Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 30

III

And once again I see that brow no idle rouge is there, The dubsman's ruthless hand has cropped her once luxurious hair; [3]

She teases hemp in solitude, and there is no one near, To press her hand within his own, and call for ginger-beer.

I saw her but a moment, yet methinks I see her now, With the card and heckle in her hand, a-teasing of that tow.

[1: face; porter]

[2: handcuffs]

[3: gaoler's]

THE FAKER'S NEW TOAST [Notes]

[1841]

[By BON GAULTIER ("Nimming Ned") in _Tait's Edinburgh Magazine_]

I

Come, all ye jolly covies, vot faking do admire, [1]

And pledge them British authors who to our line aspire; Who, if they were not gemmen born, like us had kicked at trade, And every one had turned him out a genuine fancy blade, [2]

And a trump.

II

'Tis them's the boys as knows the vorld, 'tis them as knows mankind, And vould have picked his pocket too, if Fortune (vot is blind) Had not to spite their genius, stuck them in a false position, Vere they can only write about, not execute their mission, Like a trump.

III

If they goes on as they're begun, things soon will come about, And ve shall be the upper cla.s.s, and turn the others out; Their laws ve'll execute ourselves, and raise their hevelation, That's t.i.t for tat, for they'd make that the only recreation Of a trump.

IV

But ketch us! only vait a bit, and ve shall be their betters; For vitch our varmest thanks is due unto the men of letters, Who, good 'uns all, have showed us up in our own proper light, And proved ve prigs for glory, and all becos it's right [3]

In a trump.

V

'Tis ve as sets the fas.h.i.+on: Jack Sheppard is the go [4]

And every word of 'Nix my dolls' the finest ladies know; And ven a man his vortin'd make, vy, vot d'ye think's his vay?

He does vot ve vere used to do--he goes to Botany Bay Like a trump.

VI

Then fill your gla.s.ses, dolly palls, vy should they be neglected, As does their best to helewate the line as ve's selected?

To them as makes the Crackman's life, the subject of their story, [5]

To Ainsworth, and to Bullvig, and to Reynolds be the glory, [6]

Jolly trumps.

[1: fellows; stealing]

[2: pickpocket]

[3: steal]

[4: fas.h.i.+on]

[5: burglar's]

[6: Notes]

MY MOTHER [Notes]

[1841]

[By BON GAULTIER in _Tait's Edinburgh Magazine_].

I

Who, when a baby, lank and thin, I called for pap and made a din, Lulled me with draughts of British gin?-- My mother.

II

When I've been out upon the spree, And not come home till two or three, Who was it then would wallop me?-- My mother.

III

Who, when she met a heavy swell, [1]

Would ease him of his wipe so well, [2]

And kiss me not to go and tell ?-- My mother.

IV

Who took me from my infant play, And taught me how to fake away.

And put me up to the time of day?-- [3]

My mother.

V

Who'd watch me sleeping in my chair, And slily to my fob repair, [4]

And leave me not a mopus there?-- [5]

My mother.

VI

Who, as beneath her care I grew, Taught my young mind a thing or two, Especially the flats to do?-- [6]

My mother.

VII