SONG.
[Last Valentine's Day.]
A voyage over seas had not entered my head,
Had I known but on which side to butter my bread,
Heigho! sure I—for hunger must die!
I've sail'd like a booby; come here in a squall,
Where, alas! there's no bread to be butter'd at all!
Oho! I'm a terrible booby!
Oh, what a sad booby am I!
In London, what gay chop-house signs in the street!
But the only sign here is of nothing to eat.
Heigho! that I——for hunger should die!
My mutton's all lost; I'm a poor starving elf!
And for all the world like a lost mutton myself.
Oho! I shall die a lost mutton!
Oh! what a lost mutton am I!
For a neat slice of beef, I could roar like a bull;
And my stomach's so empty, my heart is quite full.
Heigho! that I—for hunger should die!
But, grave without meat, I must here meet my grave,
For my bacon, I fancy, I never shall save.
Oho! I shall ne'er save my bacon!
I can't save my bacon, not I!
Trudge. Hum! I was thinking——I was thinking, sir—if so many natives could be caught, how much they might fetch at the West India markets!
Inkle. Scoundrel! is this a time to jest?
Trudge. No, faith, sir! Hunger is too sharp to be jested with. As for me, I shall starve for want of food. Now you may meet a luckier fate: you are able to extract the square root, sir; and that's the very best provision you can find here to live upon. But I! [Noise at a distance.] Mercy on us! here they come again.
Inkle. Confusion! Deserted on one side, and pressed on the other, which way shall I turn?—This cavern may prove a safe retreat to us for the present. I'll enter, cost what it will.
Trudge. Oh Lord! no, don't, don't——We shall pay too dear for our lodging, depend on't.
Inkle. This is no time for debating. You are at the mouth of it: lead the way, Trudge.
Trudge. What! go in before your honour! I know my place better, I assure you—I might walk into more mouths than one, perhaps. [Aside.]
Inkle. Coward! then follow me. [Noise again.]
Trudge. I must, sir; I must! Ah, Trudge, Trudge! what a damned hole are you getting into!
[Exeunt into a Cavern.