Chapter XII (3)

The third was a Padder[288], that fell to decay,
Who used for to plunder upon the Highway;
The fourth was a Mill-Ken[289], to crack up a door,
He’d venture to rob both the rich and the poor,
The fifth was a Glazier[290], who when he creeps in,
To pinch all the lurry[291] he thinks it no sin,
_Tour you well, etc.,_

The sixth is a File-cly[292], that not one cully[293] spares,
The seventh a Budge[294] to track softly up stairs;
The eighth is a Bulk[295], that can bulk any hick[296],
If the master be nabbed, then the Bulk he is sick,
The ninth is an Angler[297], to lift up a grate,
If he sees but the lurry his hooks he will bait.
_Tour you well, etc._

The tenth is a Shoplift, that carries a Bob,
When he ranges the city, the shops for to rob.
The eleventh a Bubber[298], much used of late;
Who goes to the ale house, and steals all their plate.
The twelfth is a Beautrap[299], if a Cull[300] he does meet,
He nips all his Cole[301], and turns him into the street.
_Tour you well, etc._

The thirteenth a Famble, false rings for to sell,
When a Mob[302] he has bit his Cole he will tell;
The fourteenth a Gamester, if he sees the Cull sweet[303],
He presently drops down a Cog[304] in the street;
The fifteenth, a Prancer, whose courage is small,
If they catch him Horse-coursing he’s noozed once for all.
_Tour you well, etc._

The sixteenth, a Sheep-napper, whose trade is so deep,
If he’s caught in the corn he’s marked for a sheep[305];
The seventeenth a Dunaker[306], that stoutly makes vows,
To go in the country and steal all the cows;
The eighteenth a Kid-napper[307], who spirits young men,
Tho’ he tips them the pike, they oft nap him again.
_Tour you well, etc._

The nineteenth’s a Priggar of Cacklers[308], who harms,
The poor Country Higlers, and plunders the Farms;
He steals all their poultry and thinks it no sin,
When into the Henroost, in the night, he gets in,
The twentieth’s a Thief-catcher, so we him call,
Who if he be nabb’d will be made pay for all.
_Tour you well, etc._

There’s many more Craftsmen[309] whom here I could name,
Who use such like Trades, abandon’d of shame;
To the number of more than threescore on the whole,
Who endanger their body, and hazard their soul;
And yet, tho’ good workmen, are seldom made free,
Till they ride in a cart, and be noozed on a tree.
_Tour you well, hark you well, see where they’re rubb’d,
Up to the nubbing-cheat, where they are nubb’d._

This is taken from _A Pedlar’s Pack of Ballads and Songs_ collected by W. H. Logan, (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1869) which work contains some dozen cant songs, of which the best have been quoted. The others are so “Flash” in language that they could only be clearly interpreted by a regular Patter Cove.

――――

RETOURE MY DEAR DELL.

Each Darkmans[310] I pass in an old shady grove,
And live not the Lightmans[311], I toute[312] not my love,
I surtoute every walk, which we used to pass,
And couch me down weeping and kiss the cold grass:
I cry out on my Mort[313] to pity my pain,
And all our vagaries remember again.

Didst thou know, my dear Doxy, but half of the smart
Which has seized on my panter since thou didst depart;
Didst thou hear but my sighs, my complaining and groans,
Thou’dst surely retoure[314] and pity my moans;
Thou’dst give me new pleasure for all my past pain,
And I should rejoice in thy glaziers[315] again.

But, alas! ’tis my fear that the false _Patri-coe_[316]
Is reaping those transports are only my due:
Retoure my dear Doxy, oh, once more retoure,
And I’ll do all to please thee that lies in my pow’r;
Then be kind, my dear Dell, and pity my pain,
And let me once more toute thy glaziers again.

On Redshanks and Tibs[317] thou shalt every day dine,
And if it should e’er be my hard fate to trine[318]
I never will whiddle, I never will squeek[319],
Nor to save my Colquarron[320] endanger thy neck.
Then once more, my Doxy, be kind and retoure,
And thou shalt want nothing that lies in my pow’r.

The vein of sentiment that pervades this lament is almost too fine to be genuine in such a production.

――――

THE PICKPOCKETS’ CHAUNT.

_Translated from an “Argot” Song of Maitre Vidocq, by Dr. William Maginn._

As from ken to ken I was going,
Doing a bit on the prigging lay[321],
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen[322],
Tol lol, lol lol, tol dirol lay;
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen,

Who was fly to the time of day.
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen,
Who was fly to the time of day.
I pattered in flash[323], like a covey knowing,
Tol lol, &c.
“Ay, bub or grubby[324], I say?”

I pattered in flash like a covey knowing,
“Ay, bub or grubby, I say?”
“Lots of gatter”[325] says she, is flowing,
Tol lol, &c.
Lend me a lift in the family way[326].

Lots of gatter, says she, is flowing,
Lend me a lift in the family way.
You may have a crib[327] to stow in,
Tol lol, &c.
Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.

You may have a crib to stow in,
Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.
To her ken at once I go in,
Tol lol, &c.
Where in a corner out of the way,

To her ken at once I go in,
Where in a corner out of the way,
With his smeller[328] a trumpet blowing,
Tol lol, &c.
A regular swell cove lushy lay,

With his smeller a trumpet blowing,
A regular swell cove lushy lay,
To his dies[329] my hooks[330] I throw in,
Tol lol, &c.
And collar his dragons[331] clear away.

To his dies my hooks I throw in,
And collar his dragons clear away.
Then his ticker I set a going,
Tol lol, &c.
And his onions,[332] chain and key,

Then his ticker I set a going,
With his onions, chain and key;
Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing,
Tol lol, &c.
And his ginger head topper gay.

Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing,
And his ginger head topper gay.
Then his other toggery stowing,
Tol lol, &c.
All with the swag I sneak away,

Then his other-toggery stowing,
All with the swag I sneak away.
Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen,
Tol lol, &c.
Or be grabbed by the beaks we may,

Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen,
Or be grabbed by the beaks we may.
And we shall caper a-heel and toeing,
Tol lol, &c.
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day.

And we shall caper a-heel and toeing,
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day,
With the mots their ogles throwing,
Tol lol, &c.
And Old Cotton[333] humming his pray[334],

With the mots their ogles throwing,
And Old Cotton humming his pray,
And the fogle hunters[335] doing,
Tol lol, &c.
Their morning fake in the prigging lay[336].

Many of the other words are also flash, but are so generally understood that it is quite unnecessary to translate them.

Oh, Kittens! in our hours of ease
Uncertain toys, and full of fleas;
When pain and anguish hang o’er men,
We turn you into sausage then.

――――

A CANT HANDBILL.

