te dock,
And nicknamed the jailers around him "_his flock_!"[13]
_Which nobody can deny._

Nor did highwaymen ever before possess
For ease, for security, danger, distress,
Such a mare as DICK TURPIN'S Black Bess! Black Bess!
_Which nobody can deny._

"A capital song, by the powers!" cried Titus, as Jack's ditty came to a
close. "But your English robbers are nothing at all, compared with our
Tories[14] and Rapparees--nothing at all. They were the _raal_
gentlemen--they were the boys to cut a throat _aisily_."

"Pshaw!" exclaimed Jack, in disgust, "the gentlemen I speak of never
maltreated any one, except in self-defence."

"Maybe not," replied Titus; "I'll not dispute the point--but these
Rapparees were true brothers of the blade, and gentlemen every inch.
I'll just sing you a song I made about them myself. But meanwhile don't
let's forget the bottle--talking's dry work. My service to you, doctor!"
added he, winking at the somnolent Small. And tossing off his glass,
Titus delivered himself with much joviality of the following ballad; the
words of which he adapted to the tune of the _Groves of the Pool_:

THE RAPPAREES

Let the Englishman boast of his Turpins and Sheppards, as cocks of
the walk,
His Mulsacks, and Cheneys, and Swiftnecks[15]--it's all botheration
and talk;
Compared with the robbers of Ireland, they don't come within half a
mile,
There never were yet any rascals like those of my own native isle!

First and foremost comes REDMOND O'HANLON, allowed the first thief
of the world,[16]
That o'er the broad province of Ulster the Rapparee banner unfurled;
Och! he was an elegant fellow, as ever you saw in your life,
At fingering the blunderbuss trigger, or handling the throat-cutting
knife.

And then such a dare-devil squadron as that which composed REDMOND'S
_tail_!
Meel, Mactigh, Jack Reilly, Shan Bernagh, Phil Galloge, and Arthur
O'Neal;
_Shure_ never were any boys like 'em for rows, _agitations_, and
sprees,
Not a _rap_ did they leave in the country, and hence they were
called _Rap_parees.[17]

Next comes POWER, the great Tory[18] of Munster, a gentleman born
every inch,
And strong JACK MACPHERSON of Leins