Page:The Pinafore Picture Book.djvu/152

 Rackstraw, who looked like the Apollo Belvedere struck stupid.

Ralph wasn't going to stand this. He had been taught by the First Lord of the Admiralty that a British sailor is the finest fellow in the world, and if you can't believe a First Lord, whom can you believe? So, pulling himself together he began:

"Haughty Sir, when you address"—

"Poetry, please," said Captain Corcoran, "I allow no sailor to address me in prose."

Ralph thought for a moment, and then declaimed (in the key of G):

Proud officer, that haughty lip uncurl! (the Captain uncurled his haughty upper lip as desired) Vain man, suppress that supercilious sneer! (he suppressed it at once) For I have dared to love your matchless girl— A fact well known to all my mess-mates here!