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

by W. S. Gilbert

The Author to his Reader

But why should I ransack my head

To tell you all that Indian said;

We'll let the Indian man take wing,—

'Tis not of him I'm going to sing.

The Reader to the Author

Come, come, I say, that's quite enough

Of this absurd disjointed stuff;

Now let's get on to that affair

About Lieutenant-Colonel Flare.