Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 19

VII

When he came to the nubbing-cheat, He was tack'd up so neat and so pretty; The rambler jugg'd off from his feet, [9]

And he died with his face to the city.

He kick'd too, but that was all pride, For soon you might see 'twas all over; And as soon as the nooze was untied, Then at darkey we waked him in clover, [10]

And sent him to take a ground-sweat. [11]

[1: p.a.w.ned their clothes]

[2: gallows or rope]

[3: clothes]

[4: drink]

[5: halter]

[6: candles]

[7: Notes]

[8: Notes]

[9: cart]

[10: night]

[11: buried him]

THE SONG OF THE YOUNG PRIG [Notes]

[_c_. 1819]

My mother she dwelt in Dyot's Isle, [1]

One of the canting crew, sirs; [2]

And if you'd know my father's style, He was the Lord-knows-who, sirs!

I first held horses in the street, But being found defaulter, Turned rumbler's flunkey for my meat, [3]

So was brought up to the halter.

Frisk the cly, and fork the rag, [4]

Draw the fogies plummy, [5]

Speak to the rattles, bag the swag, [6]

And finely hunt the dummy. [7]

II

My name they say is young Birdlime, My fingers are fish-hooks, sirs; And I my reading learnt betime, [8]

From studying pocket-books, sirs; I have a sweet eye for a plant, [9]

And graceful as I amble, Finedraw a coat-tail sure I can't So kiddy is my famble. [10]

_Chorus_. Frisk the cly, etc.

III

A night bird oft I'm in the cage, [11]

But my rum-chants ne'er fail, sirs; The dubsman's senses to engage, [12]

While I tip him leg-bail, sirs; [13]

There's not, for picking, to be had, A lad so light and larky, [14]

The cleanest angler on the pad [15]

In daylight or the darkey. [16]

_Chorus_. Frisk the cly, etc.

IV

And though I don't work capital, [17]

And do not weigh my weight, sirs; Who knows but that in time I shall, For there's no queering fate, sirs. [18]

If I'm not lagged to Virgin-nee, [19]

I may a Tyburn show be, [20]

Perhaps a tip-top cracksman be, [21]

Or go on the high toby. [22]

_Chorus_. Frisk the cly, etc.

[1: Notes]

[2: beggars]

[3: hackney-coach]

[4: pick a pocket; lay hold of notes or money]

[5: steal handkerchiefs dextrously]

[6: steal a watch, pocket the plunder]

[7: steal pocket-books]

[8: Notes]

[9: an intended robbery]

[10: skilful is my hand]

[11: lock-up]

[12: gaoler]

[13: run away]

[14: frolicsome]

[15: expert pickpocket]

[16: night]

[17: Notes]

[18: getting the better of]

[19: transported [Notes]]

[20: be hanged]

[21: housebreaker]

[22: become a highwayman]

THE MILLING-MATCH [Notes]

[1819]

[By THOMAS MOORE in _Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress_:--"Account of the Milling-match between Entellus and Dares, translated from the Fifth Book of the Aeneid by One of the Fancy"].

With daddles high upraised, and n.o.b held back, [1]

In awful prescience of the impending thwack, Both kiddies stood--and with prelusive spar, [2]

And light manoeuvring, kindled up the war!

The One, in bloom of youth--a light-weight blade-- The Other, vast, gigantic, as if made, Express, by Nature, for the hammering trade; [3]

But aged, slow, with stiff limbs, tottering much, And lungs, that lack'd the bellows-mender's touch.