C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Captain Reece

By William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)

OF all the ships upon the blue,

No ship contained a better crew

Than that of worthy Captain Reece,

Commanding of The Mantlepiece.

He was adored by all his men,

For worthy Captain Reece, R. N.,

Did all that lay within him to

Promote the comfort of his crew.

If ever they were dull or sad,

Their captain danced to them like mad,

Or told, to make the time pass by,

Droll legends of his infancy.

A feather-bed had every man,

Warm slippers and hot-water can,

Brown windsor from the captain’s store,

A valet, too, to every four.

Did they with thirst in summer burn,

Lo! seltzogenes at every turn;

And on all very sultry days

Cream ices handed round on trays.

Then, currant wine and ginger pops

Stood handily on all the “tops”;

And also, with amusement rife,

A “Zoetrope, or Wheel of Life.”

New volumes came across the sea

From Mr. Mudie’s libraree;

The Times and Saturday Review

Beguiled the leisure of the crew.

Kind-hearted Captain Reece, R. N.,

Was quite devoted to his men;

In point of fact, good Captain Reece

Beatified The Mantelpiece.

One summer eve, at half-past ten,

He said (addressing all his men):—

“Come, tell me, please, what I can do

To please and gratify my crew.

“By any reasonable plan

I’ll make you happy if I can,—

My own convenience count as nil:

It is my duty, and I will.”

Then up and answered William Lee

(The kindly captain’s coxwain he,

A nervous, shy, low-spoken man);

He cleared his throat, and thus began:—

“You have a daughter, Captain Reece,

Ten female cousins and a niece,

A ma, if what I’m told is true,

Six sisters, and an aunt or two.

“Now, somehow, sir, it seems to me,

More friendly-like we all should be,

If you united of ’em to

Unmarried members of the crew.

“If you’d ameliorate our life,

Let each select from them a wife;

And as for nervous me, old pal,

Give me your own enchanting gal!”

Good Captain Reece, that worthy man,

Debated on his coxwain’s plan:—

“I quite agree,” he said, “O Bill:

It is my duty, and I will.

“My daughter, that enchanting gurl,

Has just been promised to an Earl,

And all my other familee

To peers of various degree.

“But what are dukes and viscounts to

The happiness of all my crew?

The word I gave you I’ll fulfill;

It is my duty, and I will.

“As you desire it shall befall;

I’ll settle thousands on you all,

And I shall be, despite my hoard,

The only bachelor on board.”

The boatswain of the Mantelpiece,

He blushed and spoke to Captain Reece:—

“I beg your Honor’s leave,” he said:—

“If you would wish to go and wed,

“I have a widowed mother who

Would be the very thing for you—

She long has loved you from afar:

She washes for you, Captain R.”

The captain saw the dame that day—

Addressed her in his playful way:—

“And did it want a wedding ring?

It was a tempting ickle sing!

“Well, well, the chaplain I will seek,

We’ll all be married this day week

At yonder church upon the hill;

It is my duty, and I will!”

The sisters, cousins, aunts, and niece,

And widowed ma of Captain Reece,

Attended there as they were bid:

It was their duty, and they did.

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