And we are his Sisters and his Cousins and his Aunts; His Sisters and his Cousins and his Aunts!]
When at anchor here I ride, My bosom swells with pride, And I snap my fingers at the foeman's taunts--
So do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.
In short, while we learn from Sir Joseph that he is a tremendous fellow, we also learn, from his sisters and his cousins and his aunts, that they are whatever he is. Among other things he tells precisely how he came to be so great, and gives what is presumably a recipe for similar greatness:
When I was a lad I served a term As office boy to an attorney's firm. I cleaned the window and I swept the floor, And I polished up the handle of the big front door.
I polished up the handle so carefullee, That now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navee.
As office boy I made such a mark That they gave me the post of a junior clerk. I served the wits with a smile so bland, And I copied all the letters in a big round hand.
I copied all the letters in a hand so free, That now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navee.
In serving writs I made such a name That an articled clerk I soon became. I wore clean collars and a brand new suit For the pass examination at the Institute.
And that pass examination did so well for me That now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navee.
This was only a part of the recipe, but the rest of it was just as profound. After he is through exploiting himself, he bullies the Captain a little, and then his eye alights on Ralph Rackstraw.
"You are a remarkably fine fellow, my lad," he says to Ralph quite patronizingly.
"I am the very finest fellow in the navy," Ralph returns, honouring the spirit of the day by showing how entirely satisfied with himself he is.
"How does your Captain behave himself?" Sir Joseph asks.
"Very well, indeed, thank you. I am willing to commend him," Ralph returns.
"Ah--that is delightful--and so, with your permission, Captain, I will have a word with you in private on a very sentimental subject--in short, upon an affair of the heart."
"With joy, Sir Joseph--and, Boatswain, in honour of this occasion, see that extra grog is served to the crew at seven bells."
"I will condescend to do so," the Boatswain assures the Captain, whereupon the Captain, Sir Joseph, and his sisters and his cousins and his aunts leave the deck.