Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 41

VILLON'S GOOD-NIGHT [1887]

[By WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY].

I

You bible-sharps that thump on tubs, [1]

You lurkers on the Abram-sham, [2]

You sponges miking round the pubs, [3]

You flymy t.i.tters fond of flam, [4]

You judes that clobber for the stramm, [5]

You ponces good at talking tall, With fawneys on your dexter famm-- [6]

A mot's good-night to one and all! [7]

II

Likewise you molls that flash your bubs [8]

For swells to spot and stand you sam, [9]

You bleeding bonnets, pugs, and subs, You swatchel-coves that pitch and slam. [10]

You magsmen bold that work the cram, [11]

You flats and joskins great and small, Gay gra.s.s-widows and lawful-jam-- [12]

A mot's good-night to one and all!

III

For you, you coppers, narks, and dubs, [13]

Who pinched me when upon the snam, [14]

And gave me mumps and mulligrubs [15]

With skilly and swill that made me clam, [16]

At you I merely lift my gam-- [17]

I drink your health against the wall! [18]

That is the sort of man I am, A mot's good-night to one and all!

_The Farewell_.

Paste 'em, and larrup 'em, and lamm!

Give Kennedy, and make 'em crawl! [19]

I do not care one b.l.o.o.d.y d.a.m.n, A mot's good-night to one and all.

[1: false clericos]

[2: beggar feigning sickness]

[3: cadgers; loafing]

[4: saucy girls; non-sense]

[5: women dress; game]

[6: rings; right hand]

[7: harlot]

[8: prost.i.tutes; expose paps]

[9: see; pay for]

[10: Punch-and-judy-man]

[11: pattering tradesman]

[12: wife]

[13: police; informers; warders]

[14: arrested; stealing]

[15: "the blues"]

[16: refuse food]

[17: leg]

[18: urinate]

[19: thrash them and make them stir]

VILLON'S STRAIGHT TIP TO ALL CROSS COVES [Notes]

[1887]

[By WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY].

_'Tout aux tavernes et aux filles'_

I

Suppose you screeve, or go cheap-jack? [1]

Or fake the broads? or fig a nag?

Or thimble-rig? or knap a yack?

Or pitch a snide? or smash a rag?

Suppose you duff? or nose and lag?

Or get the straight, and land your pot?

How do you melt the multy swag?

Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

II

Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or mack; Or moskeneer, or flash the drag; Dead-lurk a crib, or do a crack; Pad with a slang, or chuck a f.a.g; Bonnet, or tout, or mump and gag; Rattle the tats, or mark the spot You cannot bank a single stag: Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

III

Suppose you try a different tack, And on the square you flash your flag?

At penny-a-lining make your whack, Or with the mummers mug and gag?

For nix, for nix the dibbs you bag At any graft, no matter what!

Your merry goblins soon stravag: Booze and the blowens cop the lor.

_The Moral._

It's up-the-spout and Charley-Wag With wipes and tickers and what not!

Until the squeezer nips your scrag, Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

[1: See Notes for translation]