[We are informed that Prince LUCIEN BONAPARTE'S unique library
of some 25,000 volumes, included "a complete set of _Punch_"
preserved presumably by the Prince for the specimens of
"Cockney dialect which it contains."]
Jest fancy a Prince BONYPARTY sech nuts upon patter and slang!
Proves a Prince may be fly to wot's wot, and of chat as _is_ chat
'ave the 'ang.
Lor bless yer, this LUCYUN, _'e_ knowed all the cackles
as ever was chinned.
I'll wager as _'e_ wos aweer as a Billingsgit Pheasant is _finned_!
He'd got SOLOMON'S song in Tyke lingo! A pity 'e didn't know _me_!
I'd ha' run it off into back slang, and ha' done it most willing and
free.
'Cos a Prince and a Frenchy at that, as appreshiates _Punch_,
_and_ my patter,
Is a precious sight smarter than some "Cockney" criticks, and that's
wot's the matter!
So bully for Prince BONYPARTY! When weighed in 'e's well hup to
scale;
And _if_ them books come to the 'ammer, wy 'ARRY means seeing the
sale!
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Transcriber's Note:
Page 244: Removed extrraneous 'not'.
"and do not follow the senseless fashion of dressing ..."
Page 252: 'embarassed' corrected to 'embarrassed'.
"... lapsed into embarrassed silence;"
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