CLIX.

Merryare the bells, and merry would they ring,Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!Waddle goes your gait, and hollow are your hose,Noddle goes your pate, and purple is your nose;Merry is your sing-song, happy, gay, and free,With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!Merry have we met, and merry have we been,Merry let us part, and merry meet again;With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Merryare the bells, and merry would they ring,Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!

Merryare the bells, and merry would they ring,

Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;

With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,

And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!

Waddle goes your gait, and hollow are your hose,Noddle goes your pate, and purple is your nose;Merry is your sing-song, happy, gay, and free,With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Waddle goes your gait, and hollow are your hose,

Noddle goes your pate, and purple is your nose;

Merry is your sing-song, happy, gay, and free,

With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Merry have we met, and merry have we been,Merry let us part, and merry meet again;With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Merry have we met, and merry have we been,

Merry let us part, and merry meet again;

With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,

And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Mymaid MaryShe minds her dairy,While I go a hoing and mowing each morn,Merrily run the reelAnd the little spinning wheelWhilst I am singing and mowing my corn.

Mymaid Mary

She minds her dairy,

While I go a hoing and mowing each morn,

Merrily run the reel

And the little spinning wheel

Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn.

Hot-cross Buns!Hot-cross Buns!One a penny, two a pennyHot-cross Buns!Hot-cross Buns!Hot-cross Buns!If ye have no daughters,Give them to your sons.

Hot-cross Buns!Hot-cross Buns!One a penny, two a pennyHot-cross Buns!

Hot-cross Buns!

One a penny, two a penny

Hot-cross Buns!

Hot-cross Buns!Hot-cross Buns!If ye have no daughters,Give them to your sons.

Hot-cross Buns!

If ye have no daughters,

Give them to your sons.

WooleyFoster has gone to sea,With silver buckles at his knee,When he comes back he'll marry me,—Bonny Wooley Foster!Wooley Foster has a cow,Black and white about the mow,Open the gates and let her through,Wooley Foster's ain cow!Wooley Foster has a hen,Cockle button, cockle ben,She lay eggs for gentlemen,But none for Wooley Foster!

WooleyFoster has gone to sea,With silver buckles at his knee,When he comes back he'll marry me,—Bonny Wooley Foster!

WooleyFoster has gone to sea,

With silver buckles at his knee,

When he comes back he'll marry me,—

Bonny Wooley Foster!

Wooley Foster has a cow,Black and white about the mow,Open the gates and let her through,Wooley Foster's ain cow!

Wooley Foster has a cow,

Black and white about the mow,

Open the gates and let her through,

Wooley Foster's ain cow!

Wooley Foster has a hen,Cockle button, cockle ben,She lay eggs for gentlemen,But none for Wooley Foster!

Wooley Foster has a hen,

Cockle button, cockle ben,

She lay eggs for gentlemen,

But none for Wooley Foster!

[The following catch is found in Ben Jonson's 'Masque of Oberon,' and is a most common nursery song at the present day.]

Buz, quoth the blue fly,Hum, quoth the bee,Buz and hum they cry,And so do we:In his ear, in his nose,Thus, do you see?He ate the dormouse,Else it was he.

Buz, quoth the blue fly,

Hum, quoth the bee,

Buz and hum they cry,

And so do we:

In his ear, in his nose,

Thus, do you see?

He ate the dormouse,

Else it was he.

AsI was going up the hill,I met with Jack the piper,And all the tunes that he could playWas "Tie up your petticoats tighter."I tied them once, I tied them twice,I tied them three times over;And all the songs that he could singWas "Carry me safe to Dover."

AsI was going up the hill,I met with Jack the piper,And all the tunes that he could playWas "Tie up your petticoats tighter."

AsI was going up the hill,

I met with Jack the piper,

And all the tunes that he could play

Was "Tie up your petticoats tighter."

I tied them once, I tied them twice,I tied them three times over;And all the songs that he could singWas "Carry me safe to Dover."

I tied them once, I tied them twice,

I tied them three times over;

And all the songs that he could sing

Was "Carry me safe to Dover."

Therewere two birds sat on a stone,Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;One flew away, and then there was one,Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;The other flew after, and then there was none,Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;And so the poor stone was left all alone,Fa, la, la, la, lal, de!

Therewere two birds sat on a stone,

Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;

One flew away, and then there was one,

Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;

The other flew after, and then there was none,

Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;

And so the poor stone was left all alone,

Fa, la, la, la, lal, de!

Howdoes my lady's garden grow?How does my lady's garden grow?With cockle shells, and silver bells,And pretty maids all of a row.

Howdoes my lady's garden grow?

How does my lady's garden grow?

With cockle shells, and silver bells,

And pretty maids all of a row.

Therewas a jolly millerLived on the river Dee:He worked and sung from morn till night,No lark so blithe as he,And this the burden of his songFor ever used to be—I jump mejerrime jee!I care for nobody—no! not I,Since nobody cares for me.

