Chapter 10 The New Knighthood

Who gives him the Bath?
“I,” said the wet,
Rank Jungle-sweat,
“I’ll give him the Bath!”

Who’ll sing the psalms¹?
“We,” said the Palms.
“Ere the hot wind becalms,
We’ll sing the psalms.”

Who lays on the sword?
“I,” said the Sun,
“Before he has done,
I’ll lay on the sword.”

Who fastens his belt?
“I,” said Short–Rations,
“I know all the fashions
Of tightening² a belt!”

Who buckles³ his spur?
“I,” said his Chief,
Exacting⁴ and brief,
“I’ll give him the spur.”

Who’ll shake his hand?
“I,” said the Fever,
“And I’m no deceiver,
I’ll shake his hand.”

Who brings him the wine?
“I,” said Quinine,
“It’s a habit of mine,
I’ll come with his wine.”

Who’ll put him to proof?
“I,” said All Earth,
“Whatever he’s worth,
I’ll put to the proof.”

Who’ll choose him for Knight⁵?
“I,” said his Mother,
“Before any other,
My very own knight!”

And after this fashion, adventure to seek,
Was Sir Galahad made — as it might be last week!

1 psalms   

n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的)

参考例句：

• the Book of Psalms 《〈圣经〉诗篇》
• A verse from Psalms knifed into Pug's mind: "put not your trust in princes." 《诗篇》里有一句话闪过帕格的脑海：“不要相信王侯。” 来自辞典例句

2 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

3 buckles   

搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She gazed proudly at the shiny buckles on her shoes. 她骄傲地注视着鞋上闪亮的扣环。
• When the plate becomes unstable, it buckles laterally. 当板失去稳定时，就发生横向屈曲。

4 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

5 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。