Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/558

464 464 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

With this prelude, Mr. Samuel Weller burst at once into the follow- ing wild and beautiful legend, which, under the impression that it is not generally known, we take the liberty of quoting. We would beg to call particular attention to the monosyllable at the end of the second and fourth lines, which not only enables the singer to take breath at those points, but greatly assists the metre.

5Somanct. I.

Bold Turpin vunce, on Hounslow Heath,

His bold mare Bess bestrode — er ;

Ven there he see'd the Bishop's coach

A-comin' along the road — er.

So he gallops close to the orse's legs,

And he claps his head vithin;

And the Bishop says, " Sure as eggs is eggs.

This here's the bold Turpin!"

(Chorus.) And the Bishop says, " Sure as eggs is eggs. This here's the bold Turpin ! "

ir.

Says Turpin, " You shall eat your words, With a sarse of leaden bwl — let ;" So he puts a pistol to his mouth, And he fires it down his gul — let. i The coachman, he not likin' the job. Set off at a full gal-lop, But Dick put a couple of balls in his nob, And perwailed on him to stop.

(Chorus sarcastically.) But Dick put a couple of halls in his nob,

A7id perwailed on him to stop.

" I maintain that that 'ere song's personal to the cloth,"said the mottled- faced gentleman, interrupting it at this point. " I demand the name o' that coachman."

'^ Nobody know'd," replied Sam. " He hadn't got his card in his pocket,"

" I object to the introduction o' politics," said the mottled-faced gen- tleman. *' I submit that, in the present company, that 'ere song's poli- tical ; and, wot's much the same, that it ain't true. I say that that coachman did not run avay ; but that he died game — game as pheasants ; and I won't hear nothin' said to the contrairey."

As the mottled-faced gentleman spoke with great energy and deter- mination, and as the opinions of the company seemed divided on the sub- ject, it threatened to give rise to fresh altercation, when Mr, Weller and Mr. Pell most opportunely arrived.

" All right, Sammy," said Mr. Weller.

" The oflScer will be here at four o'clock," said Mr. Pell. '' I suppose you won't run away meanwhile — eh ? Ha ! ha I"