Volume 10 / Part 1 — THE DUTIFUL MARINER[4]

'Twas off the Eastern Filigrees— Wizzle the pipes o'ertop!— When the gallant Captain of the Cheese Began to skip and hop. "Oh stately man and old beside, Why dost gymnastics do? Is such example dignified To set before your crew?" "Oh hang me crew," the Captain cried, "And scuttle of me ship. If I'm the skipper, blarst me hide! Ain't I supposed to skip? "I'm growing old," the Captain said; "Me dancing days are done; But while I'm skipper of this ship I'll skip with any one. "I'm growing grey," I heard him say, "And I can not rest or sleep While under me the troubled sea Lies forty spasms deep. "Lies forty spasms deep," he said; "But still me trusty sloop Each hour, I wot, goes many a knot And many a bow and loop. "The hours are full of knots," he said, "Untie them if ye can. In vain I've tried, for Time and Tied Wait not for any man. "Me fate is hard," the old man sobbed, "And I am sick and sore. Me aged limbs of rest are robbed And skipping is a bore. "But Duty is the seaman's boast, And on this gallant ship You'll find the skipper at his post As long as he can skip." And so the Captain of the Cheese Skipped on again as one Who lofty satisfaction sees In duty bravely done.