Hail! Men O'War's Men
(Enter little Buttercup, with large basket on her arm.)
Buttercup. (recit.)
Hail, men-o'-war's men safeguards of your nation
Here is an end, at last, of all privation;
You've got your pay spare all you can afford
To welcome Little Buttercup on board.
ARIA
I'm called Little Buttercup dear Little Buttercup,
Though I could never tell why,
But still I'm called Buttercup poor little Buttercup,
Sweet Little Buttercup I!
I've snuff and tobaccy, and excellent jacky,
I've scissors, and watches, and knives;
I've ribbons and laces to set off the faces
Of pretty young sweethearts and wives.
I've treacle and toffee, I've tea and I've coffee,
Soft tommy and succulent chops;
I've chickens and conies, and pretty polonies,
And excellent peppermint drops.
Then buy of your Buttercup dear Little Buttercup;
Sailors should never be shy;
So, buy of your Buttercup poor Little Buttercup;
Come, of your Buttercup buy!
DIALOGUE
Boatswain.
Aye, Little Buttercup and well called for you're
the rosiest, the roundest, and the reddest beauty in all
Spithead.
Buttercup.
Red, am I? and round and rosy! Maybe, for I have
dissembled well! But hark ye, my merry friend hast
ever thought that beneath a gay and frivolous exterior
there may lurk a canker-worm which is slowly but surely
eating its way into one's very heart?
Boatswain.
No, my lass, I can't say I've ever thought that.
(Enter Dick Deadeye. He pushes through sailors, and comes down.)
Dick.
I have thought it often. (All recoil from him.)
Buttercup. Yes, you look like it! What's the matter with the
man? Isn't he well?
Boatswain.
Don't take no heed of him; that's only poor Dick Deadeye.
Dick.
I say it's a beast of a name, ain't it Dick Deadeye?
Buttercup.
It's not a nice name.
Dick.
I'm ugly too, ain't I?
Buttercup.
You are certainly plain.
Dick.
And I'm three-cornered too, ain't I?
Buttercup.
You are rather triangular.
Dick.
Ha! ha! That's it. I'm ugly, and they hate me for it;
for you all hate me, don't you?
All.
We do!
Dick.
There!
Boatswain.
Well, Dick, we wouldn't go for to hurt any fellow-creature's
feelings, but you can't expect a chap with such a name as
Dick Deadeye to be a popular character now can you?
Dick.
No.
Boatswain.
It's asking too much, ain't it?
Dick.
It is. From such a face and form as mine the noblest sentiments
sound like the black utterances of a depraved imagination. It is
human nature I am resigned.
Buttercup. (recit.)
But, tell me who's the youth whose faltering feet
With difficulty bear him on his course?
Boatswain. (recit.)
That is the smartest lad in all the fleet
Ralph Rackstraw!
Buttercup. (recit.)
Ralph! That name! Remorse! remorse!
