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3

The Beggars' Imitations.

There's a difference between a beggar and a queen,
And I'll tell you the reason why,
A queen cannot swagger, nor get drunk as a beggar,
Nor be half so happy as I:—

(Speaking).
To be sure, they are obliged to support a dignified character—now I can change my character as often as I please—though, I believe, I am generally a soliciter; for I practice at the court of requests; and as to honesty, why honesty is—

Toll de roll, loll de roll—
(Once through for chorus).
Like a sailor from the wars, surrounded with scars,
When I choose in that character to beg;
With knuckles held so flat, and t'other arm the hat,
And this way I hold up my leg—
(Imitates).

(Speaking).
—Look down with an eye of pity on a poor unfortunate seaman—

“My starboard arm I lost in action soon,”
“And my larboard leg on the glorious first of June.”

“Here, my good man, here's money for you; you are an honor to your country.” An honor! to be sure I am; but then my honor, like many other honorable gentlemen's, consists in—

Toll de roll, &c.
4

With a hump on my back, people's charity I sack,
In that I'm at home to a peg;
With a snuffle in my nose, I their feelings discompose,
And thus I contract up my leg.—
(Imitates snuffling).

My good worthy christians, please to bestow your charity on an unfortunate young man. “Oh, what, you're unfortunate, are you?” Yes, please your honor, I lost my mammy and daddy when I was very young, and now I am forc'd to beg for my bread. “I'll give you something to cure you; here's a horsewhip for you, you scoundrel.” Oh, dear, your honor, consider me and my—

Toll de roll loll, &c.
When I turn up my eye to the folks passing by,
My conscience I leave behind;
Through the village I jog, led by a little dog,
And a lass I can see tho' I'm blind.—
(Imitates).

(Speaking).
—Pity the sorrows of a poor old man—I am sixty-five, my good worthy christians—may you never loose your precious eyesight.” Look, Dolly, the poor man's blind.” “Blind! Lord bless you, it's all my eye and

Toll de roll loll, &c.
There's Dolly and I, when ballads we cry,
On a couple of stools see us stand;
The people all croud, while she bawls aloud,
And I takes my fiddle in hand:—
(Imitates).

(Speaking in a squeaking tone of voice).
Come, neighbours and friends, here's a new song, entitled and call'd, I am a wild and roving boy,—Come, play up,

(Speaking in a gruff tone).
Stop, let's rosin first—

(Singing with a squeaking voice).
“I am a wild and a roving boy,” (Singing in a gruff voice).

“And my lodgings is in the island of Cloy;” (Squeaking).

“A rambling boy altho' I be,” (Gruff).

“I'll forsake them all and I'll follow thee.”

(Speaking).
There's a man wants to buy a ballad there—

[Squeaking]
“Were I a blackbird or a thrush” [Gruff]

“Hopping about from bush to bush,”

(Speaking).
Sing, Moll—

(Squeaking).
“Then all the world might plainly see,”

(Speaking Gruff).
It's a bad halfpenny, Moll.—

“I love the girl that loves not me”.
5

(Squeaking).
It 'ant a bad halfpenny— (Gruff).
It is a bad halfpenny—I tell you what, you had better be quiet, or I'll mill your eye.

(Squeaking).
Hark'e, fellow, I don't care for you nor your—

Toll de roll loll, &c.
To make the wretched bless'd, private charity is best,
The common beggar spurns at our laws—
Tho' I reprobate the train, I wish to beg again,
To solicit your kind applause—

(Speaking).
And if you don't condescend to smile upon me, I must say that my begging trade is no better than—

Toll de roll loll, &c.
 

Note—This last verse is only fit for the stage.

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