Project Gutenberg 2005-07-01 Public domain in the USA. 109 Farmer, John Stephen 1854 1916 Farmer, J. S. (John Stephen) Farmer, John S. Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] Produced by Tiffany Vergon, Jerry Fairbanks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team "Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes" collected and annotated by John S. Farmer is a compilation of songs and rhymes focusing on canting and slang, spanning roughly from the early 16th century to the late 19th century. This unique work delves into the vibrant and often overlooked realm of English slang and its use among various societal groups, particularly the fringes of society who employed such language as a means of expression and communication. The opening of the anthology introduces the notion of cant as integral to the vernacular of marginalized groups, crying out for recognition as more than mere folly. The foreword highlights the literary significance and the cultural context of these canting expressions. It discusses the evolution of slang and cant, underscoring their reflections of social life and commentary on societal norms. Various excerpts from canting songs portray the lives of beggars, thieves, and rogues, illuminating their lifestyles and attitudes. Notable pieces include "A Beggar I'll Be," which romanticizes the carefree life of a beggar, and "The Beggar's Curse," which critiques law enforcement's impact on the lives of the impoverished. Together, these excerpts create a rich tapestry that illustrates the historical landscape of English slang across three centuries. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 76.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Cant -- Great Britain Songs, English -- Texts English language -- Slang PR Text Category: Poetry Category: Classics of Literature Category: British Literature 324683 2025-07-04T05:59:01.643058 text/html 324504 2025-01-11T03:46:30.827253 text/html 227136 2025-07-04T05:59:12.368020 application/epub+zip 229906 2025-07-04T05:59:05.888987 application/epub+zip 179024 2025-07-04T05:59:04.218005 application/epub+zip 509952 2025-07-04T05:59:15.898001 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 475926 2025-07-04T05:59:10.962965 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 252754 2022-09-04T10:33:51.706581 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 256457 2025-07-04T05:59:01.233062 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 251374 2020-12-26T17:42:31 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17956 2025-07-04T05:59:16.025953 application/rdf+xml 25747 2025-07-04T05:59:04.714044 image/jpeg 4767 2025-07-04T05:59:04.467044 image/jpeg 106623 2020-12-26T17:42:31 application/octet-stream application/zip 224435 2025-07-04T05:59:01.665041 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia