Chapter 3

"Ho! Sword!" says the master, "Go kill that Ass there, That drinks not the Water, That drowns not the Fire, That burns not the Whip, That thrashes not the Doggie, That bites not the Johnnie, Who chases not the Nanny, that eats the grapes, Down in the garden."

The Sword goes, and returns not, Nor kills the Ass, That drinks not the Water, That drowns not the Fire, That burns not the Whip, That thrashes not the Doggie, That bites not the Johnnie, Who chases not the Nanny, that eats the grapes, Down in the garden.

Says the master: "Then 'tis I That thither to the chase must hie;" He takes a bound across the grass, And the Sword runs to kill the Ass, The Ass to Water runs and drinks, When Water runs the Fire shrinks, The Fire to burn the Whip now hastens, The Whip in haste the slow Dog chastens, And Johnnie now he runs to bite, Who quick on Nanny vents his spite, Nanny who ate the grapes of late, And master shuts the garden gate.

The fox looked out one moonlight night, And called to the stars to give him light, For he'd a long way to go, over the snow, Before he could reach his den-oh!

Old Mother Prittle-Prattle jumped out of bed, And out of the window she popped her head, "John! John! John! the grey goose is gone, And the fox is off to his den-oh!"

The fox he got quite safe to his den, And to his little ones--eight--nine--ten, The fox and his wife they ate the goose, And the little ones picked the bones-oh!

Poor Dog Bright! Ran off with all his might, Because the cat was after him, Poor Dog Bright!

Poor cat Fright! Ran off with all her might, Because the dog was after her, Poor Cat Fright!

CHARM FOR AN INJURED HORSE

Our Lord forth raide, His foal's foot slade. Our Lord down-lighted, His foal's foot righted. Saying, "Flesh to flesh, blood to blood, And bane to bane." In our Lord His name.

FROM POOR ROBIN'S ALMANAC (1733)

Observe which way the hedgehog builds her nest, To front the north, or south, or east, or west; For if 'tis true that common people say, The wind will blow the quite contrary way. If by some secret art the hedgehog know, So long before, the way the wind will blow, She has an art which many a person lacks, That thinks himself fit to make our Almanacs.

Into woods where beasts can talk, I went out to take a walk, A rabbit sitting in a bush Peeped at me, and then cried, "Hush!" Presently to me it ran, And its story thus began:--

"You have got a gun, I see, Perhaps you'll point it soon at me, And when I am shot, alack! Pop me in your little sack. When upon my fate I think I grow faint, my spirits sink."

"Pretty rabbit, do not eat Gardener's greens or farmer's wheat, If such thieving you begin, You must pay it with your skin; Honestly your living get, And you may be happy yet."

See the little rabbits, How they run and sweat; Some shoot 'em with a gun, Others catch 'em with a net.

THE HUNTING OF THE WREN

"Will ye go to the wood?" quo' Fozie Mozie; "Will ye go to the wood?" quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "Will ye go to the wood?" quo' Foslin 'ene; "Will ye go to the wood?" quo' brither and kin.

"What to do there?" quo' Fozie Mozie; "What to do there?" quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "What to do there?" quo' Foslin 'ene; "What to do there?" quo' brither and kin.

"To slay the wren," quo' Fozie Mozie; "To slay the wren," quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "To slay the wren," quo' Foslin 'ene; "To slay the wren," quo' brither and kin.

"What way will ye get her hame?" quo' Fozie Mozie; "What way will ye get her hame?" quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "What way will ye get her hame?" quo' Foslin 'ene; "What way will ye get her hame?" quo' brither and kin.

"We'll hire cart and horse," quo' Fozie Mozie; "We'll hire cart and horse," quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "We'll hire cart and horse," quo' Foslin 'ene; "We'll hire cart and horse," quo' brither and kin.

"What way will ye get her in?" quo' Fozie Mozie; "What way will ye get her in?" quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "What way will ye get her in?" quo' Foslin 'ene; "What way will ye get her in?" quo' brither and kin.

