The Courtship of the
Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò

 

I

On the Coast of Coromandel Where the early pumpkins blow, In the middle of the woods   Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. Two old chairs, and half a candle,-- One old jug without a handle,--     These were all his worldly goods:     In the middle of the woods,     These were all the worldly goods,   Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

II

Once, among the Bong-trees walking   Where the early pumpkins blow,     To a little heap of stones   Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. There he heard a Lady talking, To some milk-white Hens of Dorking,--     ''Tis the lady Jingly Jones!     'On that little heap of stones     'Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!'   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

III

'Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!   'Sitting where the pumpkins blow,     'Will you come and be my wife?'   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. 'I am tired of living singly,-- 'On this coast so wild and shingly,--     'I'm a-weary of my life:     'If you'll come and be my wife,     'Quite serene would be my life!'--   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

IV

'On this Coast of Coromandel,   'Shrimps and watercresses grow,     'Prawns are plentiful and cheap,'   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. 'You shall have my chairs and candle, 'And my jug without a handle!--     'Gaze upon the rolling deep     ('Fish is plentiful and cheap)     'As the sea, my love is deep!'   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

V

Lady Jingly answered sadly,   And her tears began to flow,--     'Your proposal comes too late,   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò! 'I would be your wife most gladly!' (Here she twirled her fingers madly,)     'But in England I've a mate!     'Yes! you've asked me far too late,     'For in England I've a mate,   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!'

VI

'Mr. Jones -- (his name is Handel,--   'Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.)     'Dorking fowls delights to send,   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò! 'Keep, oh! keep your chairs and candle, 'And your jug without a handle,--     'I can merely be your friend!     '-- Should my Jones more Dorkings send,     'I will give you three, my friend!   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!'

VII

'Though you've such a tiny body,   'And your head so large doth grow,--     'Though your hat may blow away,   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò! 'Though you're such a Hoddy Doddy-- 'Yet a wish that I could modi-     'fy the words I needs must say!     'Will you please to go away?     'That is all I have to say--   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!   'Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò!'.

VIII

Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle,   Where the early pumpkins blow,     To the calm and silent sea   Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle, Lay a large and lively Turtle,--     'You're the Cove,' he said, 'for me     'On your back beyond the sea,     'Turtle, you shall carry me!'   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

 

IX

Through the silent-roaring ocean   Did the Turtle swiftly go;     Holding fast upon his shell   Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. With a sad primæval motion Towards the sunset isles of Boshen     Still the Turtle bore him well.     Holding fast upon his shell,     'Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!'   Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

X

From the Coast of Coromandel,   Did that Lady never go;     On that heap of stones she mourns   For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò. On that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a handle     Still she weeps, and daily moans;     On that little hep of stones     To her Dorking Hens she moans,   For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò,   For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò.

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