XII
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, etc.
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day. [19]
XIII
And we shall caper a-heel and toeing
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day
With the mots their ogles throwing [20]
Tol lol, etc.
And old Cotton humming his pray. [21]
XIV
With the mots their ogles throwing
And old Cotton humming his pray,
And the fogle hunters doing
Tol lol, etc.
Their morning fake in the prigging lay.
[1: shop; house] [2: thieving] [3: girl, strumpet, sweetheart] [4: 'cute in business] [5: spoke in slang] [6: drink and food] [7: porter, beer] [8: family = fraternity of thieves] [9: nose] [10: gentleman; drunk] [11: pockets; fingers] [12: take his sovereigns] [13: watch] [14: seals] [15: hat] [16: clothes] [17: plunder] [18: taken; police] [19: hanging] [20: girl's; eyes] [21: Notes]
ON THE PRIGGING LAY [Notes] [1829]
[By H. T. R….: a translation of a French Slang song ("Un jour à la Croix Rouge") in Vidocq's Memoirs, 1828-9, 4 vols.]