Iv

Vith mawleys raised, Tom bent his back, As if to place a heavy thwack; Vile Jem, with neat left handed stopper, Straight threatened Tommy with a topper; 'Tis all my eye! no claret flows, No facers sound--no smashing blows, Five minutes pass, yet not a hit, How can it end, pals ?--vait a bit. Ri, tol, lol, etc.

V.

Each cove vos teared with double duty, To please his backers, yet play booty, Ven, luckily for Jem, a teller Vos planted right upon his smeller Down dropped he, stunned; ven time was called Seconds in vain the seconds bawled; The mill is o'er, the crosser crost, The losers von, the vinners lost.

[1: fight] [2: money] [3: man] [4: stripped] [5: fellow] [6: Notes] [7: hands] [8: blood] [9: deceive them] [10: nose]

THE THIEVES' CHAUNT [Notes] [1836]

(By W. H. SMITH in The Individual)