I turned down the lilly slat, [6] Methought she fell a screaming, This startled me; I straight awak'd, And found myself but dreaming. [1: evening] [2: pretty] [3: lips] [4: stolen] [5: hair] [6: white sheet] "WHEN MY DIMBER DELL I COURTED" [Notes] [1725] [From _The New Canting Dictionary_], I When my dimber dell I courted [1] She had youth and beauty too, Wanton joys my heart transported, And her wap was ever new. [2] But conquering time doth now deceive her, Which her pleasures did uphold; All her wapping now must leave her, For, alas! my dell's grown old. II Her wanton motions which invited, Now, alas! no longer charm, Her glaziers too are quite benighted, [3] Nor can any prig-star charm. For conquering time, alas! deceives her Which her triumphs did uphold, And every moving beauty leaves her Alas! my dimber dell's grown old. III There was a time no cull could toute her, [4] But was sure to be undone: Nor could th' uprightman live without her, [5] She triumph'd over every one. But conquering time does now deceive her, Which her sporting us'd t' uphold, All her am'rous dambers leave her, For, alas! the dell's grown old. IV All thy comfort, dimber dell, Is, now, since thou hast lost thy prime, That every cull can witness well, Thou hast not misus'd thy time. There's not a prig or palliard living, Who has not been thy slave inroll'd. Then cheer thy mind, and cease thy grieving; Thou'st had thy time, tho' now grown old. [1: pretty wench] [2: Notes] [3: eyes] [4: man; look at] [5: Notes] THE OATH OF THE CANTING CREW [Notes] [1749] [From _The Life of Bampfylde Moore Carew_, by ROBERT GOADBY]. I, Crank Cuffin, swear to be [1] True to this fraternity; That I will in all obey Rule and order of the lay. Never blow the gab or squeak; [2] Never snitch to bum or beak; [3] But religiously maintain Authority of those who reign Over Stop Hole Abbey green, [4] Be their tawny king, or queen. In their cause alone will fight; Think what they think, wrong or right; Serve them truly, and no other, And be faithful to my brother; Suffer none, from far or near, With their rights to interfere; No strange Abram, ruffler crack, [5] Hooker of another pack, Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, [6] Irish toyle, or other wanderer; [7] No dimber, dambler, angler, dancer, Prig of cackler, prig of prancer; No swigman, swaddler, clapper-dudgeon; Cadge-gloak, curtal, or curmudgeon; No whip-jack, palliard, patrico; No jarkman, be he high or low; No dummerar, or romany; No member of the family; No ballad-basket, bouncing buffer, Nor any other, will I suffer; But stall-off now and for ever All outtiers whatsoever; And as I keep to the foregone, So may help me Salamon! [By the mass!] [1: Notes] [2: reveal secrets] [3: betray to bailif or magistrate] [4: Notes] [5: Notes] [6: Notes; beggar] [7: Notes] COME ALL YOU BUFFERS GAY [Notes] [1760]