Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 24

Next slipt off his bottom clo'ing And his ginger head topper gay.

Then his other toggery stowing, [16]

Tol lol, etc.

All with the swag I sneak away. [17]

XI

Then his other toggery stowing All with the swag I sneak away.

Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen, Tol lol, etc.

Or be grabbed by the beaks we may. [18]

XII

Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen Or be grabbed by the beaks we may.

And we shall caper a-heel and toeing, Tol lol, etc.

A Newgate hornpipe some fine day. [19]

XIII

And we shall caper a-heel and toeing A Newgate hornpipe some fine day With the mots their ogles throwing [20]

Tol lol, etc.

And old Cotton humming his pray. [21]

XIV

With the mots their ogles throwing And old Cotton humming his pray, And the fogle hunters doing Tol lol, etc.

Their morning fake in the prigging lay.

[1: shop; house]

[2: thieving]

[3: girl, strumpet, sweetheart]

[4: 'cute in business]

[5: spoke in slang]

[6: drink and food]

[7: porter, beer]

[8: family = fraternity of thieves]

[9: nose]

[10: gentleman; drunk]

[11: pockets; fingers]

[12: take his sovereigns]

[13: watch]

[14: seals]

[15: hat]

[16: clothes]

[17: plunder]

[18: taken; police]

[19: hanging]

[20: girl's; eyes]

[21: Notes]

ON THE PRIGGING LAY [Notes]

[1829]

[By H. T. R....: a translation of a French Slang song ("Un jour a la Croix Rouge") in Vidocq's _Memoirs_, 1828-9, 4 vols.]

I

Ten or a dozen "c.o.c.ks of the game," [1]

On the prigging lay to the flash-house came, [2]

Lus.h.i.+ng blue ruin and heavy wet [3]

Till the darkey, when the downy set. [4]

All toddled and begun the hunt For readers, tattlers, fogies, or blunt. [5]

II

Whatever swag we chance for to get, [6]

All is fish that comes to net: Mind your eye, and draw the yokel, Don't disturb or use the folk ill.

Keep a look out, if the beaks are nigh, [7]

And cut your stick, before they're fly. [8]

III

As I vas a crossing St James's Park I met a swell, a well-togg'd spark. [9]

I stops a bit: then toddled quicker, For I'd prigged his reader, drawn his ticker; [10]

Then he calls--"Stop thief!" thinks I, my master, That's a hint to me to mizzle faster. [11]

IV

When twelve bells chimed, the prigs returned, [12]

And rapped at the ken of Uncle ----: [13]

"Uncle, open the door of your crib If you'd share the swag, or have one dib. [14]

Quickly draw the bolt of your ken, Or we'll not sh.e.l.l out a mag, old ----." [15]

V

Then says Uncle, says he, to his blowen, [16]

"D'ye twig these coves, my mot so knowing? [17]

Are they out-and-outers, dearie? [18]

Are they fogle-hunters, or cracksmen leary? [19]

Are they coves of the ken, d'ye know? [20]

Shall I let 'em in, or tell 'em to go?"

VI

"Oh! I knows 'em now; hand over my breeches-- I always look out for business--vich is A reason vy a man should rouse At any hour for the good of his house, The top o' the morning, gemmen all, [21]