这是著名的帝国长跑，那里的太阳永不落，那里的草和水，他们说，从来没有辜负过他们——他们带着数百万只羊，走过干湿的季节。他们管这宅子叫阿尔比恩宅子，除此之外，还有威尔士人的峡谷，苏格兰人的山丘，和帕迪瓜平原，所有这些地方都以长肥肉而闻名。还有外面的围场——天哪!我想告诉你一半是没有意义的——它们确实很大;一个人可以骑上几天甚至几个星期也不会碰到栅栏。但是多年来，他们从来没有丢过一只羊;老比利·格莱斯顿做到了，你可以用你的鞋子打赌他手下有几十个超级英雄，还有一大群傻瓜。老比利有一双锐利的眼睛，他时刻保持警惕——如果有人闯进来，他很快就把他们赶出去;还有那些曾经“做十字架”的人，毫无疑问，他们恨他。但他还是很有风格地处理了这件事，直到天气变干，比利给了他们一句至理至理的话:“如果哪个围场着火了，我会知道原因的。” Now on this point old Bill was sure, Because, for many a year, Whenever times got dry at all, As sure as you are here, The Paddymelon Flat got burnt Which Bill thought rather queer. He sent his smartest supers there To try and keep things right. No use! The grass was always dry -- They'd go to sleep at night, And when they woke they'd go and find The whole concern alight. One morning it was very hot -- The sun rose in a haze; Old Bill was cutting down some trees (One of his little ways); A black boy came hot-foot to say The Flat was in a blaze. Old Bill he swears a fearful oath And lets the tommy fall -- Says he: "'ll take this business up, And fix it once for all; If this goes on the cursed run Will send us to the wall." So he withdrew his trespass suits, He'd one with Dutchy's boss -- In prosecutions criminal He entered nolle pros., But these were neither here nor there -- They always meant a loss. And off to Paddymelon Flat He started double quick Drayloads of men with lots of grog Lest heat should make them sick, And all the strangers came around To see him do the trick. And there the fire was flaming bright, For miles and miles it spread, And many a sheep and horse and cow Were numbered with the dead -- The super came to meet Old Bill, And this is what he said: "No use, to try to beat it out, 'Twill dry you up like toast, I've done as much as man can do, Although I never boast; I think you'd better chuck it up, And let the jumbucks roast." Then Bill said just two words: "You're sacked," And pitches off his coat, And wrenches down a blue gum bough And clears his manly throat, And into it like threshing wheat Right sturdily he smote. And beat the blazing grass until His shirt was dripping wet; And all the people watched him there To see what luck he'd get, "Gosh! don't he make the cinders fly," And, Golly, don't he sweat!" But though they worked like Trojans all, The fire still went ahead So far as you could see around, The very skies were red, Sometimes the flames would start afresh, Just where they thought it dead. His men, too, quarreled 'mongst themselves And some coves gave it best And some said, "Light a fire in front, And burn from east to west" -- But Bill he still kept sloggin' in, And never took no rest. Then through the crowd a cornstalk kid Come ridin' to the spot Says he to Bill, "Now take a spell, You're lookin' very 'ot, And if you'll only listen, why, I'll tell you what is what. "These coves as set your grass on fire, There ain't no mortal doubt, I've seen 'em ridin' here and there, And pokin' round about; It ain't no use your workin' here, Until you finds them out. "See yonder, where you beat the fire -- It's blazin' up again, And fires are starting right and left On Tipperary Plain, Beating them out is useless quite, Unless Heaven sends the rain. Then Bill, he turns upon the boy, "Oh, hold your tongue, you pup!" But a cinder blew across the creek While Bill stopped for a sup, And fired the Albion paddocks, too -- It was a bitter cup; Old Bill's heart was broke at last, He had to chuck it up. Moral The run is England's Empire great, The fire is the distress That burns the stock they represent -- Prosperity you'll guess. And the blue gum bough is the Home Rule Bill That's making