English poem
Ii
by John Stephen Farmer (1854–1916)
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, With blink-ey'd buzzing Sam, Have made me drunk with hot, and stood The racket for a dram; Though Scamp the ballad-singing kid, Call'd me his darling frow, I've tip'd them all the double, for 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 Be lighter than a feather; And as the kelter runs quite flush, Like natty shining kiddies, To treat the coaxing, giggling brims, With spunk let's post our neddies; Then we'll all roll in bub and grub, Till from this ken we go, 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].