Therewas a jolly miller

Lived on the river Dee:

He worked and sung from morn till night,

No lark so blithe as he,

And this the burden of his song

For ever used to be—

I jump mejerrime jee!

I care for nobody—no! not I,

Since nobody cares for me.

AsI was going along, long, long,A singing a comical song, song, song,The lane that I went was so long, long, long,And the song that I sung was as long, long, long,And so I went singing along.

AsI was going along, long, long,

A singing a comical song, song, song,

The lane that I went was so long, long, long,

And the song that I sung was as long, long, long,

And so I went singing along.

Whereare you going, my pretty maid?I'm going a-milking, sir, she said.May I go with you, my pretty maid?You're kindly welcome, sir, she said.What is your father, my pretty maid?My father's a farmer, sir, she said.Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?Yes, if you please, kind sir, she said.Will you be constant, my pretty maid?That I can't promise you, sir, she said.Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid!Nobody asked you, sir! she said.

Whereare you going, my pretty maid?

I'm going a-milking, sir, she said.

May I go with you, my pretty maid?

You're kindly welcome, sir, she said.

What is your father, my pretty maid?

My father's a farmer, sir, she said.

Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?Yes, if you please, kind sir, she said.Will you be constant, my pretty maid?That I can't promise you, sir, she said.Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid!Nobody asked you, sir! she said.

Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?

Yes, if you please, kind sir, she said.

Will you be constant, my pretty maid?

That I can't promise you, sir, she said.

Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid!

Nobody asked you, sir! she said.

[Song on the bells of Derby on foot-ball morning, a custom now discontinued:]

Pancakesand fritters,Say All Saints and St. Peters;When will theballcome,Say the bells of St. Alkmun;At two they will throw,Says Saint Werabo;O! very well,Says little Michel.

Pancakesand fritters,

Say All Saints and St. Peters;

When will theballcome,

Say the bells of St. Alkmun;

At two they will throw,

Says Saint Werabo;

O! very well,

Says little Michel.

I havebeen to market, my lady, my lady;Then you've not been to the fair, says pussy, says pussy;I bought me a rabbit, my lady, my lady;Then you did not buy a hare, says pussy, says pussy;I roasted it, my lady, my lady;Then you did not boil it, says pussy, says pussy;I eat it, my lady, my lady;And I'll eat you, says pussy, says pussy.

I havebeen to market, my lady, my lady;Then you've not been to the fair, says pussy, says pussy;I bought me a rabbit, my lady, my lady;Then you did not buy a hare, says pussy, says pussy;

I havebeen to market, my lady, my lady;

Then you've not been to the fair, says pussy, says pussy;

I bought me a rabbit, my lady, my lady;

Then you did not buy a hare, says pussy, says pussy;

I roasted it, my lady, my lady;Then you did not boil it, says pussy, says pussy;I eat it, my lady, my lady;And I'll eat you, says pussy, says pussy.

I roasted it, my lady, my lady;

Then you did not boil it, says pussy, says pussy;

I eat it, my lady, my lady;

And I'll eat you, says pussy, says pussy.

Myfather left me three acres of land,Sing ivy, sing ivy;My father left me three acres of land,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!I ploughed it with a ram's horn,Sing ivy, sing ivy;And sowed it all over with one pepper corn,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!I harrowed it with a bramble bush,Sing ivy, sing ivy;And reaped it with my little penknife,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!I got the mice to carry it to the barn,Sing ivy, &c.And thrashed it with a goose's quill,Sing holly, &c.I got the cat to carry it to the mill,Sing ivy, &c.The miller he swore he would have her paw,And the cat she swore she would scratch his face,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

Myfather left me three acres of land,Sing ivy, sing ivy;My father left me three acres of land,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

Myfather left me three acres of land,

Sing ivy, sing ivy;

My father left me three acres of land,

Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I ploughed it with a ram's horn,Sing ivy, sing ivy;And sowed it all over with one pepper corn,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I ploughed it with a ram's horn,

Sing ivy, sing ivy;

And sowed it all over with one pepper corn,

Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I harrowed it with a bramble bush,Sing ivy, sing ivy;And reaped it with my little penknife,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I harrowed it with a bramble bush,

Sing ivy, sing ivy;

And reaped it with my little penknife,

Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I got the mice to carry it to the barn,Sing ivy, &c.And thrashed it with a goose's quill,Sing holly, &c.

I got the mice to carry it to the barn,

Sing ivy, &c.

And thrashed it with a goose's quill,

Sing holly, &c.

I got the cat to carry it to the mill,Sing ivy, &c.The miller he swore he would have her paw,And the cat she swore she would scratch his face,Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

I got the cat to carry it to the mill,

Sing ivy, &c.

The miller he swore he would have her paw,

And the cat she swore she would scratch his face,

Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!

[The original of the following is to be found in 'Deuteromelia, or the second part ofMusicksMelodie,' 4to, Lond. 1609, where the music is also given.]

