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work； it will perhaps be advisable to endeavour to ascertain the
true etymology of the word Germania； which signifies the slang
vocabulary； or robber language of Spain。 We have no intention to
embarrass our readers by offering various conjectures respecting
its origin； its sound； coupled with its signification； affording
sufficient evidence that it is but a corruption of Rommany； which
properly denotes the speech of the Roma or Gitanos。 The thieves
who from time to time associated with this wandering people； and
acquired more or less of their language； doubtless adopted this
term amongst others； and； after modifying it； applied it to the
peculiar phraseology which； in the course of time； became prevalent
amongst them。 The dictionary of Hidalgo is appended to six
ballads； or romances； by the same author； written in the Germanian
dialect； in which he describes the robber life at Seville at the
period in which he lived。 All of these romances possess their
peculiar merit； and will doubtless always be considered valuable；
and be read as faithful pictures of scenes and habits which now no
longer exist。 In the prologue； the author states that his
principal motive for publishing a work written in so strange a
language was his observing the damage which resulted from an
ignorance of the Germania； especially to the judges and ministers
of justice； whose charge it is to cleanse the public from the
pernicious gentry who use it。 By far the greatest part of the
vocabulary consists of Spanish words used allegorically； which are；
however； intermingled with many others； most of which may be traced
to the Latin and Italian； others to the Sanscrit or Gitano；
Russian； Arabic； Turkish； Greek； and German languages。 （77） The
circumstances of words belonging to some of the languages last
enumerated being found in the Gitano； which at first may strike the
reader as singular； and almost incredible； will afford but slight
surprise； when he takes into consideration the peculiar
circumstances of Spain during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries。 Spain was at that period the most powerful monarchy in
Europe； her foot reposed upon the Low Countries； whilst her
gigantic arms embraced a considerable portion of Italy。
Maintaining always a standing army in Flanders and in Italy； it
followed as a natural consequence； that her Miquelets and soldiers
became tolerably conversant with the languages of those countries；
and； in course of time； returning to their native land； not a few；
especially of the former class； a brave and intrepid； but always a
lawless and dissolute species of soldiery； either fell in or
returned to evil society； and introduced words which they had
learnt abroad into the robber phraseology； whilst returned galley…
slaves from Algiers； Tunis； and Tetuan； added to its motley variety
of words from the relics of the broken Arabic and Turkish； which
they had acquired during their captivity。 The greater part of the
Germania； however； remained strictly metaphorical； and we are aware
of no better means of conveying an idea of the principle on which
it is formed； than by quoting from the first romance of Hidalgo；
where particular mention is made of this jargon：…
'A la cama llama Blanda
Donde Sornan en poblado
A la Fresada Vellosa；
Que mucho vello ha criado。
Dice a la sabana Alba
Porque es alba en sumo grado；
A la camisa Carona；
Al jubon llama apretado：
Dice al Sayo Tapador
Porque le lleva tapado。
Llama a los zapatos Duros；
Que las piedras van pisando。
A la capa llama nuve；
Dice al Sombrero Texado。
Respeto llama a la Espada；
Que por ella es respetado；' etc。 etc。
HIDALGO； p。 22…3。
After these few remarks on the ancient Germania of Spain； we now
proceed to the modern； which differs considerably from the former。
The principal cause of this difference is to be attributed to the
adoption by the Spanish outlaws； in latter years； of a considerable
number of words belonging to； or modified from； the Rommany； or
language of the Gitanos。 The Gitanos of Spain； during the last
half…century； having； in a great degree； abandoned the wandering
habit of life which once constituted one of their most remarkable
peculiarities； and residing； at present； more in the cities than in
the fields； have come into closer contact with the great body of
the Spanish nation than was in former days their practice。 From
their living thus in towns； their language has not only undergone
much corruption； but has become； to a slight degree； known to the
dregs of society； amongst whom they reside。 The thieves' dialect
of the present day exhibits； therefore； less of the allegorical
language preserved in the pages of Hidalgo than of the Gypsy
tongue。 It must be remarked； however； that it is very scanty； and
that the whole robber phraseology at present used in Spain barely
amounts to two hundred words； which are utterly insufficient to
express the very limited ideas of the outcasts who avail themselves
of it。
Concerning the Germania of France； or 'Argot；' as it is called； it
is unnecessary to make many observations； as what has been said of
the language of Hidalgo and the Red Italian is almost in every
respect applicable to it。 As early as the middle of the sixteenth
century a vocabulary of this jargon was published under the title
of LANGUE DES ESCROCS； at Paris。 Those who wish to study it as it
at present exists can do no better than consult LES MEMOIRES DE
VIDOCQ； where a multitude of words in Argot are to be found； and
also several songs； the subjects of which are thievish adventures。
The first vocabulary of the 'Cant Language；' or English Germania；
appeared in the year 1680； appended to the life of THE ENGLISH
ROGUE； a work which； in many respects； resembles the HISTORY OF
GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE； though it is written with considerably more
genius than the Spanish novel； every chapter abounding with
remarkable adventures of the robber whose life it pretends to
narrate； and which are described with a kind of ferocious energy；
which； if it do not charm the attention of the reader； at least
enslaves it； holding it captive with a chain of iron。 Amongst his
other adventures； the hero falls in with a Gypsy encampment； is
enrolled amongst the fraternity； and is allotted a 'mort；' or
concubine； a barbarous festival ensues； at the conclusion of which
an epithalamium is sung in the Gypsy language； as it is called in
the work in question。 Neither the epithalamium； however； nor the
vocabulary； are written in the language of the English Gypsies； but
in the 'Cant；' or allegorical robber dialect； which is suff