Из полного собрания бессмыслиц

Лир Эдвард

III

So they both went slowly down,And walked about the townWith a cheerful bumpy sound,As they toddled round and round.And everybody cried,As they hastened to their side,“See! the Table and the ChairHave come out to take the air!”

IV

But in going down an alley,To a castle in a valley,They completely lost their way,And wandered all the day,Till, to see them safely back,They paid a Ducky-quack,And a Beetle, and a Mouse,Who took them to their house.

V

Then they whispered to each other,“O delightful little brother!What a lovely walk we’ve taken!Let us dine on Beans and Bacon!”So the Ducky, and the leetleBrowny-Mousy and the BeetleDined, and danced upon their heads,Till they toddled to their beds.

The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker, and the Tongs

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.