"We'll drive down the door cheeks," quo' Fozie Mozie; "We'll drive down the door cheeks," quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "We'll drive down the door cheeks," quo' Foslin 'ene; "We'll drive down the door cheeks," quo' brither and kin.

"I'll hae a wing," quo' Fozie Mozie; "I'll hae anither," quo' Johnnie Rednosie; "I'll hae a leg," quo' Foslin 'ene; "And I'll hae anither," quo' brither and kin.

"Dicky bird, dicky bird, where are you going?" "I'm going to the fields to see the men mowing." "Don't you go there, or else you'll be shot, Baked in a pudding, and boiled in a pot."

"Who'll gu to th' wood?" says Robin a Bobbin, "Who'll gu to th' wood?" says Richard to Robbin, "Who'll gu to th' wood?" says Johnny alone, "Who'll gu to th' wood, lads, every one?"

"What muns do theer?" says Robbin a Bobbin, "What muns do theer?" says Richard to Robbin, "What muns do theer?" says Johnny alone, "What muns do theer, lads, every one?"

"Gu a-shooting tum-tits," says Robbin a Bobbin, "Gu a-shooting tum-tits," says Richard to Robbin, "Gu a-shooting tum-tits," says Johnny alone, "Gu a-shooting tum-tits, lads, every one."

ESSEX

The robin and the red-breast, The robin and the wren; If you take out o' their nest, You'll never thrive agen!

The robin and the red-breast, The martin and the swallow; If you touch one o' their eggs, Bad luck will surely follow!

ESSEX

A robin and a titter-wren Are God Almighty's cock and hen; A martin and a swallow Are God Almighty's shirt and collar.

The robin red-breast and the wran Coost out about the parritch pan; And ere the robin got a spune, The wran she had the parritch dune.

Robin, robin red-breast, Laverock, and the wren, If you harry their nest You'll never thrive agen.

1600

What bird so sings, yet does so wail? 'Tis philomel, the nightingale; "Jugg! jugg! terue!" she cries, And hating earth to heaven she flies.

ESSEX

Eat birds, eat, and fear not, Here lie I and care not, But if my master should happen to come, With his short whip, and his long gun, You must fly and I must run.

I will sing you a song Of the days that are long, Of the woodcock and the sparrow, Of the little dog that burnt his tail, And shall be whipt to-morrow.

DORSET RIME

Vlee away, blackie cap! Don't ye hurt measter's crap, While I vill my tatie trap, And lie down and teak a nap.

DEVONSHIRE CUCKOO RIME

March he sits upon his perch; April he soundeth his bell; May he sings both night and day; June he altereth his tune; And July--away to fly.

When the cuckoo comes to the bare thorn, Sell your cow and buy your corn; But when she comes to the full bit, Sell your corn and buy you sheep.

In April the coo-coo can sing her song by rote; In June of time she cannot sing a note; At first koo-koo! koo-koo! sings still-- At last koo-ke! koo-ke! koo-ke!--six koo-kees to one koo.

NORFOLK

When the weirling shrieks at night, Sow the seed with the morning light; But when the cuckoo swells its throat, Harvest flies from the mooncall's[A] note.

[A] _Mooncall_--the cuckoo (Norfolk).

Parson Peard, Be not afeard, Nor take it much in anger; We've bought your geese At a penny a piece, And left the money with the gander.

A peacock picked a peck of pepper; Did he pick a peck of pepper? Yes, he picked a peck of pepper; Pick, pecker, peacock!

SOUTHERN INDIA

An old story! an old story! Clever Brahman, an old story! What shall I say? I know none. Little chickens! little chickens! Sing me a song! What can I sing? Pyong! Pyong!

The Cock did say: "I use alway To crow both first and last, Like a postle I am, For I preache to man, And tell hym the nyght is past."