The following handbill is worthy of a place in this collection; the Slang Dictionary will explain its meaning. Its words are, however, fully understood by many “downy” customers;

Once Try You’ll Come Again
TO
HARRIS, THE SLAP-UP-TOG
and out and out
KICKSIES BUILDER.
Well known throughout all England.

――――

Mr. H. nabs the chance of putting his customers awake that he has just made his escape from India, not forgetting to clap his mawleys upon some of the right sort of stuff, when on his return home he was stunned to find one of the top Manufacturers of Manchester had cut his lucky, and stepped off to the Swan Stream, leaving behind him a valuable stock of Moleskins, Cords, Velveteens, Box Cloths, Plushes, Doe Skins, Pilots, &c., and having some ready in his kick――grabbed the chance――stepped home with the swag――and is now safely landed at his crib. He can turn out Toggery very slap at the following low prices for

_Ready Gilt――Tick being No Go._

Upper Benjamins, built on a downy plan, a monarch to half a finnuff. Fishing or Shooting Togs, or Slap up Velveteen Togs, lined with the same, cut slap, 1 pound, 1 quarter and a peg. A Fancy Sleeve Blue Plush or Pilot ditto, made very saucy, a couter. Pair of Kerseymere or Doeskin Kicksies, built very slap with the artful dodge, a canary. Pair of Bath or Worsted Cords, cut to drop down on the trotters, a quid. Pair of out and out cords, built very serious, 9 bob and a kick. Pair of stout Broad Cords, built in the Melton Mowbray style, half a sov. Pair of Moleskins, built hanky spanky, with double fakement down the sides and artful buttons at the bottom, half a monarch.

Mud Pipes, Knee Caps & Trotter Cases built very low.
A decent allowance made to Seedy Swells, Tea Kettle
Purgers, Head Robbers, and Flunkeys out of Collar.

_N.B.――Gentlemen finding their own Broady can be accommodated._

――――:o:――――

The distinctions between _Slang_ and _Cant_ are well defined by Hotten. “_Cant_,” he says, “is old, whilst _Slang_ is always modern and changing. To illustrate the difference: a thief in _Cant_ language would term a horse a _Prancer_ or _Prad_; while in _Slang_ a man of fashion would speak of it as a _Bit of Blood_, a _Spanker_, or a _neat tit_.”

Cant was formed for the purpose of secrecy in roguery, Slang is commonly indulged in from a desire to appear familiar with the life, gaiety, town humour, and street jokes of the day. Cant and Slang are often used as synonyms, which is erroneous, they are distinct terms, and should be kept so.

Then there is what is commonly known as “Daily Telegraphese,” or the “high falutin” style. This arose from the invincible objection an inferior class of journalists had to writing of a spade as a _spade_, it must be called an “agricultural implement.” Examples of this may be found any day in the leaders of the _Daily Telegraph_, (London) a journal which whilst owned by Jews is especially conspicuous for its cant about Christianity and the Established Church. The parade of irrelevant learning, the mythological allusions dug up from the almost inaccessible depths of Lemprière, and the Latin verses cheaply filched from Dictionaries of Quotations, can only impose on imperfectly educated readers, to persons of any literary culture they are simply nauseating.

On page 251 _Jerry Juniper’s Chaunt_ (“Nix my dolly pals”) was given, it is the somewhat abbreviated version which is commonly sung, the full text, with a glossary, will be found in Ainsworth’s entertaining novel _Rookwood_.

This work contains other cant songs, and in his Preface Mr. Ainsworth makes the following remarks upon them:――

“As I have casually alluded to the flash song of Jerry
Juniper, I may be allowed to make a few observations upon
this branch of versification. It is somewhat curious with a
dialect so racy, idiomatic, and plastic as our own cant,
that its metrical capabilities should have been so little
essayed. The French have numerous _chansons d’argot_,
ranging from the time of Charles Bourdigné and Villon down
to that of Vidocq and Victor Hugo, the last of whom has
enlivened the horrors of his “_Dernier Jour d’un Condamné_”
by a festive song of this class. The Spaniards possess a
large collection of _Romances de Germania_, by various
authors, amongst whom Quevedo holds a distinguished place.
We on the contrary, have scarcely any slang songs of merit.
This barreness is not attributable to the poverty of the
soil, but to the want of due cultivation. Materials are at
hand in abundance, but there have been few operators.
Dekker, Beaumont and Fletcher, and Ben Jonson, have all
dealt largely in this jargon, but not lyrically; and one of
the earliest and best specimens of a canting-song occurs in
Brome’s ‘_Jovial Crew_;’ and in the ‘_Adventures of Bamfylde
Moore Carew_’ there is a solitary ode addressed by the
mendicant fraternity to their newly-elected monarch; but it
has little humour, and can scarcely be called a genuine
canting-song. This ode brings us down to our own time; to
the effusions of the illustrious Pierce Egan; to Tom Moore’s
Flights of ‘_Fancy_;’ to John Jackson’s famous chant, ‘_On
the High Toby Spice flash the Muzzle_,’ cited by Lord Byron
in a note to ‘_Don Juan_;’ and to the glorious Irish ballad,
worth them all put together, entitled ‘_The Night before
Larry was stretched_.’ This is attributed to the late Dean
Burrowes, of Cork. It is worthy of note, that almost all
modern aspirants to the graces of the _Musa Pedestris_ are
Irishmen. Of all rhymesters of the ‘_Road_,’ however, Dean
Burrowes is, as yet, most fully entitled to the laurel.
Larry is quite ‘the potato!’

“I venture to affirm that I have done something more than
has been accomplished by my predecessors, or contemporaries,
with the significant language under consideration. I have
written _a purely flash song_; of which the great and
peculiar merit consists in its being utterly
incomprehensible to the uninformed understanding, while its
meaning must be perfectly clear and perspicuous to the
practised _patterer_ of _Romany_, or _Pedler’s French_. I
have, moreover, been the first to introduce and naturalize
amongst us a measure which, though common enough in the
Argotic minstrelsy of France, has been hitherto utterly
unknown to our _pedestrian_ poetry. Some years after the
song alluded to, better known under the title of ‘_Nix my
dolly, pals,――fake away!_’ sprang into extraordinary
popularity, being set to music by Rodwell, and chanted by
glorious Paul Bedford and clever little Mrs. Keeley.”

Of course Mr. Ainsworth is in error in his claim to have written the first purely flash song, if indeed that is what he claims in his somewhat ambiguous sentence on the subject.

Detached Slang phrases may be found in the writings of most of our principal novelists――in Swift, Addison, Henry Fielding, Lord Lytton, Harrison Ainsworth, and Charles Dickens they abound. Professor Wilson and Dr. Maginn were also authorities on Slang.

Our older dramatists introduced Slang largely into their plays, notably Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Richard Brome, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Decker, the Duke of Buckingham, and more recently R. B. Sheridan and Moncrieff.

