Descending then they take their meal, these loving ones, together,
And chat about all kinds of things-of politics, of weather.

And now again their thoughts revert unto the room forbidden:

'I'm sure,' said Annie, 'all ain't right; there's something wrong there hidden.

If I was you I'd let him know I was not wanting spirit;

He confidence should give to gain, if he my love would merit.

A husband's duty to a wife is ever to be trusting.

No doubt the rooms are in a mess, and only want a dusting;

He means to have them set to rights before he takes you in, dear.
Suppose we tidy them ourselves, and thus his thanks may win, dear!
And should you chance to vex him thus-you, darling, with a smile
Shall pop your arm around his neck, and anger thus beguile.'
But Fatima she shook her head, his accents stern she's minding;
'Gainst his dark looks and threat'ning words there really is no blinding.
But soon her scruples are o'ercome; they seek the second story,
And pause before the green-baize door whose nails spell Lab'ratory.'
A gentle touch-it open glides-and just as softly closes.
There's nothing to remark inside except a smell of roses.

His arms and coats of mail are there, all ready bright for wearing;
The ladies find no buttons loose, but think they may want airing.
But Annie lifts a curtain now, and reckless she proceeds,
Though on the door in Bluebeard's hand she 'Strictly Private' reads.
'And now we've found the fellow out-his chemicals forsooth!-
This is his renovating room, if I must speak the truth:
Here is a wig of just the style in which he has appeared,
And, I declare, here is the dye with which he stains his beard!
And look here, Fatima, my love, I never did suppose-
Have you had reason, dear, to think he wore a made-up nose?'
Poor Fatima nigh fainted here, but she deserved her fate :
'Oh, sister Ann, I must confess he waxy looked of late.'
'And here's a bottle full of eyes! I'm sure he's lost a left one.
And here's his other set of teeth!-now isn't he a deft one?'
'Oh, Annie dear, I've marked his eye fix'd with a kind of stare,
But, really me, I only read his admiration there.'

'Oh, dreadful! dreadful! oh, dear me! what can my grief assuage?
Look! there's his birth's certificate, and we shall learn his age!'

The bride was frightened, and would fly, but Annie she enjoyed it;
Had he but been her husband, too, perchance she'd been annoyed at it.
She rummaged all the chamber through-'These things, love, I'll bet few see'em.'
And now she's found another door, 'tis lettered 'Bluebeard's Museum.'

In for a penny, in for a pound! you won't find her back creep;
When she is hung, 'twon't be for lamb, but for a full-grown sheep.
The door is heavy, and but moves by their united strength,
Till open half, then yields at once, and they fall down full length.
The door then closes with a bang, and leaves them in the dark.
They grope about—a shutter lift, and hear the watchdog bark.
Bluebeard is back! what shall they do? In vain the door is tried;
It seems a mass of iron plate, no handle placed inside!

They both are caught as in a trap, and no escape seems certain.
Annie but little seems to care, and raises up a curtain,
When she is staggered by the sight in half-a-dozen bottles-
Six females have been pickled there, suspended by their throttles!
On each a label marks the day in which she took to spirits,

་

With just a word placed underneath which stated her demerits.
Above was written, These are wives of Old Blue Beard the Furious,
Who had the varments bottled off as soon as they grew curious.'
An empty bottle in the row poor Fatima perceived now,
And truly for her naughtiness the poor young creature grieved now.
But Annie soon recovered breath, and stooping gently kissed her;
'How glad I am the Act ain't passed about deceased wife's sister!
Let's barricade the room, my dear; come, help me shove these mummies,
They are the only guards we've left, but they shall act as dummies.'
They placed a wedge beneath the door, then moved the six young women :
'Twas hard work to secure their help, though they're with spirits brimming,
They scarcely had fulfilled their task, sustained by desperation,
When, lo! they hear to raise the siege there's signs of preparation.

Blue Beard is in the outer room, and some ill must intend her,

For in the loudest angry tones he calls them to surrender.

But no, they never mean to yield, and Annie seeks the casement. The castle there o'erhangs the lake, she finds to her amazement! 'Oh, look! oh, look! dear sister Ann! is any one a-coming?

'I can but see the shepherd lad, and hear his distant humming.'

Then Blue Beard calls, 'Come, open, dear! I've something here to show you!'
But Annie speaks for Fatima, 'You vile old wretch, we know you!
Go, change your wig and dye your beard, disgust we cannot smother.
You've bottled off no end of wives, and now would cook another.'
Then Blue Beard's rage grew hot and fierce-yea, it indeed was furious;
His tender tones were all a sham, his anger is not spurious,
When Fatima in tears exclaimed-' Is any one a-coming?'

'I can but see an organ-man, and hear his distant strumming.'

Then Blue Beard cried, 'I've formed my plans-they'll answer, I've no doubt,
Long as you like pray stay in here, and then I'll starve you out;
I now shall go to dinner, and wish you both good night.

Is there anything that I can bring ?-perhaps you'll want a light.'
'Oh, look once more, dear sister Ann! is any one a-coming?
The sickness which I feel at heart is all my frame benumbing!'
'I see, I see a distant speck upon the far horizon.

I wonder how he killed his wives, by strangling or by poison?'
'Oh, don't!' cried Fatima; oh, don't! I feel all in a tremble!
I never dreamt to meet me here such guests he would assemble.
They all are in a bridal dress, and all seem young and pretty!
And must my charms be stoppered, too? oh, dreadful, dreadful pity!'
'The speck increases, Fatima; it is a man well mounted ;

He seems to ride at such a pace, and guessed our hours were counted.
But pray don't count on him yourself, for I'm of this opinion,

He only comes to bring the post,-or is this Bluebeard's minion?'
They watch, they watch, some moments more, then both kissed one another.
The rider is young Abousqueers, their own now darling brother!
They wait, they wait,-how long they wait, till he the castle reaches!
Then they across the narrow lake send forth their anguished speeches.
Of course they now speak both at once, and he is sorely puzzled

To think what they on earth can mean, that' Bluebeard must be muzzled.'

At length the truth he fathoms out and feels his courage rise.
To save you from this wretch's power, I'll take him by surprise.
Now try if it be possible for each to hold her tongue,

For should he hear, there is a fear that I should be bow-strung.'
He's scarcely gone when lo, a noise they can't at first define,
'Tis Bluebeard butting 'gainst the door the worse from too much wine.
The door it yields-the females scream, and there are many crashes:
The wretch is so impetuous that half his wives he smashes.

Of course I mean each glassy case-there's scarcely one now left intact;
The greater part are smithereens, the rest severely cracked.
A stream of extract floods the floor (the essences of beauty).
His loss enrages Bluebeard more, he now will do his duty.
His wife he seizes by the hair; with fear she nearly died;
Her chignon left within his grasp, he feels like one defied,
And raises up his sword to slay, but one is on his track.

Young Abousqueers, the dauntless, has pierced him through the back!
He turns in bitter anguish, but 'tis too late to fly;
So, finding all is over, he lays him down to die.

His widow soon got married unto a nice young man ;
But still in single-blessedness resides her sister Ann.

Hicksy, Dicksy, Daisy!
HICKSY, Dicksy, Daisy!

Surely the girl's gone crazy,
Her best togs to be sporting,
As if she were a-courting!

Ah! there's that soldier feller,
A waiting for our Bella;
One who, like very many,
Is scarcely worth a penny.