THE APE AND THE COCKATOO

Said an ape in the Zoo To a white cockatoo: "Your beak is uncommonly strong!" Said the white cockatoo To the ape in the Zoo, "And your tail is excessively long!"

Said the ape in the Zoo To the white cockatoo: "Remarks are exceedingly rude! And you must look out, And see what you're about, Or I'll seize and run off with your food!"

Then the white cockatoo Really furious grew, And shouted as loud as he could: "You black-faced Wanderoo![B] With your white whiskers, too, Do you think to insult me is good?"

'Tween the ape in the Zoo And the white cockatoo Then furious battle ensued, And the cockatoo bit The ape into a fit, And the ape snatched the cockatoo's food.

[B] An ape is a Wanderoo in Ceylon.

Sweet Amaryllis by a spring's Soft and soul-melting murmurings Slept, and thus sleeping thither flew A robin red-breast, who, at view, Not seeing her at all to stir, Brought leaves and moss to cover her. But while he perking there did pry, About the arch of either eye, The lid began to let out day, At which poor robin flew away, And seeing her not dead, but all disleaved, He chirp'd for joy to find himself deceived.

THE OBSTINATE CHICKEN

_Hen_ "Go not down that distant walk; Yonder flies the savage hawk; His sharp eyes will quickly meet you, If you go I'm sure he'll eat you."

_Chicken_ "Nasty hawk is far away, I may safely go and play; If he comes my legs will bring Me beneath your sheltering wing."

So it skipped off in a trice, Scorning mother's good advice; And when it thought at home to sup, Down came the hawk and gobbled it up.

Lords and knights, I do invite Ladies and gentlemen, To come unto the burial Of my wee brown hen.

My wee brown hen, They might have let her be, Every day she laid an egg, On Sunday she laid three.

SOUTHERN INDIAN SONGS

"Cooing, cooing, cooing dove! How many little ones have you to love?" "In my nest--two--three--four--five Little ones I hatch'd alive." "Tell me then, O dove, I pray, Where are the little ones to-day?" "On a bough both safe and strong Left I them an hour long, I cannot see them now, and know They have gone to feed the crow."

"Dusky sister of the crow Let us to the wedding go, To-morrow or on Sunday morn; Though the kite doth sit forlorn, Seeing in a painful dream Young ones perish in the stream. All the young ones of the crow Cheese are seeking to and fro."

ESSEX

One, two, three, four, five, I caught a fish alive; Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, I let it go again.

"Why did you let it go?" "Because it bit my finger so." "Which finger did it bite?" "The little finger on the right."

Dragon fly! dragon fly! fly about the brook, Sting all the bad boys who for the fish look; But let the good boys catch all they can, And then take them home to be fried in a pan, With nice bread and butter they shall sup up their fish, While all the little naughty boys shall only lick the dish.

LADY-BIRD

NORFOLK

Bishop, Bishop Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding be; If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away. Fly to the East, fly to the West, And fly to them that I love best.

LADY-BIRD--IN SCOTLAND LADY LANNERS

LANARK

Lady, Lady Lanners! Lady, Lady Lanners! Tak up your clowk about your head, An' flee awa' to Flanners. Flee owre firth, an' flee owre fell, Flee owre pule, an' rinnan well, Flee owre muir, an' flee owre mead, Flee owre livan, flee owre dead, Flee owre corn, an' flee owre lea, Flee owre river, flee owre sea, Flee ye east, or flee ye west, Flee till him that lo'es me best.

Lady-bird! lady-bird! pretty one stay! Come sit on my finger, so happy and gay, With me shall no mischief betide thee; No harm would I do thee, no foeman is near, I only would gaze on thy beauties so dear, Those beautiful winglets beside thee.

Lady-bird! lady-bird! fly away home! Thy house is a-fire, thy children will roam, List! list to their cry and bewailing! The pitiless spider is weaving their doom, Then lady-bird! lady-bird! fly away home! Hark! hark to thy children's bewailing!