Our dear little friend _Notes and Queries_ (London) contains many hundreds of references, explanations, and etymologies of Cant, Slang, and Flash, to which access can be readily obtained by reference to the indices of that ably conducted journal.

As a general remark on the songs which have been quoted, it should be borne in mind that prior to 1829 the punishment of death was inflicted for many offences which are now considered trivial, hence the frequent references they contain to hanging, and the gallows.

――――

THE PRINTER’S EPITAPH.

No more shall _copy_ bad perplex my brain;
No more shall _type’s_ small face my eyeballs strain;
No more the _proof’s foul page_[337] create me troubles,
By _errors_, _transpositions_, _outs_, and _doubles_;[338]
No more to _overrun_ shall I begin;
No more be _driving out_ or _taking in_;
The stubborn _pressman’s_ frown I now may scoff;
_Raised, and corrected_, finally _worked off_!

From _Songs of the Press, and other Poems relative to the Art of Printing_. Collected by C. H. Timperley. London: Fisher, Son & Co., 1845.

This work contains a large number of Poems and Parodies in Printer’s Slang, and has a good glossary of the technical terms and Slang used in printing offices.

――――:o:――――

Dictionaries and other Books of Reference, on Cant and Slang.
_Chronologically Arranged._

“_A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, vulgarly called
Vagabones_, set forth by Thomas Harman, Esquier, for the utilitie
and proffyt of hys naturall Countrey, newly augumented and
imprynted Anno Domini, 1567. Viewed, examined and allowed
according unto the Queene Majesteyes injunctions. Imprinted at
London, in Fletestret, at the signe of the Faulcon, by Wylliam
Gryffith, and are to be solde at his shoppe in Saynt Dunstones
Churche Yard in the West.”――This is generally acknowledged to
have been the first work of its kind, namely, an attempt to form
a Cant Dictionary. It was first printed in black letter, there
have been several later editions, and Hotten in his _Slang
Dictionary_ reprints from it what he terms the “Rogues’
Dictionary.” This vocabulary contains about 150 entries.

A reprint of Harman’s _Caveat_, with illustrations and
interesting notes, was published by Reeves and Turner in 1871, in
Mr. Charles Hindley’s _Old Book Collector’s Miscellany_.

_The Fraternatye of Vacabondes, etc._ Imprinted at London by John
Awdeley, 1575.――Supposed to have been either written by Harman,
or taken from his works.

_The Bellman of London_, by Thomas Decker.――Contains an account of
the Canting Language. _Black letter._ London, 1608.

_Lanthorne and Candle-light_, or the Bellman’s Second Night’s
Walke.――By Thomas Decker. London. 1608-9 This is a continuation
of Decker’s former work, and contains the _Canter’s Dictionary_.
There were numerous editions of Decker’s works on this subject.

“_Villanies discovered by Lanthorne and Candle-light, and the helpe
of a new crier called O Per se O._ Being an addition to the
Bel-man’s second night-walke; and laying open to the world of
those abuses, which the Bel-man (because he went i’th darke)
could not see. With Canting Songs, and other new conceits never
before Printed.” By Thomas Decker. Newly corrected and enlarged.
Small quarto. London, Aug Mathewes, 1620. Very rare, and curious
as containing a complete description of the thieving and
swindling population of London at that time, with a Cant
Vocabulary and Slang songs. There were several Editions of this
work.

_The English Rogue_, described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a
witty Extravagant. By Richard Head, 1671-80. This contains a list
of Cant words, partly taken from Decker’s works.

_Canting Academy_; or, Villanies Discovered, wherein are shown the
Mysterious and Villanous Practices of that Wicked Crew――Hectors,
Trapanners, Gilts, etc., Also a Compleat Canting Dictionary.
Compiled by Richard Head. 1674.

_Ladies’ Dictionary_, by Dunton, London, 1694.

_Dictionary of the Canting Crew_ (Ancient and Modern), of Gypsies,
Beggars, Thieves, &c. _About_ 1700.

_New Dictionary of the Terms_ (Ancient and Modern), of the Canting
Crew in its several Tribes. By B. E. Gent. _About_ 1710.――This
work was the foundation of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737, and of _The
Scoundrel’s Dictionary_, 1754.

_Regulator_; or, a Discovery of the Thieves, Thief-takers, and
Jocks, in and about London. With an account of all the _Flash
Words_ now in vogue amongst the thieves. By Charles Hitching,
formerly _City Marshall_. London, 1718.

_Complete History of the Lives and Robberies_ of the most notorious
Highwaymen, Footpads, Shop-lifters, and Cheats in and about
London and Westminster. By Captain A. Smith. London, 1719.――This
contains “The Thieves New Canting Dictionary of the Words,
Proverbs, &c., used by Thieves.”

_The Thieves’ Grammar._ By Captain Alexander Smith. About 1720.

_The Thieves’ Dictionary_, by the same author. 1724.

_Canting Dictionary_; comprehending all the Terms used by Gipsies,
Beggars, Shoplifters, Highwaymen, Footpads, etc., with a
collection of Songs in the Canting Dialect. A rechauffé of
earlier works, 1725.

_The Golden Cabinet of Secrets_, with a Canting Dictionary, by Dr.
Surman. In seven parts. London, about 1730.

_The Triumph of Wit_, or Ingenuity displayed, with the mystery and
art of Canting, and Poems in the Canting Language, J. Clarke,
1735.

_Etymological English Dictionary._ By Nathaniel Bailey, 2 Vols.,
1737. A collection of ancient and modern Cant words appears as an
appendix to this edition.

_Bacchus and Venus_; or a select Collection of Songs in the Canting
Dialect, etc., with a Dictionary explaining the Canting Terms.
1731. Founded on B. E. Gent’s _New Dictionary_.

_The Life of an English Rogue._ By Jeremy Sharp, 1740.――This
contains a vocabulary of Gypsies’ Cant.

_The History and Curious Adventures of Bampfylde-Moore Carew_, King
of the Mendicants. The first edition was published by R. Goodby,
London, 1749.――This is a very common book, it should contain “A
vocabulary of words used by the Scottish Gipsies,” “A few
sentences in the Gipsy Language,” and “A Dictionary of the Cant
Language generally used by mendicants.” These are incomplete and
unsatisfactory.

_History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild_, Blueskin, and
John Sheppard; together with a _Canting Dictionary_, by Jonathan
Wild, 1750.

_The Sportsman’s Dictionary._ No date. Contains low sporting and
pugilistic terms.

_Scoundrel’s Dictionary_, or an Explanation of the Cant words used
by Thieves, House Breakers, Street Robbers, and Pickpockets about
Town, 1754. A reprint of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.

_The Triumph of Wit_, or the Canting Dictionary. Dublin, about 1760.

