The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard

Name: The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard
Author: W. S. Gilbert

by W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911)

Free to read
4 hours to read
3 chapters
Reading level: 7th grade

"The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard" by W. S. Gilbert is a collection of light verse published between 1869 and 1898. These humorous poems, illustrated by Gilbert himself, develop his signature "topsy-turvy" style—establishing ridiculous premises and following them to absurd logical conclusions. Written before Gilbert became famous for his comic operas with Arthur Sullivan, the ballads showcase his cynical wit and later provided source material for the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan works. The verses became wildly popular, performed at private gatherings and public events alike.

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English wit and humor
Humorous poetry, English
Songs, English · Texts

Read the opening

Part I

At a pleasant evening party I had taken down to supper
One whom I will call ELVIRA, and we talked of love and TUPPER,

MR. TUPPER and the poets, very lightly with them dealing,
For I've always been distinguished for a strong poetic feeling.

Then we let off paper crackers, each of which contained a motto,
And she listened while I read them, till her mother told her not to.

Then she whispered, "To the ball-room we had better, dear, be
walking;
If we stop down here much longer, really people will be talking."

There were noblemen in coronets, and military cousins,
There were captains by the hundred, there were baronets by dozens.

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About this edition

This free edition of The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard by W. S. Gilbert comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #54452, released 2017-03-28. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Poetry, Humour, British Literature.

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