(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.
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.)
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.
I say — it's a beast of a name, ain't it — Dick Deadeye?
Buttercup.
It's not a nice name.
I'm ugly too, ain't I?
Buttercup.
You are certainly plain.
And I'm three-cornered too, ain't I?
Buttercup.
You are rather triangular.
Ha! ha! That's it. I'm ugly, and they hate me for it;
for you all hate me, don't you?
We do!
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?
Boatswain.
It's asking too much, ain't it?
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!

SUBMIT CORRECTIONS