Threeblind mice, see how they run!They all ran after the farmer's wife,Who cut off their tails with the carving-knife,Did you ever see such fools in your life?Three blind mice.

Threeblind mice, see how they run!

They all ran after the farmer's wife,

Who cut off their tails with the carving-knife,

Did you ever see such fools in your life?

Three blind mice.

[The music to the following song, with different words, is given in 'Melismata,' 4to, Lond. 1611. See also the 'Pills to Purge Melancholy,' 1719, vol. i, p. 14. The well-known song, 'A frog he would a wooing go,' appears to have been borrowed from this. See Dauney's 'Ancient Scottish Melodies,' 1838, p. 53. The story is of old date, and in 1580 there was licensed 'A most strange weddinge of the frogge and the mouse,' as appears from the books of the Stationers' Company, quoted in Warton's Hist. Engl, Poet., ed. 1840, vol. iii, p. 360.]

Therewas a frog liv'd in a well,Kitty alone, Kitty alone;There was a frog liv'd in a well,Kitty alone, and I!There was a frog liv'd in a well,And a farce* mouse in a mill, [*merryCock me cary, Kitty alone,Kitty alone, and I.This frog he would a wooing ride,Kitty alone, &c.This frog he would a wooing ride,And on a snail he got astride,Cock me cary, &c.He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,Kitty alone, &c.He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,And there he did both knock and call,Cock me cary, &c.Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,Kitty alone, &c.Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,To see if thou canst fancy me,Cock me cary, &c.Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,Kitty alone, &c.Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,Until my uncle Rat come home,Cock me cary, &c.And when her uncle Rat came home,Kitty alone, &c.And when her uncle Rat came home,Who's been here since I've been gone?Cock me cary, &c.Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,Kitty alone, &c.Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,That's been here since you've been gone,Cock me cary, &c.The frog he came whistling through the brook,Kitty alone, &c.The frog he came whistling through the brook,And there he met with a dainty duck,Cock me cary, &c.This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,Kitty alone, Kitty alone;This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,So there's an end of my history book.Cock me cary, Kitty alone,Kitty alone and I.

Therewas a frog liv'd in a well,Kitty alone, Kitty alone;There was a frog liv'd in a well,Kitty alone, and I!

Therewas a frog liv'd in a well,

Kitty alone, Kitty alone;

There was a frog liv'd in a well,

Kitty alone, and I!

There was a frog liv'd in a well,And a farce* mouse in a mill, [*merryCock me cary, Kitty alone,Kitty alone, and I.

There was a frog liv'd in a well,

And a farce* mouse in a mill, [*merry

Cock me cary, Kitty alone,

Kitty alone, and I.

This frog he would a wooing ride,Kitty alone, &c.This frog he would a wooing ride,And on a snail he got astride,Cock me cary, &c.

This frog he would a wooing ride,

Kitty alone, &c.

This frog he would a wooing ride,

And on a snail he got astride,

Cock me cary, &c.

He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,Kitty alone, &c.He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,And there he did both knock and call,Cock me cary, &c.

He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,

Kitty alone, &c.

He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall,

And there he did both knock and call,

Cock me cary, &c.

Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,Kitty alone, &c.Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,To see if thou canst fancy me,Cock me cary, &c.

Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,

Kitty alone, &c.

Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,

To see if thou canst fancy me,

Cock me cary, &c.

Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,Kitty alone, &c.Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,Until my uncle Rat come home,Cock me cary, &c.

Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,

Kitty alone, &c.

Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,

Until my uncle Rat come home,

Cock me cary, &c.

And when her uncle Rat came home,Kitty alone, &c.And when her uncle Rat came home,Who's been here since I've been gone?Cock me cary, &c.

And when her uncle Rat came home,

Kitty alone, &c.

And when her uncle Rat came home,

Who's been here since I've been gone?

Cock me cary, &c.

Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,Kitty alone, &c.Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,That's been here since you've been gone,Cock me cary, &c.

Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,

Kitty alone, &c.

Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman,

That's been here since you've been gone,

Cock me cary, &c.

The frog he came whistling through the brook,Kitty alone, &c.The frog he came whistling through the brook,And there he met with a dainty duck,Cock me cary, &c.

The frog he came whistling through the brook,

Kitty alone, &c.

The frog he came whistling through the brook,

And there he met with a dainty duck,

Cock me cary, &c.

This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,Kitty alone, Kitty alone;This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,So there's an end of my history book.Cock me cary, Kitty alone,Kitty alone and I.

This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,

Kitty alone, Kitty alone;

This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,

So there's an end of my history book.

Cock me cary, Kitty alone,

Kitty alone and I.

Therewas a man in our toone, in our toone, in our toone,There was a man in our toone, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, an old razor, an old razor,And he played upon an old razor, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, the good roast beef, the good roast beef,And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe,And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps,And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.And there was a man in tither toone, in tither toone, in tither toone,And there was a man in tither toone, and his name was Edrin Drum;And he played upon an old laadle, an old laadle, an old laadle,And he played upon an old laadle, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.And he eat up all the good roast beef, the good roast beef, &c. &c.And he eat up all the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, &c. &c.And he eat up all the bawbie baps, &c. and his name was Edrin Drum.

