Ballads, English -- Texts; English poetry -- 19th century; Street literature -- Great Britain
(Spoken) Here, here, show ’em up here, show ’em up here. Now’s your
time, Ladies and Gentlemen--only twopence each, to see that surprising
Conjuror, the emperor of all conjurors, who will forfeit the enormous
sum of one hundred pounds to any one who shall perform the said wonders.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am no common sleight of hand man. The
common sleight of hand man, they turn the things up their sleeves, and
make you believe their fingers deceive your eyes. Now, Sir, you shall
draw one card, two cards, three cards, four cards, half a dozen cards:
you look on the card this side, you look on the card that side, and I
say blow, by the abominable-ba-be-bo-fe-jacko-crack-oh-feltho-swiftly
begone-quick-presto-passo-largo-mento-hi-coccolorum, the card is flown.
Where is it gone to? that is the question. Be so kind, Sir, as to stop
that there young woman from getting out of the crowd; I suppose she has
got it under her garter. Come, come, young woman, bring it forward,
bring it forward, and let me hold it up, that all the company may have a
squint at it.
Now the beasts with angry tooth all attack the booth,
Away affrighted run, birds and eagles of the sun,
Down tumbled trot legg’d Molly, who tips him the hue hollow,
Poor Card is in the mud, O, rare, O.
(Spoken) Here, here, vaulk up, ladies and gentlemen, here’s the
wonderful Kangaroo, just arrived from Bottomless Bay. Here is the
wonderful large baboon, that danced a padolo, and played at leap-frog
with the celebrated Master Barintar. Here is the wonderful
leopard-spotted tom cat, of the male species, which can as well see in
the dark as without light. Here is the wonderful little marmoza monkey,
just arrived from the Isle of Liliput: hold him up to the company,
master keeper. O dear me, what a little beauty, to be sure, do let me
stroke the dear little creature--la! la! how prodigious tame he is. Yes,
marm, he’s always very tame to the ladies.
Ye up, guvnor, what’s the name of that large bird there, stuck up in the
corner? Vat! that there vone? Oh! that’s the wonderful Sun eagle, the
hotter the sun is, the higher he flies. There’s the wonderful Cow, that
can’t live on dry land, and dies in the water. Billy, Billy, my boy, go
and stuff a blanket in that ere hole, or the little ones vill peep for
nothing. Here, here, now’s your time, ladies and gentlemen, jest a going
to begin, jest a going to begin. Stand off the steps there, you boys,
and make way for that gentleman with the smock frock and carbuncled nose
to come down. How did you like it, Sir? Oh, it’s all dam stuff. There,
there, only hear what a good character the gentleman gives it. Vaulk up,
ladies and gemmen, now’s your time to see that wonderful wooden Roscius,
Mr. Punch, for the small charge of vone penny. Show your tricks Mr.
Punch.
_GEORGY BARNWELL._
IN Cheapside there liv’d a merchant
A man he vas of wery great fame,
And he had a handsome prentice,
Georgy Barnwell vas his name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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