 | Lost Bab ballads |  |
103
MARGATE
Extended on the Margate shore
(A lazy fit had bound me),
I fell a-moralizing o'er
The snobs I saw around me.
(A lazy fit had bound me),
I fell a-moralizing o'er
The snobs I saw around me.
They buy unholy suits of clothes,
And every day they don them;
Their speech is crapulous with oaths,
But still the sun shines on them!
And every day they don them;
Their speech is crapulous with oaths,
But still the sun shines on them!
They bawl and holloa, scream and shout,
Some source of joy they find it—
And though they leave their 'h's out
The sea don't seem to mind it!
Some source of joy they find it—
And though they leave their 'h's out
The sea don't seem to mind it!
104
They spit, and smoke tobacco rank,
And live incontinently,
And though they look as if they drank,
The sea air fans them gently!
And live incontinently,
And though they look as if they drank,
The sea air fans them gently!
The words with which themselves they pledge
Cause decent ears to tingle;
But though it sets one's teeth on edge,
It don't offend the shingle!
Cause decent ears to tingle;
But though it sets one's teeth on edge,
It don't offend the shingle!
Their showy clothes are slopped with mire,
Their paws with filth encrusted—
I wonder Nature don't retire
From public life disgusted.
Their paws with filth encrusted—
I wonder Nature don't retire
From public life disgusted.
The sun shines on, the breezes blow,
When shops and counters free them—
The waves dance gaily to and fro,
And seem quite glad to see them!
When shops and counters free them—
The waves dance gaily to and fro,
And seem quite glad to see them!
Oh, sun and breeze and dancing trees,
In one commingling blended,
You are not difficult to please—
Not easily offended.
In one commingling blended,
You are not difficult to please—
Not easily offended.
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