Therewas a man in our toone, in our toone, in our toone,

There was a man in our toone, and his name was Billy Pod;

And he played upon an old razor, an old razor, an old razor,

And he played upon an old razor, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.

And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, the good roast beef, the good roast beef,And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, the good roast beef, the good roast beef,

And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, and his name was Billy Pod;

And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe,And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe,

And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, and his name was Billy Pod;

And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps,And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, and his name was Billy Pod;And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps,

And his breeks were made of the bawbie baps, and his name was Billy Pod;

And he played upon an old razor, &c.

And there was a man in tither toone, in tither toone, in tither toone,And there was a man in tither toone, and his name was Edrin Drum;And he played upon an old laadle, an old laadle, an old laadle,And he played upon an old laadle, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.

And there was a man in tither toone, in tither toone, in tither toone,

And there was a man in tither toone, and his name was Edrin Drum;

And he played upon an old laadle, an old laadle, an old laadle,

And he played upon an old laadle, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.

And he eat up all the good roast beef, the good roast beef, &c. &c.And he eat up all the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, &c. &c.And he eat up all the bawbie baps, &c. and his name was Edrin Drum.

And he eat up all the good roast beef, the good roast beef, &c. &c.

And he eat up all the good fat tripe, the good fat tripe, &c. &c.

And he eat up all the bawbie baps, &c. and his name was Edrin Drum.

John Cookhad a little grey mare; he, haw, hum!Her back stood up, and her bones they were bare; he, haw, hum!John Cook was riding up Shuter's bank; he, haw, hum!And there his nag did kick and prank; he, haw, hum!John Cook was riding up Shuter's hill; he, haw, hum!His mare fell down, and she made her will; he, haw, hum!The bridle and saddle were laid on the shelf; he, haw, hum!If you want any more you may sing it yourself; he, haw, hum!

John Cookhad a little grey mare; he, haw, hum!Her back stood up, and her bones they were bare; he, haw, hum!

John Cookhad a little grey mare; he, haw, hum!

Her back stood up, and her bones they were bare; he, haw, hum!

John Cook was riding up Shuter's bank; he, haw, hum!And there his nag did kick and prank; he, haw, hum!

John Cook was riding up Shuter's bank; he, haw, hum!

And there his nag did kick and prank; he, haw, hum!

John Cook was riding up Shuter's hill; he, haw, hum!His mare fell down, and she made her will; he, haw, hum!

John Cook was riding up Shuter's hill; he, haw, hum!

His mare fell down, and she made her will; he, haw, hum!

The bridle and saddle were laid on the shelf; he, haw, hum!If you want any more you may sing it yourself; he, haw, hum!

The bridle and saddle were laid on the shelf; he, haw, hum!

If you want any more you may sing it yourself; he, haw, hum!

A carrioncrow sat on an oak,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,Watching a tailor shape his cloak;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.Wife, bring me my old bent bow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,That I may shoot yon carrion crow;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.The tailor he shot and missed his mark,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do;And shot his own sow quite through the heart;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.Wife, bring brandy in a spoon;Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,For our old sow is in a swoon,Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

A carrioncrow sat on an oak,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,Watching a tailor shape his cloak;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

A carrioncrow sat on an oak,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,

Watching a tailor shape his cloak;

Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

Wife, bring me my old bent bow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,That I may shoot yon carrion crow;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

Wife, bring me my old bent bow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,

That I may shoot yon carrion crow;

Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

The tailor he shot and missed his mark,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do;And shot his own sow quite through the heart;Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

The tailor he shot and missed his mark,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do;

And shot his own sow quite through the heart;

Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

Wife, bring brandy in a spoon;Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,For our old sow is in a swoon,Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

Wife, bring brandy in a spoon;

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,

For our old sow is in a swoon,

Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,

Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do.

A carrion crow sat on an oak

[Another version from MS. Sloane, 1489, fol. 17, written in the time of Charles I.]

Hichoc, the carrion crow,For I have shot something too low:I have quite missed my mark,And shot the poor sow to the heart;Wife, bring treacle in a spoon,Or else the poor sow's heart will down.

Hichoc, the carrion crow,

For I have shot something too low:

I have quite missed my mark,

And shot the poor sow to the heart;

Wife, bring treacle in a spoon,

Or else the poor sow's heart will down.

[Song of a little boy while passing his hour of solitude in a corn-field.]

Awa'birds, away!Take a little, and leave a little,And do not come again;For if you do,I will shoot you through,And there is an end of you.

Awa'birds, away!

Take a little, and leave a little,

And do not come again;

For if you do,

I will shoot you through,

And there is an end of you.

IfI'd as much money as I could spend,I never would cry old chairs to mend;Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend;I never would cry old chairs to mend.If I'd as much money as I could tell,I never would cry old clothes to sell;Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell;I never would cry old clothes to sell.

