1St Nantucket sailor
Oh, boys, don’t be sentimental. it’s
bad for the digestion!
Take a tonic, follow me! (Sings, and all follow)
Our
captain stood upon the deck,
A
spy-glass in his hand,
A
viewing of those gallant whales
That
blew at every strand.
Oh,
your tubs in your boats, my boys,
And
by your braces stand,
And
we’ll have one of those fine whales,
Hand,
boys, over hand!
So, be cheery,
my lads! may your hearts never fail!
While the bold
harpooneer is striking the whale!
Eight bells there, forward!
2Nd Nantucket sailor
Avast the chorus! Eight bells there! d’ye
hear, bell-boy? Strike the bell eight, thou Pip!
thou blackling! and let me call the watch. I’ve
the sort of mouth for that—the hogshead
mouth. So, so, (thrusts his head down the scuttle,)
Star-bo-l-e-e-n-s, a-h-o-y! Eight bells there
below! Tumble up!
Grand snoozing to-night, maty; fat night for that.
I mark this in our old Mogul’s wine; it’s
quite as deadening to some as filliping to others.
We sing; they sleep—aye, lie down there,
like ground-tier butts. At ’em again!
There, take this copper-pump, and hail ’em through
it. Tell ’em to avast dreaming of their
lassies. Tell ’em it’s the resurrection;
they must kiss their last, and come to judgment.
That’s the way—that’s it; thy
throat ain’t spoiled with eating Amsterdam butter.
Hist, boys! let’s have a jig or two before we
ride to anchor in Blanket Bay. What say ye?
There comes the other watch. Stand by all legs!
Pip! little Pip! hurrah with your tambourine!
Pip (Sulky and sleepy)
Don’t know where it is.
Beat thy belly, then, and wag thy ears. Jig
it, men, I say; merry’s the word; hurrah!
Damn me, won’t you dance? Form, now, Indian-file,
and gallop into the double-shuffle? Throw yourselves!
Legs! legs!
I don’t like your floor, maty; it’s too
springy to my taste. I’m used to ice-floors.
I’m sorry to throw cold water on the subject;
but excuse me.
Me too; where’s your girls? Who but a
fool would take his left hand by his right, and say
to himself, how d’ye do? Partners!
I must have partners!
Aye; girls and a green!—then I’ll
hop with ye; yea, turn grasshopper!
