A Deuced Moral Lay by Sheila Kaye-Smith
"A Deuced Moral Lay" is a short cant poem by Sheila Kaye-Smith addressed as a warning to highwaymen who ride out on the "rum-padding lay" — that is, robbery on the road. The speaker calls to the "lads" who saddle their horses at dusk and ride to the tavern at dawn, cautioning them that a "dell" paired with a "scampsman" will bring them to ruin. He reports that a full dozen highwaymen ("rum-pads") now lie in gaol, each pining for a woman named Dolly, Molly, or Polly, only for the poem to reveal that these same sweethearts were the ones who informed on them and sent them to prison. The speaker predicts the imprisoned men will curse their mistresses ("morts") when they come to die. He closes by advising any gentleman who wishes to avoid the gallows ("bing wide of the crap") to beware his own woman, since she is certain to betray him ("rap"). Having delivered this "deuced moral lay," the speaker bids good day and declares his own intention to go lie comfortably in his mistress Barbara's lap.
By Sheila Kaye-Smith · First published 1914 · Genre: Poetry, Narrative Ballad, Cautionary Tale · 172 words
First lines
Oh lads that are quier on the rum-padding lay, / That saddle your prancers at waning of day, / That ride to the tavern at dawning, / Take warning, / For a dell with a scampsman the dickens 'ull play.
In gaol a full dozen of rum-pads are lying, / And for Dolly and Molly and Polly are sighing, / But those very same troublesome fair / Sent 'em there, / And they'll all curse their morts when it comes to the dying.
Let the gemman who wants to bing wide of the crap / Beware of his dell, for she's certain to rap -- / There I've tipped you a deuced moral lay, / So good day, / I'm off to lie soft in my Barbara's lap.
What this Textopian page supports
A Deuced Moral Lay is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sheila Kaye-Smith, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sheila Kaye-Smith
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Narrative Ballad, Cautionary Tale, Crime Fiction, Satirical Verse
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Deuced Moral Lay by Sheila Kaye-Smith
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is composed in verse with regular rhyme scheme and poetic structure.
- Narrative Ballad — Tells a story of highwaymen and their encounters through verses in ballad form with explicit moral message.
- Cautionary Tale — Explicitly warns against criminal activity and association with women tied to crime, concluding with 'I've tipped you a deuced moral lay.'
- Crime Fiction — Centers on the activities of rum-pads (highwaymen) and criminal behavior, depicting their lifestyle and consequences.
Tags
highwaymen · women's betrayal · criminal slang · ballad · cautionary tale · moral warning · imprisonment · irony · dark humor · romantic deception · criminal underworld · outlaws