CONNEXIONS
CHAPTER 6
'STREET', 'GOLD' AND 'ENGLAND'S CAPITAL' ARE ALL IN THIS FOR YOU HERE
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CHAPTER 6
'STREET', 'GOLD' AND 'ENGLAND'S CAPITAL' ARE ALL IN THIS FOR YOU HERE
2/5
MR COOPER:
The women of London are no more scarlet than
Those of anywhere else. Nor are the men
Particularly bad in the Great Wen.
I have to say I think it is a pity
That you see fit to denigrate the city.
THE IDIOT:
Since none of us to London town has been,
And none of us its streets has ever seen...
MRS COOPER:
Why would we want to squander cash and time
On such a hive of infamy and crime?
THE IDIOT:
...I do not think we should deny offhand
This rumour, which has swept across the land.
Values there may differ from yours or mine,
And, surely, if they could afford to line
The streets with golden bars, it must be clear
That gold itself would not be all that dear.
The coins there may be minted out of stone
For all we aware; this has been known
To happen in the past.
MRS COOPER:
And I suppose
Their necklaces are made of lead; who knows,
Perhaps their garments are from paper sewn!
MR COOPER:
What cause is there for such a caustic tone?
Gold has advantages that, I would guess,
Other materials do not possess;
We all can feel for whosoever hobbles
Down streets that are replete with bumpy cobbles.
I’d lay a wager that a golden street
Would be far kinder to one’s shoes and feet,
Although I must admit I would refrain
From risking slipping on it in the rain.