Bing out, bein Morts, and toure and toure, To the cultivation, in our times, of the science of Pugilism, the Flash Language is indebted for a considerable addition to its treasures. Indeed, so impossible is it to describe the operations of THE FANCY without words of proportionate energy to do justice to the subject, that we find Pope and Cowper, in their translation of the Set-to in the Iliad, pressing words into the service which had seldom, I think, if ever, been enlisted into the ranks of poetry before. Thus Pope, written, I beg to trouble the reader with a be confessed that the Songs which both he few observations. As this expressive lan- and Dekker have given would puzzle even guage was originally invented, and is still that "Graiæ gentis decus," Caleb Baldwin used, like the cipher of the diplomatists, for himself. For instance one of the simplest purposes of secrecy, and as a means of elud- begins, ing the vigilance of a certain class of persons called flaschicè, Traps, or in common language, Bow-street Officers, it is subject of course to continual change, and is perpetually either altering the meaning of old words, or adding new ones, according as the great object secrecy renders it prudent to have recourse to such innovations. In this respect, also, it resembles the cryptography of kings and ambassadors, who by a continual change of cipher contrive to baffle the inquisitiveness of the enemy. But, notwithstanding the Protean nature of the Flash or Cant language, the greater part of its vocabulary has remained unchanged for centuries, and many of the words used by the Canting Beggars in Beaumont and Fletcher, and the Gipsies in Ben Jonson's Masque, are still to be heard among the Gnostics of Dyot-street and Tothill-fields. To prig is still to steal; to fib, to beat; lour, money; duds, clothes;§ prancers horses; bouzing-ken, an alehouse; cove, a fellow; a sow's baby, a pig, &c. &c. There are also several instances of the same term, preserved with a totally different signification. Thus, to mill, which was originally "to rob," is now" to beat or fight;" and the word rum, which in Ben Jonson's time, and even so late as Grose, meant fine and good, is now generally used for the very op; posite qualities; as, "he's but a rum one,' &c. Most of the Cant phrases in Head's English Rogue, which was published, I believe, in 1666, would be intelligible to a Greek of the present day; though it must * * In their amusing comedy of " the Beggar's Bush." The Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed. The Gipsy language, indeed, with the exception of such terms as relate to their own peculiar customs, differs but little from the regular Flash; as may be seen by consulting the Vocabulary, subjoined to the Life of Bamfylde-Moor Carew. See the third Chapter, 1st Book of the History of Jonathan Wild, for "an undeniable testimony of the great antiquity of Priggism." An angler for duds is thus described by Dekker. He carries a short staff in his hand, which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it a ferme (that is to say a hole) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth a hooke of iron, with which hooke he angles at a window in the dead of night for shirts, smockes, or any other linen or woollen." English Villanies. "Can they cant or mill? are they masters in their art ?"-Ben Jonson. To mill, however, sometimes signified "to kill." hus, to mill a bleating cheat, i. e. to kill a сер. Secure this hand shall his whole frame con found, Mash all his bones and all his body pound. Then his wiles Forgat not he, but on the ham behind The writer also favours us with an "Parallel between Ancient and Modern Pugilism." It is to be in ten chapters, and the contents of the concluding one are as follows: Chap. 10. considers the various arguments for and against Pugilism, advanced by writers, ancient and modern.-A strange instance of either ignorance or wilful falsehood in Lucian, who, in his Anacharsis, has represented Solon as one of the warmest advocates for Pugilism, whereas we know from Diogenes Laertius that that legislator took every possible pains to discourage and suppress it-Alexander the Great, too, tasteless enough to prohibit THE FANCY, (Plutarch in Vit.)-Galen, in many parts of his works, but particularly in the Hortat. ad. Art. condemns the practice as enervating and pernicious. On the other side, the testimonies in its favour, numerous. The greater number of Pindar's Nemean Odes written in praise of pugilistic champions ; *"A chopper is a blow, struck on the face with the back of the hand. Mendoza claims the honour of its invention, but unjustly he certainly revived, and considerably improved it. It was practised long before our time-Broughton occasionally used it; and Slack, it also appears, struck the chopper in giving the return in many of his battles." Boxiana, v. 2. p, 20. and Isocrates, though he represents Alcibiades as despising the art, yet acknowledges that its professors were held in high estimation through Greece, and that those cities, where victorious pugilists were born, became illustrious from that circumstance; just as Bristol has been rendered immortal by the production of such heroes as Tom Crib, Harry Harmer, Big Ben, Dutch Sam, &c. &c.