Musa Pedestris | Page 9

geese]?[11: hang]?[12: speak]?[13: neck]
THE VAIN DREAMER. [Notes]?[1725]
[From The New Canting Dictionary].
I?Yest darkmans dream'd I of my dell, [1]?When sleep did overtake her;?It was a dimber drowsy mort, [2]?She slept, I durst not wake her.
II
Her gans were like to coral red, [3]?A thousand times I kiss'd 'em;?A thousand more I might have filch'd' [4]?She never could have miss'd 'em.
III
Her strammel, curl'd, like threads of gold, [5]?Hung dangling o'er the pillow;?Great pity 'twas that one so prim,?Should ever wear the willow.
IV
I turned down the lilly slat, [6]?Methought she fell a screaming,?This startled me; I straight awak'd,?And found myself but dreaming.
[1: evening]?[2: pretty]?[3: lips]?[4: stolen]?[5: hair]?[6: white sheet]
"WHEN MY DIMBER DELL I COURTED" [Notes]?[1725]
[From The New Canting Dictionary],
I
When my dimber dell I courted [1]?She had youth and beauty too,?Wanton joys my heart transported,?And her wap was ever new. [2]?But conquering time doth now deceive her,?Which her pleasures did uphold;?All her wapping now must leave her,?For, alas! my dell's grown old.
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 bum 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 mass!]
[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 bumpers 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]?[3: well-dressed victim; walk]?[4: give signal to confederate]?[5: Notes]?[6: robbing]?[7: get you transported]?[8: steal; handkerchief]?[9: receiver of stolen property]?[10: house]
THE POTATO MAN [Notes]?[1775]
[from The Ranelaugh Concert...a choice collection of the newest songs sung at all the public places of entertainment].
I
I am a saucy rolling blade, [1]?I fear not wet nor dry,?I keep a jack ass for my trade,?And thro' the streets do cry?Chorus. And they all rare potatoes be!
And they're, etc.
II
A moll I keep that sells fine fruit, [2]?There's no one brings more cly; [3]?She has all things the seasons suit,?While I my potatoes cry.
Chorus. And they all, etc.
III
A link boy once I stood the gag, [4]?At Charing Cross did ply,?Here's light your honor for a mag, [5]?But now my potatoes cry.?Chorus. And they