当情敌向一个少女求爱时，人们常常会这样或那样地说，为什么要把矛头指向他而不是他自己。老保罗和老蒂姆却不是这样。谁也找不出理由，宁可嫁给提摩太，不嫁给保罗;虽然所有人都可以提供很好的理由，发誓，反对娶任何一个，或者两个都娶。他们同样富有，也同样年老;他们同样胆小，也同样大胆;他们穿着鞋子一样高——事实上，他们之间没有什么可选择的。如果我是年轻的爱米丽，我会说:“作为一个漂亮的年轻姑娘，你们俩都太老了，至少快六十岁了。”但我不是年轻的艾米丽。我们走吧。年轻的爱米丽的血管里没有懦夫的血液。 At the rumours of battles all over the globe He pricked up his ears like the war-horse in "Job." He chuckled to hear of a sudden surprise - Of soldiers, compelled, through an enemy's spies, Without any knapsacks or shakos to flee - For an eminent army-contractor was he. So when her two lovers, whose patience was tried, Implored her between them at once to decide, She told them she'd marry whichever might bring Good proofs of his doing the pluckiest thing. They both went away with a qualified joy: That coward, Old PAUL, chose a very small boy, And when no one was looking, in spite of his fears, He set to work boxing that little boy's ears. The little boy struggled and tugged at his hair, But the lion was roused, and Old PAUL didn't care; He smacked him, and whacked him, and boxed him, and kicked Till the poor little beggar was royally licked. Old TIM knew a trick worth a dozen of that, So he called for his stick and he called for his hat. "I'll cover myself with cheap glory - I'll go And wallop the Frenchmen who live in Soho! "The German invader is ravaging France With infantry rifle and cavalry lance, And beautiful Paris is fighting her best To shake herself free from her terrible guest. "The Frenchmen in London, in craven alarms, Have all run away from the summons to arms; They haven't the pluck of a pigeon - I'll go And wallop the Frenchmen who skulk in Soho!" Old TIMOTHY tried it and found it succeed: That day he caused many French noses to bleed; Through foggy Soho he spread fear and dismay, And Frenchmen all round him in agony lay. He took care to abstain from employing his fist On the old and the crippled, for they might resist; A crippled old man may have pluck in his breast, But the young and the strong ones are cowards confest. Old TIM and Old PAUL, with the list of their foes, Prostrated themselves at their EMILY'S toes: "Oh, which of us two is the pluckier blade?" And EMILY answered and EMILY said: "Old TIM has thrashed runaway Frenchmen in scores, Who ought to be guarding their cities and shores; Old PAUL has made little chaps' noses to bleed - Old PAUL has accomplished the pluckier deed!"