I
From priggs that snaffle the prancers strong, [1]
To you of the Peter Lay, [2]
I pray now listen a while to my song,
How my Boman he kick'd away. [3]
II
He broke thro' all rubbs in the whitt, [4]
And chiv'd his darbies in twain; [5]
But fileing of a rumbo ken, [6]
My Boman is snabbled again. [7]
III
I Frisky Moll, with my rum coll, [8]
Wou'd Grub in a bowzing ken; [9]
But ere for the scran he had tipt the cole, [10]
The Harman he came in. [11]
IV
A famble, a tattle, and two popps, [12]
Had my Boman when he was ta'en;
But had he not bouz'd in the diddle shops, [13]
He'd still been in Drury-Lane.
[1: steal horses] [2: carriage thieves] [3: fancy man or sweetheart] [4: obstacles; Newgate] [5: cut fetters] [6: Breaking into a pawn-broker's] [7: imprisoned] [8: good man] [9: eat; ale-house] [10: refreshments; paid] [11: constable] [12 ring; watch; pistols] [13 gin-shops]
THE CANTER'S SERENADE [Notes] [1725]