A Little Book of Light VerseMethuen, 1902 - 193 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
A. D. Godley Arlotto Austin Dobson ball BALLADE beautiful blue boots Bouillabaisse Brentford C. S. Calverley Captain Cleggs chaise charming cried cursed dance daylight dinner dear Dot and Go drink Earlie's eyes fair Fhairshon Gilpin gold golden gone Good-night Grinder half hath head heart Horace Smith horse humour J. K. Stephen John Gilpin Juniper Jem Kilmansegg kiss Knife-grinder Lady Clara light verse light versifier lips little Jackdaw look Lord maid Mayor Mermen merry muff Muses ne'er never nice little boy numbers o'er once pipe Piper play poor pretty rats rhymes ride Robert Browning rose saint Sally Brown seem'd sing smile song soon soul sweet swore tail tell tempora mutantur thee There's thing thou thought town Twas W. S. Gilbert walk wine write young youth
Popular passages
Page 19 - Away went hat and wig ; He little dreamt, when he set out, Of running such a rig. The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Like streamer long and gay, Till, loop and button failing both, At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern The bottles he had slung ; A bottle swinging at each side, As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, Up flew the windows all ; And every soul cried out, Well done ! As loud as he could bawl.
Page 18 - John he cried, But John he cried in vain; That trot became a gallop soon, In spite of curb and rein.
Page 24 - Stop thief! stop thief! — a highwayman! Not one of them was mute; And all and each that passed that way Did join in the pursuit. And now the turnpike gates again Flew open in short space; The toll-men thinking as before That Gilpin rode a race.
Page 100 - Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives — Followed the Piper for their lives. From street to street he piped advancing. And step for step they followed dancing, Until they came to the river Weser Wherein all plunged and perished — Save one who, stout as Julius Caesar, Swam across and lived to carry (As he the manuscript he cherished) To Rat-land home his commentary, Which was, " At the first shrill notes of the pipe, I heard a sound as of scraping tripe.
Page 97 - our Mayor's a noddy: And as for our Corporation — shocking To think we buy gowns lined with ermine For dolts that can't or won't determine What's best to rid us of our vermin ! You hope, because you're old and obese, To find in the furry civic robe ease ! Rouse up, Sirs ! Give your brains a racking To find the remedy we're lacking, Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing ! " At this the Mayor and Corporation Quaked with a mighty consternation.
Page 22 - And all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmonton, And I should dine at Ware. So turning to his horse, he said, I am in haste to dine ; 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine.
Page 22 - My head is twice as big as yours, They therefore needs must fit. " But let me scrape the dirt away That hangs upon your face ; And stop and eat, for well you may Be in a hungry case." Said John, " It is my wedding day, And all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmonton, And I should dine at Ware.
Page 17 - The wine is left behind !' Good lack ! quoth he — yet bring it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword, When I do exercise.
Page 14 - Islington there was a man, Of whom the world might say, That still a godly race he ran, Whene'er he went to pray. A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes; The naked every day he clad, When he put on his clothes. And in that town a dog was found, As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree.
Page 14 - GOOD people all, of every sort, Give ear unto my song ; And if you find it wondrous short, It cannot hold you long. In Isling town there was a man Of whom the world might say That still a godly race he ran, Whene'er he went to pray. A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes: The naked every day he clad, When he put on his clothes. And in that town a dog was found, As many...