IfI'd as much money as I could spend,I never would cry old chairs to mend;Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend;I never would cry old chairs to mend.

IfI'd as much money as I could spend,

I never would cry old chairs to mend;

Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend;

I never would cry old chairs to mend.

If I'd as much money as I could tell,I never would cry old clothes to sell;Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell;I never would cry old clothes to sell.

If I'd as much money as I could tell,

I never would cry old clothes to sell;

Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell;

I never would cry old clothes to sell.

Whistle, daughter, whistle, whistle daughter dear;I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot whistle clear.Whistle, daughter, whistle, whistle for a pound;I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot make a sound.

Whistle, daughter, whistle, whistle daughter dear;

I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot whistle clear.

Whistle, daughter, whistle, whistle for a pound;

I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot make a sound.

I'llsing you a song,Though not very long,Yet I think it as pretty as any,Put your hand in your purse,You'll never be worse,And give the poor singer a penny.

I'llsing you a song,

Though not very long,

Yet I think it as pretty as any,

Put your hand in your purse,

You'll never be worse,

And give the poor singer a penny.

Dame, get up and bake your pies,Bake your pies, bake your pies;Dame, get up and bake your pies,On Christmas-day in the morning.Dame, what makes your maidens lie,Maidens lie, maidens lie;Dame, what makes your maidens lie,On Christmas-day in the morning?Dame, what makes your ducks to die,Ducks to die, ducks to die;Dame, what makes your ducks to die,On Christmas-day in the morning?Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,Cannot fly, cannot fly;Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,On Christmas-day in the morning.

Dame, get up and bake your pies,Bake your pies, bake your pies;Dame, get up and bake your pies,On Christmas-day in the morning.

Dame, get up and bake your pies,

Bake your pies, bake your pies;

Dame, get up and bake your pies,

On Christmas-day in the morning.

Dame, what makes your maidens lie,Maidens lie, maidens lie;Dame, what makes your maidens lie,On Christmas-day in the morning?

Dame, what makes your maidens lie,

Maidens lie, maidens lie;

Dame, what makes your maidens lie,

On Christmas-day in the morning?

Dame, what makes your ducks to die,Ducks to die, ducks to die;Dame, what makes your ducks to die,On Christmas-day in the morning?

Dame, what makes your ducks to die,

Ducks to die, ducks to die;

Dame, what makes your ducks to die,

On Christmas-day in the morning?

Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,Cannot fly, cannot fly;Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,On Christmas-day in the morning.

Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,

Cannot fly, cannot fly;

Their wings are cut and they cannot fly,

On Christmas-day in the morning.

Seventh Class--Riddles

fancy rule

[Ann.]

THEREwas a girl in our towne,Silk an' satin was her gowne,Silk an' satin, gold an' velvet,Guess her name, three times I've tell'd it.

HEREwas a girl in our towne,

Silk an' satin was her gowne,

Silk an' satin, gold an' velvet,

Guess her name, three times I've tell'd it.

[A thorn.]

I wentto the wood and got it,I sat me down and looked at it;The more I looked at it the less I liked it,And I brought it home because I couldn't help it.

I wentto the wood and got it,

I sat me down and looked at it;

The more I looked at it the less I liked it,

And I brought it home because I couldn't help it.

[Sunshine.]

Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more,On the king's kitchen-door;All the king's horses,And all the king's men,Couldn't drive Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more,Off the king's kitchen-door!

Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more,

On the king's kitchen-door;

All the king's horses,

And all the king's men,

Couldn't drive Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more,

Off the king's kitchen-door!

[A pen.]

WhenI was taken from the fair body,They then cut off my head,And thus my shape was altered;It's I that make peace between king and king,And many a true lover glad:All this I do and ten times more,And more I could do still,But nothing can I do,Without my guider's will.

WhenI was taken from the fair body,

They then cut off my head,

And thus my shape was altered;

It's I that make peace between king and king,

And many a true lover glad:

All this I do and ten times more,

And more I could do still,

But nothing can I do,

Without my guider's will.

[Snuff.]

AsI look'd out o' my chamber windowI heard something fall;I sent my maid to pick it up,But she couldn't pick it all.

AsI look'd out o' my chamber window

I heard something fall;

I sent my maid to pick it up,

But she couldn't pick it all.

[A tobacco-pipe.]

I wentinto my grandmother's garden,And there I found a farthing.I went into my next door neighbour's,There I bought a pipkin and a popkin—A slipkin and a slopkin,A nailboard, a sailboard,And all for a farthing.

I wentinto my grandmother's garden,

And there I found a farthing.

I went into my next door neighbour's,

There I bought a pipkin and a popkin—

A slipkin and a slopkin,

A nailboard, a sailboard,

And all for a farthing.

[Gloves.]

AsI was going o'er London Bridge,I met a cart full of fingers and thumbs!

AsI was going o'er London Bridge,

I met a cart full of fingers and thumbs!

