#snarleyyow

[marryat92]

Spotted on Flickr: a plush dog reading Captain Marryat's Snarleyyow, or The Dog Fiend.

[marryat92]

Merry Christmas! In his historical novel Snarleyyow, or the Dog Fiend, Captain Marryat includes a sea song (”Port Admiral”) that was also used several times in the aubreyad by Patrick O’Brian. This is Marryat’s original composition, about a frigate forced to sail on Christmas day by a tyrannical and foolish port admiral, sung from the perspective of the heart-broken sweethearts and wives of the sailors, who will now eat their Christmas dinner alone.

Twas at the landing-place that's just below Mount Wyse, 

Poll lean'd against the sentry's box, a tear in both her eyes; 

Her apron twisted round her arms, all for to keep them warm, 

Being a windy Christmas-day, and also a snow storm. 

And Bet and Sue

Both stood there too, 

A shivering by her side, 

They both were dumb, 

And both look'd glum,

As they watch'd the ebbing tide. 

Poll put her arms a-kimbo. 

At the admiral's house look'd she, 

To thoughts before in limbo. 

She now a vent gave free. 

You have sent the ship in a gale to work, 

On a lee shore to be jamm'd, 

I'll give you a piece of my mind, old Turk, 

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

Chorus — We'll give you a piece of our mind, old Turk,

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

Who ever heard in the sarvice of a frigate made to sail 

On Christmas Day, it blowing hard, with sleet, and snow, and hail? 

I wish I had the fishing of your back that is so bent, 

I'd use the galley poker hot unto your heart's content. 

Here Bet and Sue 

Are with me too, 

A shivering by my side, 

They both are dumb,

And both look glum, 

And watch the ebbing tide.

Poll put her arms a-kimbo, 

At the admiral's house look'd she,

To thoughts that were in limbo, 

She now a vent gave free. 

You've got a roaring fire I'll bet, 

In it your toes are jamm'd: 

Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet, 

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

Chorus —Let's give him a piece of our mind, my Bet, 

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

I had the flour and plums all pick'd, and suet all chopp'd fine, 

To mix into a pudding rich for all the mess to dine;

I pawn'd my ear-rings for the beef, it weigh'd at least a stone, 

Now my fancy man is sent to sea, and I am left alone. 

Here’s Bet and Sue 

Who stand here too, 

A shivering by my side, 

They both are dumb,

And both look glum, 

And watch the ebbing tide.

Poll put her arms a-kimbo, 

At the admiral's house look'd she,

To thoughts that were in limbo, 

She now a vent gave free. 

You've got a turkey, I'll be bound, 

With which you will be cramm'd; 

I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound, 

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

Chorus —  I'll give you a bit of my mind, old hound,

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

I'm sure that in this weather they cannot cook their meat, 

To eat it raw on Christmas-day will be a pleasant treat; 

But let us all go home, girls; it's no use waiting here, 

We'll hope that Christmas-day to come they will have better cheer. 

So, Bet and Sue 

Don’t stand here too, 

A shivering by my side, 

Don’t keep so dumb,

Don’t look so glum, 

Nor watch the ebbing tide.

Poll put her arms a-kimbo, 

At the admiral's house look'd she,

To thoughts that were in limbo, 

She now a vent gave free. 

So while they cut their raw salt junks, 

With dainties you'll be cramm'd;

Here's once for all my mind, old hunks, 

Port Admiral, you be d—d.

[katistrophe]

The list of Frederick Marryat’s Dicks increases. Next to Dick Short in Snarleyyow, there’s also Dick Harness in Poor Jack.

[katistrophe]

His name was Dick Short, and in every respect he answered to his name

Snarleyyow by Frederick Marryat (1837). (Proof here.)

[icarusdusoleil]

I was inspired by the tale of the Black Shuck, also known as the Snarleyyow in old European legends. I've always liked the idea of a big, black grimm dog that represents ill luck and death. So of course I Teen Wolf'd it.

Stiles better not turn around and meet the wolf's eye. I don't think it's very friendly.