The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

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Bumptuous [19] Colin quickly said.
"Bolt?" she falter'd, "from the gov'nor?
Oh! my Colin, that won't pay; [20]
He will ne'er come down, [21] my love, nor
Help us, if we run away."
"Shall we then be disunited?"
Wildly shrieked the frantic cove; [22]
"Mull'd [23] our happiness! and blighted
In the kinchin-bud [24] our love!
"No, my tulip! [25] let us rather
Hand in hand the bucket kick; [26]
Thus we'll chouse [27] your cruel father--
Cutting from the world our stick!" [28]
Thus he spoke, and pull'd a knife out,
Sharp of point, of edge full fine;
Pierc'd her heart, and let the life out--
"Now," he cried, "here's into mine!" [29]
But a hand unseen behind him
Did the fatal blow arrest.
Oh, my eye! [30] they seize and bind him--
Gentle Mure, conceal the rest!
In the precints of the prison,
In his cold crib [31] Colin lies;
Mourn his fate all you who listen,
Draw it mild, and mind your eyes! [32]
1. "Prigging," stealing; as yet exclusively applied to petty larceny.
"Stealing" is as well known to be a poetical term as it is to be an
indictable offense; the Zephyr and the Vesper Hymn, cum multis aliis,
are very prone to this practice.
2. "Swigging," drinking copiously--of malt liquor in particular.
"Pearly drops of dew we drink."--OLD SONG.
3. "Plummiest," the superlative of "plummy," exquisitely delicious; an
epithet commonly used by young gentlemen in speaking of a bonne bouche
or "tit bit," as a mince pie, a preserved apricot, or an oyster patty.