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H.M.S. "PINAFORE"

I, humble, poor, and lowly born,

The meanest in the port division—
The butt of epauletted Scorn—[1]
The mark of quarter-deck derision—

Have dared to raise my wormy eyes
Above the dust to which you'd mould me;
In manhood's glorious pride to rise,

I am an Englishman—behold me!

  1. The idea of Scorn wearing epaulettes is rather a fine figure of speech. I do not remember to have met it before.

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