_The Discoveries of John Poulter._ About 1770.――With an explanation
of the “Language of Thieves, commonly called Cant.”

_Dictionary of the English Language_, by Dr. John Ash,
1775.――Containing low, vulgar, slang, and cant terms.

_New and Complete Dictionary of the English Language._ By John Ash,
L.L.D., 1775.――Contains Cant words and phrases.

_A View of Society in High and Low Life._ By George Parker, 1781.

_The Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue._ By Francis
Grose.――The first edition was published in 1785. This is the
foundation of most of the Slang Dictionaries which have since
been compiled. Although it is one of the most indecent books ever
printed in the English language it must be admitted that it was,
at the time it appeared, the most complete and important
Dictionary of street language, based on personal enquiry, and
acquaintance with the habits of those who used “Cant.”

_The Whole Art of Thieving and Defrauding Discovered_; to which is
added an Explanation of most of the Cant terms in the Thieving
Language. 1786.

_Life’s Painter of Variegated Characters_, with a Dictionary of Cant
Language and Flash Songs. By George Parker, 1789.

_New Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash Languages_, both ancient
and modern, used by Gipsies, Beggars, Swindlers, Footpads,
Highwaymen, etc. By H. T. Potter, of Clay, Worcestershire. 1790.

_Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash Languages_, both ancient and
modern. By Bailey. 1790.

_New Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash Languages_ used by every
class of Offenders, from a Lully Prigger to a High Tober Gloak.
179――

_A Political Dictionary_: Explaining the True Meaning of Words. By
the late Charles Pigott, Esq. London: D. I. Eaton, 1795.――A
satirical work directed against the Monarchy, the Aristocracy,
and the Government of the day, in the form of a dictionary.

_Blackguardiana_; or, Dictionary of Rogues, Bawds, etc. By James
Caulfield. 1795.

A coarse work, mainly founded on Grose’s “Dictionary of the
Vulgar Tongue.”

_Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash Languages._ London. 1797.

_Anecdotes of the English Language_, chiefly regarding the Local
dialect of London and Environs. By Samuel Pegge. 1803.

_Dictionary of the Slang and Cant Languages_, Ancient and Modern. By
George Andrews. A sixpenny pamphlet. London, 1809.

_A Dictionary of Buckish Slang_, University Wit, and Pickpocket
Eloquence. 1811.

_Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University
Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence_, compiled originally by Captain
Grose, and now considerably altered and enlarged by a member of
the Whip Club, assisted by Hell-Fire Dick, etc. London: C.
Chappel, Pall Mall, 1811. With a folding plate by G. Cruikshank,
entitled “Bang up Dinner; or, Love and Lingo.” This is a very
comprehensive slang dictionary, containing extracts from flash
songs and dialogues. It is exceedingly coarse and indelicate, and
is consequently very scarce.

_Bang-up Dictionary_; or, the Lounger and Sportsman’s Vade Mecum. A
Glossary of the Language of the Whips. 1812.

_London Guide and Stranger’s Safeguard_, against Cheats, Swindlers,
and Pickpockets, By William Perry. 1818. Contains a Dictionary of
Slang Words.

_Life of the Count de Vaux_, written by Himself, to which is added a
Canting Dictionary. 1819.

These memoirs were suppressed.

_Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress_: With a Preface, Notes, and
Appendix. By One of the Fancy. London, Longmans & Co., 1819.
There were several Editions. This has been ascribed to Thomas
Moore, it contains a parody of one of his poems, most of the
other pieces contained in this little volume are descriptive of
prize fights, and abound in slang; the burlesque preface and
footnotes, are interesting, learned, and explanatory.

There is also a translation from the Fifth Book of Virgil’s
_Æneid_ in Slang, entitled “Account of the Milling-match between
Entellus and Dares.”

“With daddles high uprais’d, and nob held back,
In awful prescience of th’ impending thwack,
Both Kiddies stood――and with prelusive spar,
And light manœuvering, kindled up the war.!”

* * * * *

_Boxiana_; or, Sketches of Modern Pugilism, by Pierce Egan. London,
1820.

This is more particularly devoted to the Prize-ring, and its
technicalities.

_The Fancy_: A selection from the Poetical Remains of the late
Peter Corcoran, of Gray’s Inn, Student at Lawe London, Taylor &
Hessey. 1820. This is written in imitation of _Tom Crib’s
Memorial to Congress_, and is generally ascribed to James Smith,
one of the authors of _The Rejected Addresses_. It abounds in
cant, slang, and terms of the prize ring, and has a short
glossary of terms.

_The True History of Tom and Jerry_; or, The Day and Night scenes of
Life in London, with a Glossary of Slang. By Pierce Egan. About
1820.

_Flash Dictionary of the Cant Words_, Queer Sayings, and Crack Terms
now in use in Flash Cribb Society. By Mr. Duncombe. 1820.

_Jack Randall’s Diary of Proceedings at the Souse of Call for
Genius._ This is supposed to have been written by Thomas Moore,
it contains numerous Slang parodies, relating to pugilism and
fast life in London. 1820. Jack Randall was an ex-pugilist, who
kept a 284 public-house called the Hole-in-the-Wall, Chancery
Lane, frequented by the “fancy.” He died in 1828.

Alas! poor Jack lies on his back,
As flat as any flounder:
Although he died of a bad inside,
No heart was ever sounder.
The Hole-in-the-Wall was once his _stall_,
His _crib_ the _Fancy_ name it:
A Hole-in-the-Ground he now has found,
And no one else will claim it.

* * * * *

_Essayes and Characters of a Prison and Prisoners._ (Mynshull)
Edinburgh, 1821. Contains an account of the Cant used in the
prison.

_Life of David Haggart_, written by himself while under sentence of
Death. With a glossary of the Slang and Cant Words of the Day.
1821.

_Life in St. George’s Fields_; or, the Rambles and Adventures of
Disconsolate William, Esq., and his Surrey Friend, Flash Dick,
with Songs and a Flash Dictionary. 1821.

_A Political Dictionary_; or, Pocket Companion:――Chiefly designed
for the use of Members of Parliament, Whigs, Tories, Loyalists,
Magistrates, Clergymen, Half-pay Officers, Worshipful Aldermen
and Reviewers; being an Illustration and Commentary on all Words,
Phrases, and Proper Names in the Vocabulary of Corruption. With
biographical illustrations from the lives of the most celebrated
Corruptionists in Church and State. By the Editor of the “Black
Book.” London: T. Dolby. 1821.

This work, which has a strong Radical bias, is satirically
dedicated to the odious Lord Castlereagh, and is very outspoken
in its denunciations of Bribery, Corruption, Pensioners, and
Placemen, as witness the definition it gives of “LAUREATE
(_Poet_),” “A fellow who barters his principles for a hundred
pounds a year and a butt of sack.” This gibe was directed at the
renegade republican Robert Southey, then Poet Laureate.

