“Alas! Mr. Broom!» sighed the Tongs in his song.O is it because I’m so thin,And my legs are so long – Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!That you don’t care about me a pin?Ah! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room,Ah! why don’t you heed my complaint!Must you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom,Because you are covered with paint?Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!You are certainly wrong!” IV
Mrs. Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang,“What nonsense you’re singing today!”Said the Shovel, “I’ll certainly hit you a band!”Said the Broom, “And I’ll sweep you away!”So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could,Perceiving their anger with pain;But they put on the kettle, and little by little,They all became happy again.Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!There’s the end of my song. The Nutcrackers and the Sugar-tongs
I
The Nutcrackers sate by a plate on the table,The Sugar-tongs sate by a plate at his side;And Nutcrackers said, “Don’t you wish we were ableAlong the blue hills and green meadows to ride?Must we drag on this stupid existence fo ever,So idle and weary, so full of remorse, —While every one else takes his pleasure, and neverSeems happy unless he is riding a horse? II
Don’t you think we could ride without being instructed?Without any saddle, or bridle, or spur?Our legs are so long, and so aptly constructed,I’m sure that an accident could not occur.Let us all of a sudden hop down from the table,And hustle downstairs, and each jump on a horse!Shall we try? Shall we go? Do you think we are able?”The Sugar-tongs answered distinctly, “Of course!”III
So down the long staircase they hopped in a minute,The Sugar-tongs snapped, and the Crackers said “crack!”The stable was open, the horses were in it;Each took out a pony, and jumped on his back.The Cat in a fright scrambled out of a doorway,The Mice tumbled out of a bundle of hay,The brown and white Rats, and the black ones from Norway,Screamed out, “They are taken the horses away!”IV
The whole of the household was filled with amazement,The Cups and the Saucers danced madly about,The Plates and the Dishes looked out of the casement,The Saltcellar stood on his head with a shout,The spoons with a clatter looked out of the lattice,The Mustard-pot climbed up the Gooseberry Pies,The Soup-ladle peeped through a heap of Veal Patties,And squeaked with a ladle-like scream of surprise. V
The Frying-pan said, “It’s an awful delusion!”The Tea-kettle hissed and grew black in the face;And they all rushed downstairs in the wildest confusion,To sea the great Nutcracker-Sugar-tong race.And out of the stable, with screamings and laughter,(Their ponies were cream-coloured, speckled with brown,)The Nutcrackers first, and the Sugar-tongs after,Rode all round the yard, and then all round the town. VI
They rode through he street, and they rode by the station,They galloped away to the beautiful shore;In silence they rode, and «made no observation»,Save this: “We will never go back any more!”And still you might hear, till they rode out of hearing,The Sugar-tongs snap, and the Crackers say “crack!”Till far in the distance their forms disappearing,They faded away. – And they never come back! The new vestments
The Pobble who has no toes
I
The Pobble who has no toesHas once as many, as we;When they said, “Some day you may lose them all;” —Hereplied, – “Fish fiddle de-dee!”And his Aunt Jobiska made him drink,Lavender water tinged with pink,For she said, “The World in general knowsThere’s nothing so good for a Pobble’s toes!” Поделиться с друзьями: