XXXVI. THAT OF THE INCONSIDERATE NABOB AND THE LADY WHO DESIRED TO BE A BEGUM.

 Begums! Exactly what they are

I really ought to know—but don't;

In my Encyclop?dia

I'll look them up. Stay! No, I won't.

Instead, let us converse¹ together

About Miss Mary Merryweather.

A guileless child of nature, she

Who lived out Upper Norwood way,

A Begum she desired to be,

And dreamt about this night and day,

But,—though she made a solemn vow² to

Be a Begum,—knew not how to.

"What is a Begum?" friends would ask,

And Mary M—— would shake her head.

"Though doubtless it will be a task

I'll find out for myself," she said.

They raised their hands in consternation³

At this announced determination.

 

Later Miss Merryweather said:

"To be a Begum one must go

To India. I'd better wed⁴

A captain on a P. and O.

I'll therefore marry Captain Jolly."

(A kind old man who called her "Polly.")

"Though what on earth a girl could see,"

He said, while on their honeymoon⁵,

"Attractive in a man like me——"

Then Mrs. Jolly very soon

(Though doubtless with some trepidation)

Explained to him the situation.

Good Captain Jolly sighed, and said:

"A Begum you can never be,

My dearest Poll, till I am dead;

Perhaps I'd better die," said he.

"If you don't mind, I think you'd better,"

Said she; "'twill suit me to the letter."

So Captain Jolly, worthy⁶ soul,

Deceased, as she desired him to.

In India—the lady's goal;

A wealthy Nabob came in view,

Whom Widow Jolly captivated.

And,—later,—married, as is stated.

"A Begum now at last am I,"

She said, when she had married him,

"A Begum!" said the Nabob. "Why?"

His wife explained. "A harmless whim,"

Said he; "but I regret to state, Ma'am,

You're not what you anticipate, Ma'am.

"A Begum is a Rajah's wife,

And not a Nabob's, don't you see;

And so throughout my natural life

A Begum you can never be."

She wept—and hinted Captain Jolly

Had died to please his little Polly.

 

"Perhaps you——" "No, I won't," he cried;

"I draw the line," said he, "at that.

Although poor Jolly may have died

To please you—I refuse. That's flat!"

* * *

And so, alas⁷! for her endeavour,

She never was a Begum,—never!

1 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

2 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

3 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。

4 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

5 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

6 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

7 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。