_The Man of the World’s Dictionary._ Anonymous. London: J.
Appleyard. 1822.

Translated from the _Dictionnaire des Gens du Monde_, a satirical
work in the form of a dictionary.

_Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_, by Francis Grose,
revised and corrected, with the addition of numerous Slang
Phrases, collected from tried authorities, by Pierce Egan.
London. 1823.――This is the best edition of Grose’s work.

_Dictionary of the Turf_, the Ring, the Chase, the Pit, the Bon Ton,
and the Varieties of Life, by John Bee, (_i.e._, John Badcock).
1823.

_Gradus ad Cantabrigiam_; or New University Guide to the Academical
Customs, and Colloquial or Cant terms peculiar to _The University
of Cambridge_. By a Brace of Cantabs. London. J. Hearne.
1824.――This is written in the form of a Dictionary, and contains
some excellent parodies.

_The Modern Flash Dictionary_, containing all the Cant Words, Slang
Terms, and Flash Phrases now in vogue. By E. Kent. 1825.

_Modern Flash Dictionary_, 48mo. 1825.――The smallest Slang
Dictionary ever printed.

_Sportsman’s Slang_; A new Dictionary of Terms used in the affairs
of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, and the Cockpit. By John Bee
(J. Badcock). 1825.

_My Thought Book_, by J. Thomas, 1825.――Contains a chapter on Slang.

_Living Picture of London for 1828_, and Strangers’ Guide through
the streets of the Metropolis; showing the Frauds, the Arts,
Snares and Wiles of all descriptions of Rogues, &c.,
1828.――Giving an insight into the language of the streets.

_Mornings at Bow Street._ By T. Wright, London, 1838. Contains
Etymologies of a few Slang Words.

_Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime_; or the Facts, Examinations, &c.
upon which the Report was founded, Presented to the House of
Lords by W. A. Miles, Esq., to which is added a Dictionary of the
Flash or Cant Language, known to every Thief and Beggar. Edited
by H. Brandon, Esq., London; Shaw & Sons, 1839.――The Flash
Dictionary only extends to six pages, followed by two examples of
“flash” conversation, the first of which has already been quoted.

_Sinks of London laid open_, a Pocket Companion for the uninitiated,
to which is added a _Modern Flash Dictionary_, with a List of the
60 orders of Prime Coves, the whole forming a True Picture of
London Life, Cadging made Easy, the He-She Man, Smoking Kens,
Lessons to Lovers, &c. With illustrations, by George Cruikshank,
London, 1848.

_London Labour and London Poor_, 4 vols. By Henry Mayhew. London,
1851.

_In the Great World of London_, written by the same gentleman, there
is also some information about Cant and Slang Words.

_Magistrates’ Assistant and Constables’ Guide._ By Snowden,
1852.――Contains a “Glossary of the Flash Language.”

_Archaic Dictionary_, by J. O. Halliwell, 2 vols. 1855.

_The Vulgar Tongue_: comprising two glossaries of Slang, Cant and
Flash words and phrases, principally used in London at the
present day. By Ducange Anglicus. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1857.
Only 250 copies were printed of this edition. The first Glossary
was original, the second was merely a reprint from the report
entitled _Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime_, which see. It also
contains _The Leary Man_, a Flash Song, and a Tailor’s Handbill
in Slang, both of which have already been quoted.

_Essay on Church Parties._ By Dean Conybeare, containing examples of
clerical, or pulpit Slang. 1858.

_The Slang Dictionary_; or, the Vulgar words, Street Phrases and
“Fast” expressions of High and Low Society. This was first
published in London by John Camden Hotten in 1859 as _The
Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar words_, a second
edition appeared in 1860; the above named which appeared in 1864,
contained much more matter than its predecessors. There have been
several editions published more recently. Speaking in a general
sense this appears to be by far the most interesting, as it is
also the most useful work on _Slang_ for modern readers.
Naturally it contains a few coarse and vulgar expressions, but
none of an obscene or indelicate description. It has a
bibliography of Slang and Cant, which is, however, incomplete.

_The History of a Manchester Cadger_; narrated in his own language.
Price, one penny.――This was an impudent theft from Hotten’s Slang
Dictionary.

_Miss Polly-Glott’s Dictionary of the Future._――This was a satirical
Dictionary which appeared in several parts of _The Girl of the
Period Miscellany_. London. 1869.

_A Pedlar’s Pack of Ballads and Songs._ By W. H. Logan. Edinburgh;
William Paterson. 1869.――This contains about a dozen slang songs,
the best of which have been already quoted.

_The Shotover Papers_, or Echoes from Oxford. Oxford. J. Vincent.
1874-75.――This contains numerous specimens of the slang in use in
the Oxford Colleges.

_The Life and Times of James Catnach_, (late of Seven Dials) Ballad
Monger. By Charles Hindley. London. Reeves and Turner.
1878.――Contains old Cant Ballads, and notes on Thieves and their
haunts.

_Macmillan’s Magazine_, October, 1879. Autobiography of a Thief, by
Rev. J. W. Horsley.――See also _Jottings from Jail_. 1887.

_Flights of Fancy_ by E. L. Blanchard. London: E. W. Allen, 1882.
This has a more explanatory sub-title; “The Comic Encyclopædia, a
Dictionary of Definitions for the use of Punsters,” this in
reality is a humorous and satirical dictionary. This work
originally appeared in parts in the early numbers of _Fun_.
London.

_Jottings from Jail_; Notes and Papers on Prison matters. By the
Rev. J. W. Horsley M.A., London. T. Fisher Unwin, 1887.

This contains “An Autobiography of a Thief, in Cant or Thieves’
language,” which had previously appeared in _Macmillan’s
Magazine_ for October, 1879. This was also reprinted, with a
French translation, in Mr. A. Barrère’s splendid work _Argot and
Slang_.

_The A. B. C. of a New Dictionary of Flash, Cant, Slang and Vulgar
Words, Proverbs and Provincialisms_, their Explication and
Illustration. On the basis of Bailey and Grose. London, no date,
but probably printed about 1866. This exceedingly scarce and
rather coarse little book (110 pages) has no author’s or
publisher’s name. It only deals with the first three letters of
the alphabet, and was evidently intended as the first instalment
of a very complete dictionary, an intention which was not carried
into effect. Only a few copies were printed.

_New Canting Dictionary._ N.D.

_A new Dictionary of the Jaunting Crew._ N.D.

_The Gipsy Vocabulary_, Edited by W. Pinkerton.

_Every Day Life in our Public Schools._ By C. E. Pascoe. London.

_The Seven Curses of London._ By James Greenwood.

