Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] - LightNovelsOnl.com
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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.
