Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Part 17

Attend while I _sings,_ how, in ev'ry station, Masquerading is practised throughout ev'ry nation: Some mask for mere pleasure, but many we know, To lick in the _rhino,_ false faces will show. [1]

Tol de rol, etc.

III

Twig counsellors jabb'ring 'bout justice and law, Cease greasing their fist and they'll soon cease their jaw; [2]

And patriots, 'bout freedom will kick up a riot, Till their ends are all gain'd, and their jaws then are quiet.

Tol de rol, etc.

IV

Twig methodist phizzes, with mask sanctimonious, [3]

Their rigs prove to judge that their phiz is erroneous. [4]

Twig lank-jaws, the miser, that skin-flint old elf, From his long meagre phiz, who'd think he'd the pelf.

Tol de rol, etc.

V

Twig levees, they're made up of time-_sarving_ faces, With fawning and flatt'ring for int'rest and places; And ladies appear too at court and elsewhere, In borrow'd complexions, false shapes, and false hair.

Tol de rol, etc.

VI

Twig clergyman--but as there needs no more proof My chaunt I _concludes_, and shall now pad the hoof; [5]

So n.o.bles and gents, lug your counterfeits out, I'll take brums or cut ones, and thank you to boot.

Tol de rol, etc.

[1money]

[2bribing]

[3See]

[4methods]

[5walk away]

THE FLASH MAN OF ST. GILES [Notes]

[b. 1790]

[From _The Busy Bee_].

I was a flash man of St. Giles, [1]

And I fell in love with Nelly Stiles; And I padded the hoof for many miles [2]

To show the strength of my flame: In the Strand, and at the Admiralty, She pick'd up the flats as they pa.s.s'd by, [3]

And I mill'd their wipes from their side clye, [4]

And then sung fal de ral t.i.t, t.i.t fal de ral, t.i.t fal de ree, and then sung fal de ral t.i.t!

II

The first time I saw the flaming mot, [5]

Was at the sign of the Porter Pot, I call'd for some purl, and we had it hot, With gin and bitters too!

We threw off our slang at high and low, [6]

And we were resolv'd to breed a row For we both got as drunk as David's sow, [7]

And then sung fal de ral t.i.t, etc.

III

As we were roaring forth a catch, ('Twas twelve o'clock) we wak'd the watch, I at his jazy made a s.n.a.t.c.h, [8]

And try'd for to nab his rattle! [9]

But I miss'd my aim and down I fell, And then he charg'd both me and Nell, And bundled us both to St. Martin's cell Where we sung fal de ral t.i.t, etc.

IV

We pa.s.s'd the night in love away, And 'fore justice H-- we went next day, And because we could not three hog pay, [10]

Why we were sent to quod! [11]

In quod we lay three dismal weeks, Till Nell with crying swell'd her cheeks, And I d.a.m.n'd the quorum all for sneaks And then sung fal de ral t.i.t, etc.

V

From Bridewell bars we now are free, And Nell and I so well agree, That we live in perfect harmony, And grub and bub our fill! [12]

For we have mill'd a precious go [13]

And queer'd the flats at thrums, E, O, Every night in t.i.tmouse Row, Where we sing fal de ral t.i.t, etc.

VI

All you who live at your wit's end, Unto this maxim pray attend, Never despair to find a friend, While flats have bit aboard!

For Nell and I now keep a gig, And look so grand, so flash and big, We roll in every knowing rig [14]

While we sing fal de ral t.i.t, etc.

[1: Notes]

[2: walked]

[3: victims]

[4: stole handkerchiefs; side pocket]

[5: girl, wh.o.r.e]

[6: talking noisily]

[7: Notes]

[8: wig]

[9: steal]

[10: shilling]

[11: prison]

[12: eat and drink]

[13: made a rich haul]

[14: are up to every move]