Oh, donnys and omees, what gives me the spur, [20]
Is, I'm told by a mug (he tells whoppers), [21]
That I ought to have greased to have kept out of stir [22]
The dukes of the narks and the coppers. [23]
[1: boys]
[2: rail; ticket]
[3: basket]
[4: see; horse; go for; silver plate]
[5: steal; linen]
[6: boots; clothes]
[7: £5 notes; pocket]
[8: watch; chain; gold]
[9: diamond pin]
[10: ticket]
[11: detective; closely scanning me]
[12: said; search you]
[13: ran; tea; chased me]
[14: knife]
[15: burglars tools; caught]
[16: remanded; years]
[17: mistress]
[18: friends; set]
[19: £5 notes; shillings]
[20: girl; fellows]
[21: man]
[22: bribed]
[23: hands; detectives; police]
THE RONDEAU OF THE KNOCK
[1890]
[By "DAGONET" (G. R. SIMS) in _Referee_, 20 Ap. p. 7].
I
He took the knock! No more with jaunty air [1]
He'll have the "push" that made the punter stare;
No more in monkeys now odds on he'll lay [2]
And make the ever grumbling fielder gay.
One plunger more has had his little flare [3]
And then came to Monday when he couldn't "square"; [4]
Stripped of his plunees a poor denuded J [5]
He took the knock!
Where is he now? Ah! echo answers "where"?
Upon the turf he had his little day
And when, stone-broke, he could no longer pay [6]
Leaving the ring to gnash its teeth and swear
He took the knock!
[1: gave in]
[2: £500]
[3: opportunity]
[4: pay up]
[5: fellow]
[6: ruined]
THE RHYME OF THE RUSHER
[1892]
[By DOSS CHIDERDOSS in _Sporting Times_, 29 Oct. _In
Appropriate Rhyming Slanguage_].
I
I was out one night on the strict teetote, [1]
'Cause I couldn't afford a drain;
I was wearing a leaky I'm afloat, [2]
And it started to France and Spain. [3]
But a toff was mixed in a bull and cow, [4]
And I helped him to do a bunk; [5]
He had been on the I'm so tap, and now [6]
He was slightly elephant's trunk. [7]