-Ammianus Marcellinus tells us how much that religious and pugnacious Emperor, Constantius, delighted in the Set-tos, "pugilum vicissim se concidentium perfusorumque sanguine."-To these are added still more flattering testimonies, such as that of Isidorus, who calls Pugilism" virtus," as if par excellence; and the yet more enthusiastic tribute with which Eustathius reproaches the Pagans, of having enrolled their Boxers in the number of the Gods.In short, the whole chapter is full of erudition and 185; from Lycophron (whose very name smacks of pugilism) down to Boxiana and the Weekly Despatch, not an author on the subject is omitted. Though Tom Crib beat Bob Gregson on the plain of Moulsey, yet we think that Bob Gregson has beat Tom Crib on Mount Parnassus. The truth is, that though Tom is a thorough gentleman in the ring and the chophouse, he is apt to become a thorough blackguard when he takes the pen in his hand; and, on a certain subject he is generally known to be insane. We are sorry to say, too, that we should have expected better politics from the Champion of England than we find in his Memorial. On this account we shall quote from Bob alone. It rarely indeed happens that a poet of such originality as Gregson so excels in imitation. Really, we could have sworn that the following song had been written by Tom Moore. LINES TO MISS GRACE MADDOX, THE FAIR PUGILIST,‡ Written in imitation of the Style of Moore; BY BOB GREGSON, P. P. SWEET Maid of the Fancy !-whose ogles,§ adorning That beautiful cheek, ever budding like bowers, * Notwithstanding that the historian expressly says "pugilum," Lipsius is so anxious to press this circumstance into his Account of the Ancient Gladiators, that he insists such an effusion of claret could only have taken place in the gladiatorial combat. But Lipsius never was at Moulsey Hurst. See his Saturnal. Sermon, lib. 1. cap. 2. + Origin, lib. 18. c. 18. Sister of the celebrated George Maddox, whom she has seconded in more than one battle. § Eyes. The other song of Gregson's which we shall quote, was written by him for a masquerade, or fancy-ball, given lately at one of the most fashionable Cockand-Hen Clubs in St Giles's. It was, we are told, sung by Old Prosy, the Jew, who went in the character of Major Cartwright, and who, having been, at one period of his life, apprentice to a mountebank doctor, was able to enumerate, with much volubility, the virtues of a certain infallible nostrum, which he called his Annual Pill. The pronunciation of the Jew added considerably to the effect. THE ANNUAL PILL, Sung by OLD PROSY, the Jew, in the Character of MAJOR C-RTW-GHt. Pless ma heart, it vill act, like de salt on Not a Chrishtian or Shentleman minds vat I say! 'Tis so pretty a bolus!-just down let it go, And, at vonce, such a radical shange you vill see, Dat I'd not be surprish'd, like de horse in de show, If our heads all vere found vere our tailish Vill nobodies try my nice Annual "Twill cure all Electors, and purge away clear Dat mighty bad itching dey've got in deir hands "Twill cure, too, all Statesmen of dullness, ma tear, Though the case vas as desperate as poor Dere is noting at all vat dis Pill vill not Give the Sinecure Ghentleman von little grain, de leech, And he'll throw de pounds, shillings, and Vill nobodies try my nice Annual "Twould be tedious, ma tear, all its peauties But, among oder tings fundamentally The last specimen which we shall quote from this singular volume, is by an anonymous author, though, from internal evidence, we should ascribe it to Mr Jackson. It is Account of the Milling-match between Entellus and Dares, translated from the Fifth Book of the Eneid. * Meaning, I presume, Coalition Administrations. + Whether sedentary habits have any thing to do with this peculiar shape, I cannot determine, but that some have supposed a sort of connection between them, appears from the following remark, quoted in Kornmann's curious book, de Virginitatis Jure" Ratio perquam lepida est apud Kirchner in Legato, cum natura illas partes, quæ ad sessionem sunt destinatæ, latiores in fœminis fecerit quam in viris, innuens domi eas manere debere." Cap 40. § Fellows, usually young fellows Hands. Genua labant, vastos quatit æger anhelitus artus. Multa viri nequicquam inter se vulnera jac tant, Multa cavo lateri ingeminant, et