expand!Mark! that wide flowing mane! of which each silky tress
Might adorn prouder beauties — though none like Black Bess.
Mark! that skin sleek as velvet, and dusky as night,
With its jet undisfigured by one lock of white;
That throat branched with veins, prompt to charge or caress
Now is she not beautiful? — bonny Black Bess!
Over highway and by-way, in rough and smooth weather,
Some thousands of miles have we journeyed together;
Our couch the same straw, and our meal the same mess
No couple more constant than I and Black Bess.
By moonlight, in darkness, by night, or by day,
Her headlong career there is nothing can stay;
She cares not for distance, she knows not distress:
Can you show me a courser to match with Black Bess?
“Egad! I should think not,” exclaimed King; “you are as sentimental on the subject of your mare, as I am when I think of my darling Susan. But pardon my interruption. Pray proceed.”
“Let me first clear my throat,” returned Dick; “and now to resume:”
Once it happened in Cheshire, near Dunham, I popped
On a horseman alone, whom I speedily stopped;
That I lightened his pockets you’ll readily guess —
Quick work makes Dick Turpin when mounted on Bess.
Now it seems the man knew me; “Dick Turpin,” said he,
“You shall swing for this job, as you live, d’ye see;"
I laughed at his threats and his vows of redress;
I was sure of an alibi then with Black Bess.
The road was a hollow, a sunken ravine,95 Overshadowed completely by wood like a screen; I clambered the bank, and I needs must confess, That one touch of the spur grazed the side of Black Bess.
Brake, brook, meadow, and plough’d field, Bess fleetly bestrode,
As the crow wings her flight we selected our road;
We arrived at Hough Green in five minutes, or less —
My neck it was saved by the speed of Black Bess.
Stepping carelessly forward, I lounge on the green,
Taking excellent care that by all I am seen;
Some remarks on time’s flight to the squires I address,
But I say not a word of the flight of Black Bess.
I mention the hour — it was just about four —
Play a rubber at bowls — think the danger is o’er;
When athwart my next game, like a checkmate at chess,
Comes the horsemen in search of the rider of Bess.
What matter details? Off with triumph I came;
He swears to the hour, and the squires swear the same;
I had robbed him at four! — while at four they profess I was quietly bowling — all thanks to Black Bess!
Then one halloo, boys, one loud cheering halloo!
To the swiftest of coursers, the gallant, the true!
For the sportsman unborn shall the memory bless
Of the horse of the highwayman, bonny Black Bess!
Loud acclamations rewarded Dick’s performance. Awakened from his doze, Zoroaster beat time to the melody, the only thing, Jerry said, he was capable of beating in his present shattered condition. After some little persuasion, the Magus was prevailed upon to enliven the company with a strain, which he trolled forth after a maudlin manner:
THE DOUBLE CROSS
Though all of us have heard of crost fights, And certain gains, by certain lost fights, I rather fancies that it’s news, How in a mill, both men should lose; For vere the odds are thus made even, It plays the dickens with the steven;96 Besides, against all rule they’re sinning, Vere neither has no chance of vinning. Ri, tol, lol, &c.
Two milling coves, each vide avake, Vere backed to fight for heavy stake: But in the mean time, so it vos, Both kids agreed to play a cross; Bold came each buffer97 to the scratch, To make it look a tightish match; They peeled98 in style, and bets vere making, ‘Tvos six to four, but few vere taking. Ri, tol, lol, &c.
Quite cautiously the mill began,
For neither knew the other’s plan;
Each cull99 completely in the dark, Of vot might be his neighbor’s mark; Resolved his fibbing100 not to mind, Nor yet to pay him back in kind; So on each other kept they tout,101 And sparred a bit, and dodged about, Ri, tol, lol, &c.
Vith mawleys102 raised, Tom bent his back, As if to plant a heavy thwack: Vile Jem, with neat left-handed stopper, Straight threatened Tommy with a topper; ’Tis all my eye! no claret flows, No facers sound — no smashing blows — Five minutes pass, yet not a hit, How can it end, pals? — vait a bit. Ri, tol, lol, &c.
Each cove vas teazed with double duty, To please his backers, yet play booty;103 Ven, luckily for Jem, a teller Vos planted right upon his smeller; Down dropped he, stunned; ven time vas called, Seconds in vain the seconds bawled; The mill is o’er, the crosser crost, The loser’s von, the vinner’s lost! Ri, tol, lol, &c.
The party assumed once more a lively air, and the glass was circulated so freely, that at last a final charge drained the ample bowl of its contents.
“The best of friends must part,” said Dick; “and I would willingly order another whiff of punch, but I
