There's a time, says King Sol, to dance and sing;
I know there's a time for another thing:
There's a time to pipe, and a time to snivel--
I wish all Charlies and beaks at the divel: [26]
For they grabbed me on the prigging lay,
And I know I'm booked for Bot'ny Bay. [27]
[1: pickpockets]
[2: thieving game; thieves' rendezvous]
[3: drinking gin; porter]
[4: evening; sun]
[5: pocket-books; watches; handkerchiefs; money]
[6: plunder]
[7: police]
[8: run; before they see you]
[9: well-dressed]
[10: stolen his pocketbook and watch]
[11: run]
[12: thieves]
[13: house]
[14: plunder; coin]
[15: give you a half-penny]
[16: woman]
[17: known; men; mistress]
[18: safe to trust]
[19: pickpockets; burglers]
[20: of our band]
[21: a cheery greeting]
[22: police]
[23: saw us going]
[24: dandy]
[25: robbed of the plunder]
[26: police and magistrates]
[27: transported]
THE LAG'S LAMENT
[1829]
[By H. T. R. in _Vidocq's Memoirs_, Vol III. 169].
I
Happy the days when I vorked away,
In my usual line in the prigging lay, [1]
Making from this, and that, and t'other,
A tidy living without any bother:
When my little crib was stored with swag, [2]
And my cly vas a veil-lined money bag, [3]
Jolly vas I, for I feared no evil,
Funked at naught, and pitched care to the devil.