_A Supplementary English Glossary._ By T. L. O. Davies. London,
1881.

“_The True History of Tom and Jerry_; or The Day and Night Scenes of
Life in London from the Start to the Finish! With a key to the
Persons and Places, together with a Vocabulary and Glossary of
the Flash and Slang terms occurring in the course of the work.”
By Charles Hindley. London, Reeves & Turner, 1889.

This is a reprint of Pierce Egan’s _Tom and Jerry_ and _The
Finish to the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic_, with an
interesting and profusely illustrated introduction, by Mr.
Hindley. The Glossary has been revised and brought down to date,
and altogether the book is as curious and as amusing a record of
“Life in London” seventy years ago as can be desired. Only two
hundred and fifty copies have been printed.

_A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon, and Cant_, embracing English,
American, and Anglo-Indian Slang, Pidgin English, Tinkers’
Jargon, and other irregular Phraseology, compiled and edited by
Albert Barrère and Charles G. Leland. Printed, for subscribers
only, at the Ballantyne Press. 1889. Only the first volume (A to
K) of this work has as yet been issued.

AMERICAN AND COLONIAL SLANG.

_Essays on Americanisms_, Perversions of Language in the United
States, Cant Phrases, &c.――By Dr. Witherspoon, Philadelphia,
1801.

Probably the earliest work on Americanisms.

_Vocabulary_, or Collection of Words and Phrases which have been
supposed to be peculiar to the United States of America. By F.
Pickering, Boston, 1816.

_Letter to the Hon. John Pickering_, on the subject of his
Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases supposed to be
peculiar to the United States. By Noah Webster, Boston, 1817.

_Collection of College Words and Customs._ By B. H. Hall. Cambridge
(U.S.) 1856.

_Dictionary of Americanisms_; a Glossary of Words and Phrases
colloquially used in the United States. By John Russell Bartlett.
New York, 1859.

_Glossary of supposed Americanisms_; Vulgar and Slang words used in
the United States, by Alfred L. Elwyn. 1859.

_Gazetteer of Georgia_, U.S. By Sherwood. This contains a glossary
of the Slang and Vulgar words peculiar to the Southern States of
the U.S.A.

_A Handbook of Sayings and Phrases._ By J. A. Mair. London, George
Routledge and Sons. About 1880. This useful little work contains
not only many English Slang Words, but also a collection of
American Words and Phrases.

_Americanisms, Old and New_, being a collection of words, phrases,
and colloquialisms peculiar to the United States British America,
the West Indies, etc. By John S. Farmer. Privately printed 1889.
This contains a good many words pertaining to transatlantic cant,
or thieves’ slang. An amusing article on this book appeared in
_The Daily News_, January 31, 1889.

_School Life at Winchester College_, giving an account of the
Language of _Ziph_. By Professor Mansfield.

――――:o:――――

CONTINENTAL BOOKS OF REFERENCE ON “ARGOT” OR SLANG.

_La Comédie des Proverbes._ Par Adrien de Montluc. 1633.

_Dictionnaire des Halles._ Bruxelles, 1696. A scarce and very
curious slang dictionary.

_Dictionnaire Comique, Satyrique, Critique, Burlesque, Libre et
Proverbial._ Avec une explication très-fidèle de toutes les
manières de parler Burlesques, Comiques, Libres, Satyriques,
Critiques et Proverbiales, qui peuvent se rencontrer dans les
meilleurs Auteurs, tant anciens que modernes. Par Philibert
Joseph Le Roux. Lyons, 1735. Other editions 1752 and 1786.

(The editor’s copy of this curious work was published by Michel
Charles le Cene, at Amsterdam, 1718, and was purchased in July
1889, at Sotheby’s sale of the Library of the Right Hon. and
Reverend the Earl of Buckinghamshire.)

_Le Poissardiana._ 1756.

_Amusements à la Grecque_, ou les Soirées de la Halle. Par un Ami de
feu Vadé. Paris, 1764.

_Amusements rapsodi-poétiques._ 1773.

_Nouveau Dictionnaire Proverbial, Satirique et Burlesque._ Plus
complet que ceux qui ont paru jusqu’à ce jour, à l’usage de tout
le monde. Par A. Caillot. Paris. Dauvin, 1826.

Illustrated by many interesting quotations from the old French
classical writers.

_Dictionnaire d’Argot_, ou la Langue des Voleurs devoilée, contenant
les moyens de se mettre en garde contre les Ruses des Filous.
Paris. 1830 (?)

_Histoire de Collet_ et de plusieurs autres Voleurs anciens et
modernes, suivie d’un Dictionnaire Argot-Francais. Paris, 1849.

_Macaroneana_, ou Mélange de Littérature Macaronique des différents
Peuples de l’Europe. Par Octave Delepierre. 1852.

_Etudes de Philologie comparée sur l’Argot._ Par Francisque Michel.
Paris. 1856.

_Dictionnaire d’Argot_, ou Etudes de Philologie comparée sur
l’Argot. Par Francisque Michel. Paris. 1856.

_Le Dictionnaire des Précieuses._ Par A. B. de Somaize. Nouvelle
edition par Ch. L. Livet. 1856.

_Récréations Philologiques._ Par F. Génin. Paris. 1858.

_Liber Vagatorum._ Der Betler Orden. The Book of Vagabonds and
Beggars, with a vocabulary of their Language. Now first
translated into English, with Notes, by John Camden Hotten. 4to.
London. 1859.――For an account of this work see Hotten’s _Slang
Dictionary_.

_Glossaire Erotique de la Langue Française._ Par Louis de Landes.
Bruxelles, 1861.

_Curiosités de l’Etymologie française._ Par Charles Nisard. Paris,
1863.

_Vocabulaire des Houilleurs Liégois._ Par S. Bormans. 1864.

_Dictionnaire de la Langue Verte_, par Alfred Delvau. Paris. Second
edition, 1867.

_Almanach de la Langue Verte pour l’année 1868_, à l’usage des Bons
Zigues.

_Almanach Chantant._ 1869.

_Dictionnaire Historique, Etymologique, et Anecdotique de l’Argot
Parisien._ Par L. Larchey. Paris, 1872. (There have been several
editions of this work).

_De quelques Parisianismes populaires et autres Locutions._ Par
Charles Nisard. Paris, 1876.

_Dictionnaire Historique l’Argot._ Par Lorédan Larchey. Paris, 1880.

_Dictionnaire d’Argot Moderne._ Par Lucien Rigaud. Paris, 1881.

_Dictionnaire de l’Argot des Typographes._ Par Eugène Boutmy. Paris,
1883.

_Dictionnaire de l’Argot Moderne._ Par L. Rigaud. Paris, 1883.

_Dictionnaire de la Langue Verte_, par Delvau et Fustier.

