Full of glee, until ten that they started,
For supper Joe sent out a win;
A hog's maw between them was parted,
And after they sluic'd it with gin:
It was on an old leather trunk, sir,
They married were, never to part;
But Bessy, she being blind drunk, sir,
Joe drove her away in his cart.
[1: street]
[2: rag-gatherer]
[3: kissed her]
[4: eyes]
[5: ale-house]
[6: fellow, girl, or wife]
[7: brave and cute]
[8: eyes]
[9: sleep]
[10: spoken]
[11: pocketed his money]
[12: go]
THE HAPPY PAIR.
[1789]
[By GEORGE PARKER in _Life's Painter of Variegated Characters_].
_Joe_.
Ye slang-boys all, since wedlock's nooze,
Together fast has tied
Moll Blabbermums and rowling Joe,
Each other's joy and pride;
Your broomsticks and tin kettles bring,
With cannisters and stones:
Ye butchers bring your cleavers too,
Likewise your marrow-bones;
For ne'er a brace in marriage hitch'd,
By no one can be found,
That's half so blest as Joe and Moll,
Search all St. Giles's round.
_Moll_.
Though fancy queer-gamm'd smutty Muns
Was once my fav'rite man,
Though rugged-muzzle tink'ring Tom
For me left maw-mouth'd Nan:
Though padding Jack and diving Ned, [1]
With blink-ey'd buzzing Sam, [2]
Have made me drunk with hot, and stood [3]
The racket for a dram;
Though Scamp the ballad-singing kid,
Call'd me his darling frow, [4]
I've tip'd them all the double, for [5]
The sake of rowling Joe.
_Chorus_.
Therefore, in jolly chorus now,
Let's chaunt it altogether,
And let each cull's and doxy's heart [6]
Be lighter than a feather;
And as the kelter runs quite flush, [7]
Like _natty_ shining _kiddies_,
To treat the coaxing, giggling brims, [8]
With spunk let's post our _neddies_; [9]
Then we'll all roll in _bub_ and _grub_, [10]
Till from this ken we go, [11]
Since rowling Joe's tuck'd up with Moll,
And Moll's tuck'd up with Joe.
[1: tramping; pick-pocket]
[2: pickpocket]
[3: paid for]
[4: woman, girl]
[5: jilted]
[6: man; woman]
[7: money]
[8: whores]
[9: spirit; spend our guineas]
[10: drink; food]
[11: drinking-house]
THE BUNTER'S CHRISTENING. [Notes]
[1789]
[By GEORGE PARKER in _Life's Painter of Variegated
Characters_].
I
Bess Tatter, of Hedge-lane,
To ragman Joey's joy,
The cull with whom she snooz'd [1]
Brought forth a chopping boy:
Which was, as one might say,
The moral of his dad, sir;
And at the christ'ning oft,
A merry bout they had, sir.