The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo

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.