The last and best edition, with a supplement, was published in
Paris in 1883.

_L’Argot des Nomades en Basse-Brétagne._ Par N. Quellien. Paris,
1885.

_L’Argot des Nomades de la Basse-Brétagne._ Par N. Quellien. Paris,
1886.

_La Langue Verte du Troupier._ Par Léon Merlin. Paris, 1886.

_Le Jargon_, ou Langage de l’Argot reformé. Epinal. N.D.

_Paris Voleur._ Par Pierre Delcourt. Paris, 1887.

_Dictionnaire Erotique Moderne._ Par un Professeur de la langue
Verte. (Alfred Delvau.)

_Les Formules du Docteur Grégoire_, Dictionnaire du Figaro. Par A.
Decourcelle. Paris: J. Hetzel. No date.

An amusing satirical work, in which many humourous definitions
are arranged in the form of a dictionary.

_Histoire de la Prostitution_, par Léo Taxil. Paris. N.D.

_Argot and Slang_; a new French and English Dictionary of the Cant
Words, Quaint Expressions, Slang Terms and Flash Phrases used in
old and new Paris. By A. Barrère. London. Privately printed at
the Chiswick Press, by C. Whittingham and Co. 1887.

This splendid work contains historical notices of the various
canting languages, a number of songs both in French and English
slang, and a French translation of the Rev. J. W. Horsley’s
_Autobiography of a Thief in Thieves’ Language_.

M. Barrère gives a long list of the works he has consulted, and
in the body of his book brief extracts are given to show the
application and contexts of the examples.

――――

Books on foreign slang are very numerous. Besides those already mentioned the following are well known:――“Le Jargon, ou Langage de l’Argot reformé,” &c. (à Troyés), par Yves Girardin, 1660; another by Antoine Dubois, 1680; “Le Jargon ou Langage de l’Argot reformé, pour l’instruction des bons Grivois,” &c., à Lavergne, chex Mezière, Babillandier du Grand Coëre, 1848; “Le Jargon de l’Argot,” par Techener (several editions).

Alfred Delvau published his “Dictionnaire de la Langue Verte, Argots Parisiens comparés,” in 1866, and a second edition in 1867. A third “augmentée d’un supplément par G. Fustier” appeared in 1883. The same author published the “Dictionnaire Erotique Moderne” in 1864. Other editions followed in 1874 and 1875.

Lorédan Larchey wrote “Les Excentricités de la Langue Française” in 1860; the fourth edition appeared in 1862. In 1872 the title was changed to “Dictionnaire Historique Etymologique et Anecdotique de l’Argot Parisien. Sixième Edition des Excentricités du Langage mise à la hauteur des Revolutions du Jour.” In 1880 the eighth edition was called “Dictionnaire Historique d’Argot”; and a supplement appeared in 1883.

It has not been attempted here to give more than a brief bibliography of the principal French works treating of _Argot_ in an explanatory, or historical manner.

Those who wish to pursue the subject further, and to study examples, must consult the old poems of Maitre Francois Villon and Molière, and the writings of Rabelais, Beaumarchais, Eugene Sue, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Champfleury, Honoré de Balzac, Pierre de Brantôme, Alphonse Daudet, Emile Gaboriau, Charles Nodier, Jean Richepin, and the classical Memoires de Monsieur Vidocq.

CROSS READINGS.

A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM CARDINAL RICHELIEU.

Mr. Campoa, Savoyard and Friar, of the holy order of St.
Bennet,
is to be the bearer to you of some news from me, by means of
this letter; he is one of the most discreet, wise, and least
vicious persons that I ever yet knew, amongst all I have conversed
with
and hath earnestly desired me to write to you in his favour,
and
to give him a letter for you of credence in his behalf and my
recommendation, which to his merit (I assure you) rather
than his
importunity, I have granted; for he deserves greatly your
esteem, and
I should be sorry you should be backward to oblige him by
being
mistaken in not knowing him, I should be concern’d if you
were
as very many others have been already upon that account,
who are of my best friends. Hence, and for no other
motive,
I am desirous to advertise you that you are obliged for my
sake
to take especial notice of him, to pay him all possible
respect,
and to say nothing before him that may offend or displease
him
in any sort; for I may truly say, he is a worthy man, and
assure you, there can’t be a more convincing argument of an
unworthy person in the world, than to be able to injure him.
I am sure, that as soon as you cease being a stranger to his
virtue, &
have any acquaintance with him, you will love him as well as
I, and
I shall receive thanks for the advice. The assurance I have of your
Civility hindereth me to write farther of him to you, or to
say
any more on the subject.

An invention of the like kind is the Jesuits Double-faced Creed, which was published in the history of Popery, 1679, and which, according to the different readings, may suit either Papist or Protestant.

THE JESUITS DOUBLE-FACED CREED.

I hold for faith What England’s church allows,
What Rome’s church saith My conscience disavows.
Where the king is head The flock can take no shame,
The flock’s misled Who hold the pope supreme.
Where the altar’s drest The worship’s scarce divine,
The people’s blest Whose table’s bread and wine.
He’s but an ass Who their communion flies,
Who shuns the mass Is catholic and wise.

IN LATIN.

Pro fide teneo sana Quae docet Anglicana
Affirmat quae Romana Videnter mihi vana,
Supremus quando rex est Tum plebs est fortunata,
Erraticus tum Grex est Cum caput fiat papa,
Altare cum ornatur Communio fit inanis,
Populus tum beatur Cum mensa vino panis,
Asini nomen meruit Hunc morem qui non capit,
Missam qui deseruit Catholicus est et sapit.

The following lines were found in the pocket of the Marquis of Tullabardine on his death in July, 1746. Read across, the cause of the Stuart family is advocated, whilst that of the Hanoverians is pleaded if the short lines are read straight down.

I love wᵗʰ all my Heart The Stuart’s party Here
The Hanoverian part Most hateful doth appear
And for the Settlement I ever have denied
My Conscience gives Consent To be on Jemmy’s side
Most righteous is the Cause To be for such a King
To fight for George’s Laws Will Britain ruin bring
This is my Mind and Heart In this Opinion I
Tho’ none shoᵈ take my part Resolve to live and die.

TWO VIEWS OF MARRIED LIFE.

The first view is attained by reading the verses as they are printed, the second view appears by reading the lines alternately, the first and third, then the second and fourth.

That man must lead a happy life
Who is directed by a wife;
Who’s freed from matrimonial claims,
Is sure to suffer for his pains.

Adam could find no solid peace
Till he beheld a woman’s face;
When Eve was given for a mate,
Adam was in a happy state.

In all the female race appear
Truth, darling of a heart sincere;
Hypocrisy, deceit, and pride,
In woman never did reside.

