Omnes. Not by no means. (General groans).
Billy. Oh, curse a de tread mill, me no like a de “here we go up, up, up,” and “down you go down, down, down,” an if you no work, a great lump of wood come and knock you down so—(Striking Beggar on head, with fiddle, who falls down).
Beggar. Oh! he has split my Jemmy!
Billy. (Picking him up). Poor fellow, him werry sorry, so dere no harm done. Gemman of de Noah Ark Society, as Little Jemmy here is no starter, I move he be put in de chair a-top o’ de table.
Omnes. Bravo! Jemmy in the chair. (Jemmy is put on the table).
Mr. J. Silence for the cheer.
Jemmy. Gemman, I shall return thanks—here’s all your jolly good healths, and success to flat catching.
Omnes. Bravo! bravo!
SONG.—Mr. Jenkins, and barking chorus of Beggars.
AIR.—Bow, Wow, Wow.
That all men are beggars, ’tis very plain to see,
Tho’ some they are of lowly, and some they are of high degree;
Your ministers of state will say, they never will allow
That kings from subjects beg, but that you know is all bow wow.
Bow wow, wow! fol lol, &c.
Then let us cadgers be, and take in all the flats we can,
Experience we know full well, my boys, it is that makes the man;
And for experience all should pay, that Billy will allow,
And as for conscience that of old we know is all bow wow.
Bow, wow, wow! fol lol, &c.
Enter KATE, SUE, JANE, TRIFLE, and GREEN, disguised as Beggars.