Madein London,Sold at York,Stops a bottleAndisa cork.

Madein London,

Sold at York,

Stops a bottle

Andisa cork.

Tenand ten and twice eleven,Take out six and put in seven;Go to the green and fetch eighteen,And drop one a coming.

Tenand ten and twice eleven,

Take out six and put in seven;

Go to the green and fetch eighteen,

And drop one a coming.

[A walnut.]

Assoft as silk, as white as milk,As bitter as gall, a thick wall,And a green coat covers me all.

Assoft as silk, as white as milk,

As bitter as gall, a thick wall,

And a green coat covers me all.

[A swarm of bees.]

AsI was going o'er Tipple Tine,I met a flock of bonny swine;Some green-lapp'd,Some green-back'd;They were the very bonniest swineThat e'er went over Tipple Tine.

AsI was going o'er Tipple Tine,

I met a flock of bonny swine;

Some green-lapp'd,

Some green-back'd;

They were the very bonniest swine

That e'er went over Tipple Tine.

[An egg.]

HumptyDumpty lay in a beck,*With all his sinews round his neck;Forty doctors and forty wrightsCouldn't put Humpty Dumpty to rights!

HumptyDumpty lay in a beck,*

With all his sinews round his neck;

Forty doctors and forty wrights

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty to rights!

* A brook.

[A storm of wind.]

ArthurO'Bower has broken his band,He comes roaring up the land;—The King of Scots, with all his power,Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!

ArthurO'Bower has broken his band,

He comes roaring up the land;—

The King of Scots, with all his power,

Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!

[Tobacco.]

Makethree-fourths of a cross,And a circle complete;And let two semicirclesOn a perpendicular meet;Next add a triangleThat stands on two feet;Next two semicircles,And a circle complete.

Makethree-fourths of a cross,

And a circle complete;

And let two semicircles

On a perpendicular meet;

Next add a triangle

That stands on two feet;

Next two semicircles,

And a circle complete.

Therewas a king met a kingIn a narrow lane,Says this king to that king,"Where have you been?""Oh! I've been a huntingWith my dog and my doe.""Pray lend him to me,That I may do so.""There's the dogtakethe dog.""What's the dog's name?""I've told you already.""Pray tell me again."

Therewas a king met a kingIn a narrow lane,Says this king to that king,"Where have you been?"

Therewas a king met a king

In a narrow lane,

Says this king to that king,

"Where have you been?"

"Oh! I've been a huntingWith my dog and my doe.""Pray lend him to me,That I may do so."

"Oh! I've been a hunting

With my dog and my doe."

"Pray lend him to me,

That I may do so."

"There's the dogtakethe dog.""What's the dog's name?""I've told you already.""Pray tell me again."

"There's the dogtakethe dog."

"What's the dog's name?"

"I've told you already."

"Pray tell me again."

[A plum-pudding.]

Flourof England, fruit of Spain,Met together in a shower of rain;Put in a bag tied round with a string,If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.

Flourof England, fruit of Spain,

Met together in a shower of rain;

Put in a bag tied round with a string,

If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.

Everylady in this landHas twenty nails upon each hand,Five and twenty hands and feet,All this is true without deceit.

Everylady in this land

Has twenty nails upon each hand,

Five and twenty hands and feet,

All this is true without deceit.

Twelvepears hanging high,Twelve knights riding by;Each knight took a pear,And yet left eleven there!

Twelvepears hanging high,

Twelve knights riding by;

Each knight took a pear,

And yet left eleven there!

[A star.]

I havea little sister, they call her peep, peep;She wades the waters deep, deep, deep;She climbs the mountains high, high, high;Poor little creature she has but one eye.

I havea little sister, they call her peep, peep;

She wades the waters deep, deep, deep;

She climbs the mountains high, high, high;

Poor little creature she has but one eye.

[A needle and thread.]

Oldmother Twitchett had but one eye,And a long tail which she let fly;And every time she went over a gap,She left a bit of her tail in a trap.

Oldmother Twitchett had but one eye,

And a long tail which she let fly;

And every time she went over a gap,

She left a bit of her tail in a trap.

[An egg.]

Inmarble walls as white as milk,Lined with a skin as soft as silk;Within a fountain crystal clear,A golden apple doth appear.No doors there are to this strong-hold.Yet things break in and steal the gold.

Inmarble walls as white as milk,

Lined with a skin as soft as silk;

Within a fountain crystal clear,

A golden apple doth appear.

No doors there are to this strong-hold.

Yet things break in and steal the gold.

[A horse-shoer.]

Whatshoe-maker makes shoes without leather,With all the four elements put together?Fire and water, earth and air;Ev'ry customer has two pair.

Whatshoe-maker makes shoes without leather,

With all the four elements put together?

Fire and water, earth and air;

Ev'ry customer has two pair.

[Currants.]

