III
Believe me, there is not a game, my brave boys,
To compare with the game of high-toby;
No rapture can equal the tobyman's joys, [9]
To blue devils, blue plumbs give the go-by; [10]
And what if, at length, boys, he come to the crap! [11]
Even rack punch has some bitter in it,
For the mare-with-three-legs, boys, I care not a rap, [12]
'Twill be over in less than a minute!
Chorus.
Then hip, hurrah!
Fling care away!
Hurrah for the game of high-toby!
[1: the moon] [2: light] [3: highwayman] [4: black horse] [5: sword; pistols] [6: high-way robbery] [7: fleet horse; horse] [8: pocketbook] [9: highwayman] [10: bullets] [11: gallows] [12: gallows]
THE DOUBLE CROSS [Notes] [1834]
[By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, in Rookwood]