Ballad: Old Paul And Old Tim

In the humorous ballad “Old Paul and Old Tim,” two equally matched suitors, Old Paul and Old Tim, vie for the affections of the young and spirited Emily. Neither suitor possesses distinct advantages over the other, presenting a dilemma for Emily, neither attracting nor repelling her particularly. Paul and Tim are described as old, bold, and of no discernible preference, emphasizing their indistinguishable suitability as potential husbands.

Emily, however, demands a proof of bravery from her suitors, inspired by her father’s love for military prowess and his profession as an army-contractor. This request leads each suitor to devise a plan to demonstrate their courage. Old Paul decides on a rather cowardly act of bravery by bullying a small boy when no one is watching, displaying a false sense of valor through the domination of a much weaker individual. Meanwhile, Old Tim adopts a more audacious, though equally absurd, strategy to prove his bravery by deciding to attack the Frenchmen living in Soho, indicating a misguided notion of heroism and a misinterpretation of Emily’s request.

The ballad humorously critiques the absurd lengths to which suitors might go to win a hand in marriage, showcasing a thinly veiled cowardice masked as bravery. It satirizes the idea of heroism, reducing it to petty acts of violence against those who cannot defend themselves or misguided ventures rooted in nationalistic fervor. The narrative maintains a lighthearted tone, adeptly weaving wit with a critique of male bravado and the societal expectations of masculinity. The inclusion of a father’s preference for military accomplishments as a criterion for his daughter’s suitors adds a layer of irony to the tale, highlighting the discrepancies between perceived and genuine valor.