HiggledypiggledyHere we lie,Pick'd and pluck'd,And put in a pie.My first is snapping, snarling, growling,My second's industrious, romping, and prowling.Higgledy piggledyHere we lie,Pick'd and pluck'd,And put in a pie.

Higgledypiggledy

Here we lie,

Pick'd and pluck'd,

And put in a pie.

My first is snapping, snarling, growling,

My second's industrious, romping, and prowling.

Higgledy piggledy

Here we lie,

Pick'd and pluck'd,

And put in a pie.

Thomasa Tattamus took two Ts,To tie two tups to two tall trees,To frighten the terrible Thomas a Tattamus!Tell me how many Ts there are in allTHAT.

Thomasa Tattamus took two Ts,

To tie two tups to two tall trees,

To frighten the terrible Thomas a Tattamus!

Tell me how many Ts there are in allTHAT.

[The man had one eye, and the tree two apples upon it.]

Therewas a man who had no eyes,He went abroad to view the skies;He saw a tree with apples on it,He took no apples off, yet left no apples on it.

Therewas a man who had no eyes,

He went abroad to view the skies;

He saw a tree with apples on it,

He took no apples off, yet left no apples on it.

[Cleopatra.]

Themoon nine days old,The next sign to cancer;Pat rat without a tail;—And now, sir, for your answer,

Themoon nine days old,

The next sign to cancer;

Pat rat without a tail;—

And now, sir, for your answer,

[A candle.]

LittleNancy Etticoat,In a white petticoat,And a red nose;The longer she stands,The shorter she grows.

LittleNancy Etticoat,

In a white petticoat,

And a red nose;

The longer she stands,

The shorter she grows.

[Pair of tongs.]

Longlegs, crooked thighs,Little head and no eyes.

Longlegs, crooked thighs,

Little head and no eyes.

[From MS. Sloane, 1489, fol. 16, written in the time of Charles I.]

Therewere three sisters in a hall,There came a knight amongst them all;Good morrow, aunt, to the one,Good morrow, aunt, to the other,Good morrow, gentlewoman, to the third,If you were my aunt,As the other two be,I would say good morrow,Then, aunts, all three.

Therewere three sisters in a hall,

There came a knight amongst them all;

Good morrow, aunt, to the one,

Good morrow, aunt, to the other,

Good morrow, gentlewoman, to the third,

If you were my aunt,

As the other two be,

I would say good morrow,

Then, aunts, all three.

[Isabel.]

Congeal'dwater and Cain's brother,That was my lover's name, and no other.

Congeal'dwater and Cain's brother,

That was my lover's name, and no other.

[Teeth and Gums.]

Thirtywhite horses upon a red hill,Now they tramp, now they champ, now they stand still.

Thirtywhite horses upon a red hill,

Now they tramp, now they champ, now they stand still.

[Coals.]

Blackwe are, but much admired;Men seek for us till they are tired.We tire the horse, but comfort manTell me this riddle if you can.

Blackwe are, but much admired;

Men seek for us till they are tired.

We tire the horse, but comfort man

Tell me this riddle if you can.

[A Star.]

Higherthan a house, higher than a tree;Oh, whatever can that be?

Higherthan a house, higher than a tree;

Oh, whatever can that be?

[An Egg.]

Humpty dumptysate on a wall,Humpty dumpty had a great fall;Three score men and three score moreCannot place Humpty Dumpty as he was before.

Humpty dumptysate on a wall,

Humpty dumpty had a great fall;

Three score men and three score more

Cannot place Humpty Dumpty as he was before.

[The allusion to Oliver Cromwell satisfactorily fixes the date of the riddle to belong to the seventeenth century. The answer is, a rainbow.]

Purple, yellow, red, and green,The king cannot reach it nor the queen;Nor can old Noll, whose power's so great:Tell me this riddle while I count eight.

Purple, yellow, red, and green,

The king cannot reach it nor the queen;

Nor can old Noll, whose power's so great:

Tell me this riddle while I count eight.

Pease-porridge hot, pease-porridge cold,Pease-porridge in the pot, nine days old.Spell methatwithout a P,And a clever scholar you will be.

Pease-porridge hot, pease-porridge cold,

Pease-porridge in the pot, nine days old.

Spell methatwithout a P,

And a clever scholar you will be.

AsI was going o'er Westminster bridge,I met with a Westminster scholar;He pulled off his capan' drewoff his glove,And wished me a very good morrow.What is his name?

AsI was going o'er Westminster bridge,

I met with a Westminster scholar;

He pulled off his capan' drewoff his glove,

And wished me a very good morrow.

What is his name?

[A Chimney.]

Blackwithin, and red without;Four corners round about.

Blackwithin, and red without;

Four corners round about.

Therewas a man rode through our town,Gray Grizzle was his name;His saddle-bow was gilt with gold,Three times I've named his name.

Therewas a man rode through our town,

Gray Grizzle was his name;

His saddle-bow was gilt with gold,

Three times I've named his name.

[A Hedgehog.]

