I gave it to Molly
Because she was jolly,
The leg of the duck,
The leg of the duck.
_(Private Carr and Private Compton, swaggersticks tight in their
oxters, as they march unsteadily rightaboutface and burst together from
their mouths a volleyed fart. Laughter of men from the lane. A hoarse
virago retorts.)_
THE VIRAGO: Signs on you, hairy arse. More power the Cavan girl.
CISSY CAFFREY: More luck to me. Cavan, Cootehill and Belturbet. _(She
sings.)_
I gave it to Nelly
To stick in her belly,
The leg of the duck,
The leg of the duck.
_(Private Carr and Private Compton turn and counterretort, their tunics
bloodbright in a lampglow, black sockets of caps on their blond cropped
polls. Stephen Dedalus and Lynch pass through the crowd close to the
redcoats.)_
PRIVATE COMPTON: _(Jerks his finger.)_ Way for the parson.
PRIVATE CARR: _(Turns and calls.)_ What ho, parson!