Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] - LightNovelsOnl.com
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XV
The patter's all bow-wow, of course, but it goes with the buns and the beer.
If it pleases the Big-wigs to spout, wy it don't cost bus nothink to cheer.
Though they ain't got the 'ang of it, Charlie, the toffs ain't--no go and no spice!
Why, I'd back Barney Crump at our Singsong to lick 'em two times out o' twice!
XVI
Still I'm all for the Lords and their lot, Charlie. Rads are my 'error, you know.
Change R into C and you've got 'em, and 'Arry 'ates anythink low.
So if Demonstrations means skylarks, and lotion as much as you'll carry, These 'busts of spontanyous opinion' may reckon all round upon 'Arry.
[1: sight]
[2: nonsense]
[3: talking]
[4: walking]
[5: eating; fools]
[6: trousers]
[7: prowl]
[8: Notes]
[9: catch]
[10: shook hands]
[11: face; fool]
[12: something to talk about]
"RUM COVES THAT RELIEVE US"
[1887]
[By HEINRICH BAUMANN in _Londonismen_].
I
Rum coves that relieve us [1]
Of clunkers and pieces, [2]
Is gin'rally lagged, [3]
Or wuss luck gets scragg'd. [4]
II
Are smashers and divers [5]
And n.o.ble contrivers Not sold to the beaks [6]
By the coppers an' sneaks? [7]
III
Yet moochin' arch-screevers, [8]
Concoctin' deceivers, Chaps as reap like their own What by tothers were sown;
IV
Piratical fakers [9]
Of bosh by the acres, These muck-worms of trash Cut, oh, a great dash.
V
But, there, it don't matter Since, to cut it still fatter, By 'ook and by crook Ve've got up this book.
VI
Tell ye 'ow? Vy in rum kens, [10]
In flash cribs and slum dens, [11]
I' the alleys and courts, 'Mong the doocedest sorts;
VII
When jawin' with Jillie Or Mag and 'er Billie, Ve shoved down in black Their illigant clack. [12]
VIII
So from hartful young dodgers, From vaxy old codgers, [13]
From the blowens ve got [14]
Soon to know vot is vot.
IX
Now then there is yer sumptuous Tuck-in of most scrumptious, And dainty mag-pie! [15]
Will ye jes' come and try?
[1: thieves]
[2: money]
[3: imprisoned]
[4: hung]
[5: counterfeiters; pickpockets]
[6: magistrates]
[7: police; informers]
[8: prowling; begging letter writers]
[9: writers of "blood and thunder"]
[10: queer places]
[11: thieves' resorts]
[12: talk]
[13: men]
[14: prost.i.tutes]
[15: speech]