AsI went over Lincoln bridgeI met mister Rusticap;Pins and needles on his back,A going to Thorney fair.

AsI went over Lincoln bridge

I met mister Rusticap;

Pins and needles on his back,

A going to Thorney fair.

[One leg is a leg of mutton; two legs, a man; three legs, a stool; four legs, a dog.]

Twolegs sat upon three legs,With one leg in his lap;In comes four legs,And runs away with one leg.Up jumps two legs,Catches up three legs,Throws it after four legs,And makes him bring back one leg.

Twolegs sat upon three legs,

With one leg in his lap;

In comes four legs,

And runs away with one leg.

Up jumps two legs,

Catches up three legs,

Throws it after four legs,

And makes him bring back one leg.

[A Bed.]

Formedlong ago, yet made to-day,Employed while others sleep;What few would like to give away,Nor any wish to keep.

Formedlong ago, yet made to-day,

Employed while others sleep;

What few would like to give away,

Nor any wish to keep.

[A Cinder-sifter.]

A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose,A hundred eyes, and never a nose.

A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose,

A hundred eyes, and never a nose.

[A Well.]

Asround as an apple, as deep as a cup,And all the king's horses can't pull it up.

Asround as an apple, as deep as a cup,

And all the king's horses can't pull it up.

[A Cherry.]

AsI went through the garden gap,Who should I meet but Dick Red-cap!A stick in his hand, a stone in his throat,If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.

AsI went through the garden gap,

Who should I meet but Dick Red-cap!

A stick in his hand, a stone in his throat,

If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.

Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy and Bess,They all went together to seek a bird's nest.They found a bird's nest with five eggs in,They all took one, and left four in.

Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy and Bess,

They all went together to seek a bird's nest.

They found a bird's nest with five eggs in,

They all took one, and left four in.

AsI was going to St. Ives,I met a man with seven wives,Every wife had seven sacks,Every sack had seven cats,Every cat had seven kits:Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,How many were there going to St. Ives?

AsI was going to St. Ives,

I met a man with seven wives,

Every wife had seven sacks,

Every sack had seven cats,

Every cat had seven kits:

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,

How many were there going to St. Ives?

[The Holly Tree.]

Highty, tighty, paradighty clothed in green,The king could not read it, no more could the queen;They sent for a wise man out of the East,Who said it had horns, but was not a beast!

Highty, tighty, paradighty clothed in green,

The king could not read it, no more could the queen;

They sent for a wise man out of the East,

Who said it had horns, but was not a beast!

See, see! what shall I see?A horse's head where his tail should be.

See, see! what shall I see?

A horse's head where his tail should be.

[A fire-brand with sparks on it.]

AsI was going o'er London Bridge,And peep'd through a nick,I saw four and twenty ladiesRiding on a stick!

AsI was going o'er London Bridge,

And peep'd through a nick,

I saw four and twenty ladies

Riding on a stick!

[An Icicle.]

Livesin winter,Dies in summer,And grows with its root upwards!

Livesin winter,

Dies in summer,

And grows with its root upwards!

WhenI went up sandy hill,I met a sandy boy;I cut his throat, I sucked his blood,And left his skin a hanging-o.

WhenI went up sandy hill,

I met a sandy boy;

I cut his throat, I sucked his blood,

And left his skin a hanging-o.

I hada little castle upon the sea-side,One half was water, the other was land;I open'd my little castle door, and guess what I found;I found a fair lady with a cup in her hand.The cup was gold, filled with wine;Drink, fair lady, and thou shalt be mine!

I hada little castle upon the sea-side,

One half was water, the other was land;

I open'd my little castle door, and guess what I found;

I found a fair lady with a cup in her hand.

The cup was gold, filled with wine;

Drink, fair lady, and thou shalt be mine!

Oldfather Graybeard,Without tooth or tongue;If you'll give me your finger,I'll give you my thumb.

Oldfather Graybeard,

Without tooth or tongue;

If you'll give me your finger,

I'll give you my thumb.

Eighth Class--Charms

fancy rule

CUSHYcow bonny, let down thy milk,And I will give thee a gown of silk;A gown of silk and a silver tee,If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.

USHYcow bonny, let down thy milk,

And I will give thee a gown of silk;

A gown of silk and a silver tee,

If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.

[Said to pips placed in the fire; a species of divination practised by children.]

Ifyou love me, pop and fly;If you hate me, lay and die.

Ifyou love me, pop and fly;

If you hate me, lay and die.

[The following, with a very slight variation, is found in Ben Jonson's 'Masque of Queen's,' and it is singular to account for its introduction into the modern nursery.]

I wentto the toad that lies under the wall,I charmed him out, and he came at my call;I scratch'd out the eyes of the owl before,I tore the bat's wing, what would you have more.

I wentto the toad that lies under the wall,

I charmed him out, and he came at my call;

I scratch'd out the eyes of the owl before,

I tore the bat's wing, what would you have more.

Back to Index Next