Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 12

II

Her wanton motions which invited, Now, alas! no longer charm, Her glaziers too are quite benighted, [3]

Nor can any prig-star charm.

For conquering time, alas! deceives her Which her triumphs did uphold, And every moving beauty leaves her Alas! my dimber dell's grown old.

III

There was a time no cull could toute her, [4]

But was sure to be undone: Nor could th' uprightman live without her, [5]

She triumph'd over every one.

But conquering time does now deceive her, Which her sporting us'd t' uphold, All her am'rous dambers leave her, For, alas! the dell's grown old.

IV

All thy comfort, dimber dell, Is, now, since thou hast lost thy prime, That every cull can witness well, Thou hast not misus'd thy time.

There's not a prig or palliard living, Who has not been thy slave inroll'd.

Then cheer thy mind, and cease thy grieving; Thou'st had thy time, tho' now grown old.

[1: pretty wench]

[2: Notes]

[3: eyes]

[4: man; look at]

[5: Notes]

THE OATH OF THE CANTING CREW [Notes]

[1749]

[From _The Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew_, by ROBERT GOADBY].

I, Crank Cuffin, swear to be [1]

True to this fraternity; That I will in all obey Rule and order of the lay.

Never blow the gab or squeak; [2]

Never snitch to b.u.m or beak; [3]

But religiously maintain Authority of those who reign Over Stop Hole Abbey green, [4]

Be their tawny king, or queen.

In their cause alone will fight; Think what they think, wrong or right; Serve them truly, and no other, And be faithful to my brother; Suffer none, from far or near, With their rights to interfere; No strange Abram, ruffler crack, [5]

Hooker of another pack, Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, [6]

Irish toyle, or other wanderer; [7]

No dimber, dambler, angler, dancer, Prig of cackler, prig of prancer; No swigman, swaddler, clapper-dudgeon; Cadge-gloak, curtal, or curmudgeon; No whip-jack, palliard, patrico; No jarkman, be he high or low; No dummerar, or romany; No member of the family; No ballad-basket, bouncing buffer, Nor any other, will I suffer; But stall-off now and for ever All outtiers whatsoever; And as I keep to the foregone, So may help me Salamon! [By the ma.s.s!]

[1: Notes]

[2: reveal secrets]

[3: betray to bailif or magistrate]

[4: Notes]

[5: Notes]

[6: Notes; beggar]

[7: Notes]

COME ALL YOU BUFFERS GAY [Notes]

[1760]

[From _The Humourist_ .... a choice collection o songs. 'A New Flash Song', p. 2].

I

Come all you buffers gay, [1]

That rumly do pad the city, [2]

Come listen to what I do say, And it will make you wond'rous wity.

II

The praps are at Drury Lane, And at Covent Garden also, Therefore I tell you plain, It will not be safe for to go.

III

But if after a rum cull you pad [3]

Pray follow him brave and bold; For many a buffer has been grab'd, For fear, as I've been told.

IV

Let your pal that follows behind, Tip your bulk pretty soon; And to slap his whip in time, [4]

For fear the cull should be down. [5]

V

For if the cull should be down.

And catch you a fileing his bag, [6]

Then at the Old Bailey you're found, And d--m you, he'll tip you the lag. [7]

VI

But if you should slape his staunch wipe [8]

Then away to the fence you may go, [9]

From thence to the ken of one T-- [10]

Where you in full b.u.mpers may flow.

VII

But now I have finish'd my rhime, And of you all must take my leave; I would have you to leave off in time, Or they will make your poor hearts to bleed.

[1: rogue or horse-thief]

[2: prowl about]