Ne ronce point du sabre[24] au mion[25] du taudis,
Qui n’aille au Gaulfarault,[26] gergonant de tesis,[27]
Que son journal[28] o flus[29] n’empoupe ta fouillouse.[30]
N’embiant[31] on rouillarde,[32] et de noir roupillant,[33]
Sur la gourde fretille,[34] et sur le gourd volant,[35]
Ainsi tu ne luras l’accolante tortouse.[36]
[1] Langage soudardant, soldiers’ lingo. [2] Accipant, for recevant. [3] Marpaut, host. [4] Galiere, mare. [5] Grivolant, name for a soldier. [6] Flambe, sword. [7] Trimart, road. [8] Gille, name for a runaway. [9] Girouart, patron. [10] Mette,wine-shop; morning; thieves’ meeting-place. [11] Lura, will see. [12] Biotte, steed. [13] Conie, dead. [14] Gourd pioller, drink heavily. [15] Me credant, for me croyant. [16] Morfie, eat. [17] Ornion, capon. [18] Morne, mutton. [19] Oygnan, for oignon. [20] Artois blanchemin, white bread. [21] Riflant chouart, fiery penis. [22] Rive, refers to coition. [23] Andrumelle gaudie, jolly girl. [24] Ne ronce point du sabre, do not lay the stick on. [25] Mion, boy, waiter. [26] Gaulfarault, master of a bawdy house. [27] Gergonant de tesis, complaining of thee. [28] Journal, pocket-book. [29] O flus, or pack of cards. [30] N’empoupe ta fouillouse, fill thy pocket. [31] N’embiant, not travelling. [32] Rouillarde, drinks. [33] De noir roupillant, sleeping at night. [34] Gourde fretille, thick straw. [35] Volant, cloak. [36] Tortouse, rope.
Sixteenth Century.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN A HEADMAN IN THE CANTING CREW AND A VAGABOND.
(From Thomas Harman’s Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, vulgarly called Vagabones, 1568.)
Upright Man. Bene Lightmans[37] to thy quarromes,[38] in what lipken[39] hast thou lypped[40] in this darkemans,[41] whether in a lybbege[42] or in the strummel?[43]