Villon’s Good-Night
[By WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY].
I
You bible-sharps that thump on tubs, [1]
You lurkers on the Abram-sham, [2]
You sponges miking round the pubs, [3]
You flymy titters fond of flam, [4]
You judes that clobber for the stramm, [5]
You ponces good at talking tall,
With fawneys on your dexter famm— [6]
A mot’s good-night to one and all! [7]
II
Likewise you molls that flash your bubs [8]
For swells to spot and stand you sam, [9]
You bleeding bonnets, pugs, and subs,
You swatchel-coves that pitch and slam. [10]
You magsmen bold that work the cram, [11]
You flats and joskins great and small,
Gay grass-widows and lawful-jam— [12]
A mot’s good-night to one and all!
III
For you, you coppers, narks, and dubs, [13]
Who pinched me when upon the snam, [14]
And gave me mumps and mulligrubs [15]
With skilly and swill that made me clam, [16]
At you I merely lift my gam— [17]
I drink your health against the wall! [18]
That is the sort of man I am,
A mot’s good-night to one and all!
The Farewell.
Paste ’em, and larrup ’em, and lamm!
Give Kennedy, and make ’em crawl! [19]
I do not care one bloody damn,
A mot’s good-night to one and all.
[1: false clericos] [2: beggar feigning sickness] [3: cadgers; loafing] [4: saucy girls; non-sense] [5: women dress; game] [6: rings; right hand] [7: harlot] [8: prostitutes; expose paps] [9: see; pay for] [10: Punch-and-judy-man] [11: pattering tradesman] [12: wife] [13: police; informers; warders] [14: arrested; stealing] [15: “the blues”] [16: refuse food] [17: leg] [18: urinate] [19: thrash them and make them stir]