 | The complete poetical works of Thomas Hood |  |
247
I'M GOING TO BOMBAY
‘Nothing venture, nothing have.’
—Old Proverb.
—Old Proverb.
‘Every Indiaman has at least two mates.’
—Falconer's Marine Guide.
—Falconer's Marine Guide.
I
My hair is brown, my eyes are blue,And reckon'd rather bright;
I'm shapely, if they tell me true,
And just the proper height;
My skin has been admired in verse,
And call'd as fair as day—
If I am fair, so much the worse,
I'm going to Bombay!
II
At school I passed with some éclat;I learn'd my French in France;
De Wint gave lessons how to draw,
And D'Egville how to dance;—
Crevelli taught me how to sing,
And Cramer how to play—
It really is the strangest thing—
I'm going to Bombay!
III
I've been to Bath and Cheltenham Wells,But not their springs to sip—
To Ramsgate—not to pick up shells,—
To Brighton—not to dip.
I've tour'd the Lakes, and scour'd the coast
From Scarboro' to Torquay—
But tho' of time I've made the most,
I'm going to Bombay!
IV
By Pa and Ma I'm daily toldTo marry now's my time,
For though I'm very far from old,
I'm rather in my prime.
They say while we have any sun
We ought to make our hay—
And India has so hot an one,
I'm going to Bombay!
V
My cousin writes from HyderapotMy only chance to snatch,
And says the climate is so hot,
It's sure to light a match.—
She's married to a son of Mars,
With very handsome pay,
And swears I ought to thank my stars
I'm going to Bombay!
VI
She says that I shall much delightTo taste their Indian treats,
But what she likes may turn me quite,
Their strange outlandish meats.—
If I can eat rupees, who knows?
Or dine, the Indian way,
On doolies and on bungalows—
I'm going to Bombay!
VII
She says that I shall much enjoy,—I don't know what she means,—
To take the air and buy some toy,
In my own palankeens,—
I like to drive my pony-chair,
Or ride our dapple grey—
But elephants are horses there—
I'm going to Bombay!
VIII
Farewell, farewell, my parents dear,My friends, farewell to them!
And oh, what costs a sadder tear,
Good-bye, to Mr. M.!—
If I should find an Indian vault,
Or fall a tiger's prey,
Or steep in salt, it's all his fault,
I'm going to Bombay!
248
IX
That fine new teak-built ship, the Fox,A. I.—Commander Bird,
Now lying in the London docks,
Will sail on May the Third;
Apply for passage or for freight,
To Nichol, Scott, and Gray—
Pa has applied and seal'd my fate—
I'm going to Bombay!
X
My heart is full—my trunks as well;My mind and caps made up,
My corsets, shap'd by Mrs. Bell,
Are promised ere I sup;
With boots and shoes, Rivarta's best,
And dresses by Ducé,
And a special licence in my chest—
I'm going to Bombay!
| The complete poetical works of Thomas Hood | |