Принц і жебрак

           Bythetimethelaststanzawasreached,thehalf-drunkenenthusiasmhadrisentosuchapitch,thateverybodyjoinedinandsangitclearthroughfromthebeginning,producingavolumeofvillainoussoundthatmadetheraftersquake.Theseweretheinspiringwords:—

           ‘BienDarkman’sthen,BouseMortandKen,

           ThebienCovesbingsawast,

           OnChatestotrinebyRomeCovesdine

           Forhislonglibatlast.

           Bing’doutbienMortsandtoure,andtoure,

           BingoutoftheRomevilebine,

           AndtouretheCovethatcloy’dyourduds,

           UpontheChatestotrine.‘

           (From’TheEnglishRogue.’London,1665.)

           Conversationfollowed;notinthethieves’dialectofthesong,forthatwasonlyusedintalkwhenunfriendlyearsmightbelistening.Inthecourseofit,itappearedthat‘JohnHobbs’wasnotaltogetheranewrecruit,buthadtrainedinthegangatsomeformertime.Hislaterhistorywascalledfor,andwhenhesaidhehad‘accidentally’killedaman,considerablesatisfactionwasexpressed;whenheaddedthatthemanwasapriest,hewasroundlyapplauded,andhadtotakeadrinkwitheverybody.Oldacquaintanceswelcomedhimjoyously,andnewoneswereproudtoshakehimbythehand.Hewasaskedwhyhehad‘tarriedawaysomanymonths.’Heanswered—

           "Londonisbetterthanthecountry,andsafer,theselateyears,thelawsbesobitterandsodiligentlyenforced.An’Ihadnothadthataccident,Ihadstayedthere.Ihadresolvedtostay,andnevermoreventurecountry-wards—buttheaccidenthasendedthat.