• Ballad: Peter The Wag Cover
      by LovelyMay Policeman Peter, known for his playful and mischievous nature, is the central figure in this rollicking narrative. Peter, a man of law wrapped in the joys of his comical inclinations, relished leading the unsuspecting astray with his humor-laced guidance. When asked about the time, his responses were absurdly inaccurate, delighting in the confusion of the inquirer. His playful demeanor extended to the streets he patrolled, often sending people in completely wrong directions or involving himself in…
    • Ballad: Lorenzo De Lardy Cover
      by LovelyMay "The Bab Ballads" presents a humorous and whimsical tale in the ballad of "Lorenzo De Lardy." Dalilah De Dardy, wealthy but aging, falls deeply for the charming and handsome Lorenzo De Lardy, a prestigious lord serving in Her Majesty's Guards. Despite Lorenzo's good looks and charm, attracting many a maiden's gaze, he is plagued by financial woes, primarily owing to considerable debts. His financial desperation leads him to frequent escapes to Paris, seeking respite and perhaps fortune in the city's…
    • Ballad: King Borria Bungalee Boo Cover
      by LovelyMay In "King Borria Bungalee Boo" from *The Bab Ballads*, the story vividly narrates the peculiar and darkly humorous tale of a man-eating African king, Borria Bungalee Boo, and his four loyal subjects. The king, known for his fearsome appetite, faces a dire situation when the kingdom runs out of food, pushing him to the brink of desperation for a meal. His loyal subjects, once more numerous but reduced in number due to the king's dietary habits, are introduced with colorful names: haughty Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah,…
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      Ballad: Haunted

      Ballad: Haunted Cover
      by LovelyMay "The earth holds here a social case, Haunted in life by too much surface." In this chapter, we're introduced to a man haunted not by the traditional ghosts of folklore but by the specters of social obligations and faux pas. The author engages us with a portrayal of hauntings of a peculiar kind—ones that society bestows. From Black Monday and its associated dread of school days with their loathsome routines, to the haunting memories of a love lost at seventeen to an "elderly Colonel," the narrative…
    • Ballad: Gentle Alice Brown Cover
      by LovelyMay In the humorous ballad "Gentle Alice Brown" from *The Bab Ballads*, we follow the tale of Alice Brown, the daughter of a feared robber in a small Italian town. Unlike the grim nature of her family's profession, Alice’s tale takes a whimsical turn when she finds herself enamored with a handsome young gentleman she spies from her window, a sorter in the Custom-house, who innocently passes by her home each day. Despite the initial innocence of her crush, the narrative unfurls Alice’s confessions to the…
    • Ballad: Ellen McJones Aberdeen Cover
      by LovelyMay They gathered around PATTISON CORBY TORBAY, And played him some tunes in the traditional way. They started with jigs, then to reels they did switch, But PATTISON's mood did not improve one bit. "This is torture," he cried, "not a joyous refrain! Oh, cease your wild playing, it's hurting my brain!" But CLONGLOCKETTY swore by the thistle so sharp, He'd not cease his playing till dawn lit the harp. And so through the night, till the early morn broke, The Highlands resounded with pibroch and smoke. The…
    • Ballad: Captain Reece Cover
      by LovelyMay In the spirited ballad "Captain Reece," readers are introduced to the exemplary CAPTAIN REECE, the beloved commander of THE MANTELPIECE. Renowned for his unparalleled dedication to his crew's well-being, CAPTAIN REECE ensures that his men are the epitome of comfort and joy at sea. From dancing madly to entertain them during low spirits to narrating humorous tales from his childhood, he consistently goes above and beyond to uplift his crew. The captain's care extends to providing each man with luxurious…
    • Ballad: Bob Polter Cover
      by LovelyMay Bob Polter was a hardworking navvy of thirty-two, known for his coarse hands and sun-tanned, rough face. Without a wife, he lived simply among his working peers, embodying the characteristics of a decent, albeit imperfect, English working man. Despite his modest indulgence in smoking and a daily pot of beer—which occasionally increased in quantity or led to convivial nights and even fights on Saturdays—Bob was fundamentally a sober, responsible laborer. One day, while at the Nelson's Head, a…
    • Ballad: Ben Allah Achmet; — Or, The Fatal Tum Cover
      by LovelyMay In the quaint county of Sussex, notably in the town of Hooe, lived three uniquely contrasting characters whose lives intertwined in a tale of unrequited love and peculiar malady. The first of these characters was Effendi Khan Backsheesh Pasha Ben Allah Achmet, a Turkish gentleman of considerable note, who found himself smitten with the charm and grace of a local damsel, Emily MacPherson. Despite the grand allure of his Eastern heritage and the opulence that adorned his life, Ben Allah Achmet found himself…
    • Ballad: Baines Carew, Gentleman Cover
      by LovelyMay In the realm of tender-hearted attorneys, none shone as brightly as Baines Carew, a man whose soul was as sensitive as his legal mind was sharp. Whenever tales of distress reached his ears from clients, his heart would swell with empathy, to the point where accepting payments became a struggle, burdened by his overwhelming compassion. Such sensitivity often came at a personal cost. The duties of his profession, such as foreclosing mortgages, suing, and even the act of distraining for unpaid rent,…
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