pectore vastos Dant sonitus: erratque aures et tempora circum Crebra manus: duro crepitant sub vulnere malæ. Stat gravis Entellus, nisuque immotus eodem, Corpore tela modò atque oculis vigilantibus exit. Ille, velut celsam oppugnat qui molibus urbem, Aut montana sedet circum castella sub armis; Nunc hos, nunc illos aditus, omnemque pererrat Arte locum, et variis assultibus irritus urget. Ostendit dextram insurgens Entellus, et altè vasto Concidit; ut quondam cava concidit, aut Aut Idâ in magnâ, radicibus eruta pinus. Consurgunt studiis Teucri et Trinacria pubes: It clamor cœlo; primusque accurrit Acestes amicum. At non tardatus casu, neque territus heros ; But aged, slow, with stiff limbs, tottering much, And lungs that lack'd the bellows-mender's touch. Yet sprightly to the Scratch both Buffers came, While ribbers rung from each resounding frame, And divers digs, and many a ponderous pelt, With roving aim, but aim that rarely miss'd, But firmly stood ENTELLUS- and still Though bent by age, with all THE FANCY'S Stopp'd with a skill, and rallied with a fire An opening to the Cove's huge carcass sought, Punishing deeds, high rais'd his heavy hand; Its shadow o'er his brow, and slipp'd aside- Not B-CK-GH-M, himself, with bulkier Uprooted from the field of Whiggish glories, Instant the Ring was broke, and shouts and From Trojan Flashmen and Sicilian Swells Fill'd the wide heav'n-while, touch'd with grief to see His pal, well-known through many a lark Thus rumly floor'd, the kind ACESTES ran, man. Uncow'd, undamag'd to the sport he came, Macrobius, in his explanation of the various properties of the number seven, says, that the fifth Hebdomas of man's life (the age of 35) is the completion of his strength; that therefore pugilists, if not successful, usually give over their profession at that time. "Inter pugiles denique hæc consuetudo conservatur, ut quos jam coronavere victoriæ, nihil de se amplius in incrementis virium sperent ; qui vero expertes hujus gloriæ usque illo manserunt, a professione discedant." In Somn. Scip. Lib. 1. + Ears and eyes. + Arm. As the uprooted trunk in the original is said to be "cava," the epithet here ough perhaps to be "hollower sound.” || Friend. VOL. IV. Party of pleasure and frolic. 4 Z The memory of his milling glories past, All fir'd the veteran's pluck-with fury flush'd Ruffian'd the reeling youngster round the Nor rest, nor pause, nor breathing-time was But, rapid as the rattling hail from heav'n Around the Trojan's lugs flew, peppering hot! Preserv'd alike the peace and DARES' head, Both which the veteran much inclin'd to break Then kindly thus the punish'd youth bespake: "Poor Johnny Raw! what madness could impel So rum a Flat to face so prime a Swell? See'st thou not, boy, THE FANCY, heavenly Maid, Herself descends to this great Hammerer's And, singling him from all her flash adorers, To think mere man can mill a Deity!" His faithful pals the done-up DARES bore Back to his home, with tottering gams, sunk heart, And muns and noddle-pink'd in every part.‡ While from his gob the guggling claret gush'd, And lots of grinders, from their sockets crush'd, Forth with the crimson tide in rattling fragments rush'd! *This phrase is but too applicable to the round hitting of the ancients, who, it appears by the engravings in Mercurialis de Art. Gymnast. knew as little of our straightforward mode as the uninitiated Irish of the present day. I have, by the by, discovered some errors in Mercurialis, as well as in two other modern authors upon Pugilism (viz. Petrus Faber, in his Agonisticon, and that indefatigable classic antiquary, M. Burette, in his "Memoire pour servir à l'Histoire du Pugilat des Anciens" (which I shall have the pleasure of pointing out in my forthcoming "Parallel." + A favourite blow of the NONPAREIL's, so called. There are two or three Epigrams in the Greek Anthology, ridiculing the state of mutilation and disfigurement to which the pugilists were reduced by their combats. The following four lines are from an Epigram by Lucillius, Lib. 2. Κοσκινον ἡ κεφαλη σου, Απολλοφανές, γεγένηται, Η των σητοκοπων βιβλαρίων τα καπω. Όντως μυρμήκων τρυπήματα λόξα και ορθή, Γράμματα των λυρικών Λυδία και Φρυγία. Literally, as follows: " Thy head, O Apollophanes, is perforated like a sieve, or like the leaves of an old worm-eaten book; and the numerous scars, both straight and cross-ways, which have been left upon thy pate by the cistus, very much resemble the score of a Lydian or Phrygian piece of music.' Periphrastically, thus: Your noddle, dear Jack, full of holes like a sieve, Is so figur'd, and dotted, and scratch'd, I declare, They had punch'd a whole verse of "the Woodpecker" there! It ought to be mentioned, that the word " punching" is used both in boxing and musicengraving. |