An old dull sot, who told the clock
For many years at Bridewell-dock,
At Westminster, and Hicks's-Hall,
And hiccius doctius play'd in all;
Where, in all governments and times,
H' had been both friend and foe to crimes,
And us'd two equal ways of gaining,
By hind'ring justice, or maintaining:
To many a whore gave privilege,
And whipp'd for want of quarterage;
Cart-loads of bawds to prison sent,
For b'ing behind a fortnight's rent;
And many a trusty pimp and croney,
To Puddle-dock, for want of money;
Engag'd the constable to seize
All those that would not break the peace,
Nor give him back his own foul words,
Though sometimes commoners or lords,
And kept them prisoners of course,
For being sober at ill hours,
That in the morning he might free
Or bind 'em over for his fee;
Made monsters fine, and puppet-plays,
For leave to practise in their ways;
Farm'd out all cheats, and went a share
Un vieux sot, qui comptait les heures (23) Constamment près de ces demeures (24)
Où sont logés fripons et gueux.
A Westminster et d'autres lieux
Où la justice se débite,
Il était par tout émérite.
Là, sous chaque gouvernement
Il allait indifféremment
Poursuivre ou défendre le crime;
Et par cette double maxime
Il gagnait à solliciter
Justice comme à l'empêcher.
Aux putains donnait priviléges,
Et les mêmes, par ses manéges,
D'importance il faisait fesser,
Quand en arrière d'un quartier.
Les maquerelles par douzaines,
Pour sa rente de deux semaines,
Faisait mener en tombereaux
En prison avec maquereaux,
Quoique ses bons amis ils fussent,
A moins que de l'espèce ils n'eussent.
Et le constable il engageait (25)
A saisir qui bon lui semblait,
Pour avoir été pacifique,
Et n'avoir pas fait de réplique
Aux injures qu'il leur disait,
Sans s'embarrasser qui c'était ;
With th' headborough and scavenger;
And made the dirt i' th' streets compound
For taking up the public ground;
The kennel, and the king's highway,
For being unmolested, pay;
Let out the stocks, and whipping-post,
to those that gave him most;
Impos'd a tax on bakers ears,
And, for false weights, on chandelers;
Made victuallers and vintners fine
For arbitrary ale and wine.
But was a kind and constant friend
To all that regularly offend:
As residentiary bawds,
And brokers that receive stol'n goods;
That cheat in lawful mysteries,
And pay church duties and his fees;
But was implacable and awkward
To all that interlop'd and hawker'd.
Le garder en triste demeure
Pour être sobre après telle heure,
Afin d'en tirer au matin
Pour sa délivrance un schelling.
Tirait l'estaffe des buvettes,
Des monstres et marionnettes,
Et des filous qu'il protégeait.
Avec boueurs il partageait,
Et mettait la boue à l'amende
Pour rester en place marchande;
Les ruisseaux, comme le pavé;
Le payaient pour leur sûreté.
Une fermé il s'était su faire
Du carcan, qu'il mit à l'enchère,
Des oreilles des boulangers,
Et des faux poids des chandeliers.
Il taxait le vin arbitraire
Des cabaretiers, et la bière
Mettait à contribution;
Mais donnait sa protection
A ces offenses régulières,
Comme les bordels sédentaires,
Prêteurs sur gages, recéleurs,
Bureaux d'adresse de voleurs,
Qui lui payaient son honoraire;
Etant toujours rude et sévère
Envers tous ceux qui le fraudaient,
Par l'interlope qu'ils faisaient.
To this brave man the Knight repairs
For counsel in his law-affairs;
And found him mounted in his pew,
With books and money plac'd for shew,
Like nest-eggs to make clients lay,
And for his false opinion pay:
To whom the Knight, with comely grace,
Put off his hat to put his case;
Which he as proudly entertain'd
As th' other courteously strain'd;
And, to assure him 'twas not that
He look'd for, bid him put on's hat.
Quoth he, There is one Sidrophel,
Whom I have cudgell'd Very well.
And now he brags t' have beaten me
Better and better still, quoth he.
And vows to stick me to a wall
Where-e'er he meets me Best of all.
'Tis true, the knave has taken's oath
That I robb'd him - Well done, in troth. When h' has confess'd he stole my cloak, And pick'd my fob, and what he took; Which was the cause that made me bang him,
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