30 • NIMROD OF THE SEA; OB, 



ment is considered necessary in the "doctor" {i. e., cook) 

 of the ship ; and if the Qook is a black, the chances are that 

 a fiddle is stowed in his sea-chest. We had a beau ideal 

 " doctor " and fiddler, and his enlivening medicine went far 

 to banish scurvy from the ship. The second in importance 

 is the "minstrel boy." He must have considerable range 

 of expression, that he may sing of love, war, and the storm ; 

 to soothe us with the sentimental and cheer us with the 

 comic. He must sing with Castillego : 



' ' How could we love, if woman were not : 

 Love, the brightest part of our lot ; 

 Love, the only chance of living ; 

 Love, the only gift worth giving.'' 



Or, with Dibdin : 



"Yet, come but Love on board. 

 Our hearts with pleasure stored, 

 No storms can overwhelm ; 

 . Still blows in vain, 

 The huiTicane 

 While Love is at the helm." 



Touching on the known constancy of Jack, and the tempta- 

 tions of this wicked world : 



" Some with faces like charcoal, and others like chalk — 

 All are ready one's heart to o'erhaul ; 

 ' Don't go for to love me. ' ' Good girl, ' said I, ' walk ; 

 For I've sworn to be constant to Poll.' " 



He will shock our native modesty by singing of the sights 

 prepared in the ballet : 



"Anrf she hopped, and she sprawled, and she spun round so queer — 

 'Twas, you see, rather oddish for me ; 

 And so I sung out, ' Pray be decent, my dear ; 

 Consider I'm just come from sea.' " 



He sings the joys of virtuous love thus: 



" No gallant captain in the British fleet, 

 But envies William's lips those kisses sweet." 



