Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 31

I'm blessed if ever I did see, So regular a trump as she: I own my virtues all to thee,-- My mother.

VIII

So hand, my pals, the drink about, My story and my gla.s.s are out, A b.u.mper, boys, and with me shout-- My mother.

[1: well-dressed man]

[2: handkerchief]

[3: made me cunning]

[4: pocket]

[5: penny]

[6: stupid ones]

THE HIGH-PADS FROLIC [Notes]

[1841]

[By LEMAN REDE, being Kit's and Adelgitha's Duet in _Sixteen String Jack_].

_Ade._ Crissy odsbuds, I'll on with my duds, [1]

And over the water we'll flare; _Kit._ Coaches and prads, la.s.ses and lads, [2]

And fiddlers will be there.

_Ade._ There beauty blushes bright, _Kit._ The punch is hot and strong, _Both._And there we'll whisk it, frisk it, whisk it, Skip it, and trip it along!

II

_Ade._ There's Charley Rattan, and natty Jack Rann, And giant-like Giles McGhee; There's Sidle so slim, and flare-away Tim, And all of them doat on me.

_Kit._ Hadelgitha--platonically, Christopher!

_Ade._ But Charley, and Jack, and Tim, In vain may exert their wit.

For still I'll dance it, prance it, dance it, Flaring away with Kit!

II

_Kit._ There's frollicking Kate, and rollicking Bet, And slammerkin Sall so tall, And leary-eyed Poll, and blue-eyed Moll-- Blow me, I love them all!

Christopher--platonically, Hadelgitha!

But Winny, not Jenny, nor Sue, Shall wean this heart from thee-- So thus I'll trip it, lip it, trip it, Trip it with Hadelgitha!

IV

_Kit._ The morning may dawn as sure as you're born, _Ade._ Will find us dancing alone _Kit._ I'll get a hack, be off in a crack, [3]

_Ade._ An elegant Darby and Joan!

How'll the vulgarians stare As they see you sportingly!

_Both._For none can splash it, dash it, splash it, _Crissy Addy_ little you and I.

[1: clothes]

[2: horses]

[3: instant]

THE DASHY, SPLASHY.... LITTLE STRINGER [Notes]

[1841]

[By LEMAN REDE, being Kit's Song in _Sixteen-String Jack_].

I

A cloudy night, and pretty hard it blow'd, The dashy, splashy, leary little stringer, [1]

Mounted his roan, and took the road-- Phililoo!

"My Lord Cashall's on the road to-night, Down with the lads, make my lord alight-- Ran dan row de dow, on we go!"

_Chorus_.--Ran, dan, etc.

II

"You horrid wretch," said my Lord to Rann-- The dashy, splashy, leary little stringer-- "How dare you rob a gentleman?"

Phililoo!

Says Jack, says he, with his knowing phiz, [2]

"I ain't very pertic'lar who it is!

Ran dan row de dow, on we go!"

_Chorus_.--Ran, dan, etc.

III

Ve collar'd the blunt, started off for town, [3]

With the dashy, splashy, leary little stringer, Horses knock'd up, men knock'd down-- Phililoo!

A lady's carriage we next espied, I collar'd the blunt, Jack jumped inside, Ran dan row de dow, on we go!

_Chorus_.--Ran, dan, etc.

IV

Jack took off his hat, with a jaunty air-- The dashy, splashy, leary little stringer-- And he kiss'd the lips of the lady fair-- Phililoo!

She sigh'd a sigh, and her looks said plain, I don't care much if I'm robb'd again!

Ran dan row de dow, on we go!

_Chorus_.--Ran, dan, etc.

[1: spirited horse]

[2: wink]

[3: money]