Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, Who was fly to the time of day. I pattered in flash,[277] like a covey[278] knowing, Tol lol, &c., “Ay, bub or grubby,[279] I say.” I pattered in flash like a covey knowing, “Ay, bub or grubby, I say.” “Lots of gatter,”[280] quo’ she, “are flowing, Tol lol, &c., Lend me a lift in the family way.[281] “Lots of gatter,” quo’ she, “are flowing, Lend me a lift in the family way. You may have a crib[282] to stow in, Tol lol, &c., Welcome, my pal,[283] as the flowers in May.” “You may have a crib to stow in, Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.” To her ken at once I go in, Tol lol, &c., Where in a corner out of the way; To her ken at once I go in, Where in a corner out of the way, With his smeller[284] a trumpet blowing, Tol lol, &c., A regular swell cove[285] lushy[286] lay. With his smeller a trumpet blowing, A regular swell cove lushy lay. To his clies[287] my hooks[288] I throw in, Tol lol, &c., And collar his dragons[289] clear away. To his clies my hooks I throw in, And collar his dragons clear away. Then his ticker[290] I set a-going, Tol lol, &c., And his onions,[291] chain and key. Then his ticker I set a-going, With his onions, chain and key; Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, Tol lol, &c., And his ginger head topper gay. Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, And his ginger head topper gay. Then his other toggery[292] stowing, Tol lol, &c., All with the swag[293] I sneak away. Then his other toggery stowing, All with the swag I sneak away. Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen, Tol lol, &c., Or be grabbed[294] by the beaks[295] we may. 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, &c., A Newgate hornpipe some fine day. And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, A Newgate hornpipe some fine day, With the mots[296] their ogles[297] throwing, Tol lol, &c., And old Cotton[298] humming his pray.[299] With the mots their ogles throwing, And old Cotton humming his pray, And the fogle-hunters[300] doing, Tol lol, &c., Their morning fake[301] in the prigging lay. [272] Ken, _shop_, _house_. [273] Prigging lay, _thieving business_. [274] Blowen, _girl_, _strumpet_, _sweetheart_. [275] Fly (contraction of flash), _awake_, _up to_, _practised in_. [276] Time o’ day, _knowledge of business_, _thieving_ [277] Pattered in flash, _spoke in slang_. [278] Covey, _man_. [279] Bub and grub, _drink and food_. [280] Gatter, _porter_. [281] Family, _the thieves in general_; the family way, _the thieving line_. [282] Crib, _bed_. [283] Pal, _friend_, _companion_, _paramour_. [284] Smeller, _nose_.