What tongue is able to unfold
The worth in woman we behold?
The failings that in woman dwell
Are almost imperceptible.

Confusion take the men, I say,
Who no regard to women pay;
Who make the women their delight
Keep always reason in their sight.

A mangled and spoilt version of this very old poem was recently given in _The Sporting Times_, (September 4, 1889), as original matter.

――――:o:――――

AUTUMN.

The melancholy days have come,
The saddest of the year;
Too warm, alas! for whiskey punch,
Too cold for lager beer.

Religious and Political Parodies.

Those parodies which deal with Religious and Political questions are alike in that they are both of great antiquity, and that, no matter how harmless they may be, they are sure to displease a certain proportion of their readers. Thus the parodies that were published by William Hone were both religious and political, and they gave great offence to the supporters of the government of his day, yet any history of English parody that should omit the parodies which gave rise to his three trials would be ridiculously incomplete. It is difficult to adequately treat of the topic without appearing to ridicule that which to many appears too solemn for burlesque.

But in the following pages a broad distinction has been drawn, those Parodies only have been admitted which, whilst imitating the form or language of portions of the liturgy, have no tendency to ridicule religion in itself, nor to burlesque any of its dogmas. It should be remembered that much of the phraseology we associate with the Liturgy is simply old fashioned English, such as was in common use at the time the Scriptures were translated into English, and when the services of the Church of England were first compiled. There can therefore be nothing impious in applying similar language to other subjects, and many eminent churchmen have used the liturgical forms of expression in answering and ridiculing the arguments of their opponents.

There would be little difficulty in showing that in the matter of Parodies no one creed has been less considerate of their neighbours religious opinions than the Protestants, and that, from the days of Luther, the Reformers have left no weapon unemployed which could, in their opinion, do injury to the older form of Catholicism.

When that pattern of filial devotion, Mary the Second, came over with her husband to dispossess her father of his kingdom, we read that he who, with all his faults, had been a kind father, exclaimed “Heaven help me, since even my own children desert me!” It was in the name of holy Religion that James the Second was banished from this country, and his enemies, to show how truly christianlike they were, addressed the following poem to his daughter. In this, not content with burlesquing one of the most beautiful portions of the Catholic Church service, they compare this Mary, descended from the Stuarts, with the Virgin Mary.

THE
PROTESTANTS AVE MARY,
on the
Arrival of Her most Gracious Majesty,
MARY,
QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

Hail all that’s Great or Good! and let the Hail
O’erspread Three Kingdoms, and like Truth prevail:
_Hail Mary!_ ’twas of old the Voice of Heaven;
Nor are we mortals of our share bereaven.
_Hail Mary full of Grace!_ speaks yet more clear,
Since ev’ry Virtue is Constellate here.
And all the Graces so entirely meet,
That nothing less could such a Princess greet.
Nor rest we here: _The Lord is with thee too_:
Or thy Great Lord could ne’er such Wonders do.
Wonders! may well th’ alarum’d World surprise;
It was of GOD, and Marvellous in our Eyes!
Wonders! as put its Motion to a stand,
And not His Finger speaks, but Mighty Hand.

Advance yet higher, and pursue the Hind;
_Blessed art thou amongst all Womankind:_

Since thou com’st cloath’d with Innocence and Peace,
And brings’t the Charms, to make our Tempests cease:
Since by thy virtues we shall now Retrieve
Our gasping Laws, and gain them a Reprieve.
Thy WILLIAM’S maintain’d Ray will restore,
_England_ the lustre it enjoy’d before;
Our shatter’d Liberties and Laws maintain,
And calmly anchor Church and State again.
But oh! We grieve, that yet, we can’t apply,
The last Division of that _Rosary_.
We Wish, we Hope, we Pray, and will Pray on,
Till we have gain’d Heaven’s Favour in a SON:
That then we may the whole Salute repeat,
And make our Joys, as well as that Compleat.
Ye Miter’d Heads assist, call to Assize
Your strongest zeals, and with them storm the Skies;
We know, that fervent Prayer did never fail,
And let _Rome_ know such Hereticks can prevail,
And with a Holy Violence pluck down,
A real Issue to support the Crown,
Whilst their addresses to _Loretto_ made,
Did only gain a Son in Masquerade.
Thus we, to our Great MARY, pay our Hails,
With Hearts as full, and swelling as her Sails;
Thanks Winds, and Seas, and Ships, that wafted o’er,
OUR BLESSED LADY to the British Shore.
But above all, thanks be to Heaven alone,
That led Her from a State, unto a Throne;
Where She will hold (guided by th’ Hand of God.)
The Dovelike Sceptre not an Iron Rod:
So our late model, she may them Reform;
And with true _English_ interest perform,
What _James_ first promis’d; and advance our Glory,
Beyond the Limits of Ancestral Story;
For what can’t England do, would she awake,
Give _Laws_ to _Europe_, and make Empires shake.
Keep Mistress of the Undisputed Maine,
And hold the Balance Just, ’twixt France and Spain;
And once more make her useless Cannons Roar,
Through both the _Indies_, and bring back their ore.
Search out new World, and Conquer old Ones too,
Bomb _Mexico_, and subjugate Peru:
Beard the proud _Sophy_, and the Grand _Mogul_,
These are the Rays would make thy Glory full.
Such mighty Acts, would make a Perfect Reign,
And our _Great_ WILLIAM Conquerour again.
* * * * *
Then visit _Monsieur_ with United Powers,
See _Paris_ too, and humble her high Towers;
Storm the _Bastile_, possess the _Louvre_ too;
What can’t _Great_ WILLIAM and _Bright_ MARY do!
Thus may’st thou Conquer, and _Amen_ all say,
Thus may’st thou reign, while we our Homage pay,
And make thy entry, our Great _Lady-Day_.

This poem is dated “_London, 1689_. Printed for _R. Baldin_ near the Black-Bull in the Old Baily.”

An even earlier Parody, having a religious motive, may be found in “_The Temple_. Sacred Poems by Mr. George Herbert.” First printed at Cambridge in 1633, it is entitled

A PARODIE.

Souls joy, when thou art gone,
And I alone,
Which cannot be,
Because thou dost abide with me,
And I depend on thee;
Yet when thou dost suppresse
The cheerfulnesse
Of thy abode,
And in my powers not stirre abroad,
But leave me to my load:
O what a damp and shade
Doth me invade!
No stormie night
Can so afflict or so affright,
As thy eclipsed light.

* * * * *

The Parody of Scripture may be raised above mere travesty by a vein of earnestness in the motive. Luther intended no violence to the first Psalm when he thus parodied it:――

“Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the way of the
Sacramentarians, nor sat in the seat of the Zuringlians, nor
followed in the Council of the Zurichers.”

The same may be said of Dr. Norman Macleod’s parody of the first chapter of Genesis:――