The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard

by W. S. Gilbert

[FERDINANDO AND ELVIRA OR, THE GENTLE PIEMAN]

PART I

At a pleasant evening party I had taken down to supper

One whom I will call Elvira, and we talked of love and Tupper,

Mr. Tupper and the poets, very lightly with them dealing,

For I've always been distinguished for a strong poetic feeling.

Then we let off paper crackers, each of which contained a motto,

And she listened while I read them, till her mother told her not to.

Then she whispered, "To the ball-room we had better, dear, be walking;