Fly back again, back again, lady-bird dear! Thy neighbours will merrily welcome thee here, With them shall no perils attend thee. They'll guard thee so safely from danger or care, They'll gaze on thy beautiful winglets so fair, And comfort, and love, and befriend thee!

THE SELFISH SNAILS

It happened that a little snail Came crawling, with his shiny tail, Upon a cabbage-stalk; But two more little snails were there, Both feasting on this dainty fare, Engaged in friendly talk.

"No, no, you shall not dine with us; How dare you interrupt us thus?" The greedy snails declare; So their poor brother they discard, Who really thinks it very hard He may not have his share.

But selfish folks are sure to know They get no good by being so In earnest or in play; Which those two snails confess'd, no doubt, When soon the gardener spied them out, And threw them both away.

ALPHABETS

QUARREL OF THE ALPHABET

Great A was alarmed at B's bad behaviour, Because C, D, E, and F denied G a favour. H got a husband, with I, J, K, and L, M married Mary, and taught scholars how to spell.

It went hard at first with N, O, P, and Q, With R, S, T, with single and double U, The X and the Y it stuck in their gizzards, Till they were made friends by the two crooked izzards.

This A, B, C, so little is it thought about, Although by its aid great knowledge is brought about; 'Tis the groundwork of science, of wisdom the key, sir, For what does a man know that knows not A, B, C, sir? He is a blockhead, take it from me, sir, That does not know his A, B, C, sir, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

A stands for Apple Pie, B for Balloon, C a nice custard To eat with a spoon. D for my doll, When from lessons released, E sister Ellen, and F for a Feast. G for the Garden, Where oft-time we play. H you will find In a field of sweet Hay. I was an Inkstand, Thrown over for fun. J brother Joseph, By whom it was done. K is our Kitten, Who plays with her tail, L our maid Lucy With milk in her pail. M my kind Mother, I love her so well. N Mr Nobody Nothing can tell. O is an Ostrich, So fine and so tall. P a fine Peacock, That sat on a wall. Q was the Quarrel 'Tween Pompey and Pug. R is the Rose In our small china jug. S stands for Syllabub, T for my Toys. U my kind Uncle, Who loves good girls and boys. V is the Vulture, Whom little birds dread. W a Watch That hangs ticking o'erhead. X you may make By two keys when they're crossed. Y is a Youth Whose time should not be lost. The Alphabet now I nearly have said, Zoological Gardens begin with a Z.

A stands for Age, and for Adam, and All. B stands for Bullfinch, and Billy, and Ball. C stands for Cat, and for Cherry, and Crumb. D stands for Dog, and for David, and Drum. E stands for Elephant, Edward, and East. F stands for Fox, and for Fanny, and Feast. G stands for Goat, and for George, and for Gold. H stands for House, and for Henry, and Hold. I stands for Indian, and Isaac, and Ill. J stands for Jay, and for Jenny, and Jill. K stands for Kissing, and Kitty, and Kine. L stands for Lion, and Lucy, and Line. M stands for Morning, for Mary, and Mote. N stands for Nightingale, Noah, and Note. O stands for Owl, and for Ox, and for Ounce. P stands for Parson, and Peter, and Pounce. Q stands for Quail, and Quarrel, and Quake. R stands for Reading, for Rule, and for Rake. S stands for Ship, and for Sam, and for Shop. T stands for Tiger, for Thomas and Top. U stands for Unicorn, Uncle, and Use. V stands for Vulture, for Venice, and Views. W stands for Waggon, for Wilful, and We. X stands for Xiphias, the sword-fish, you see. Y stands for Youth, for You, and for Year. Z stands for Zany, that brings up the rear.

GAMES

LOOBY LOO

Here we dance Looby Loo, Here we dance Looby Light, Here we dance Looby Loo, All on a Saturday night.

All your right hands in, All your right hands out, Shake your right hands a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance, etc.

All your left hands in, All your left hands out, Shake your left hands a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance, etc.

All your right feet in, All your right feet out, Shake your right feet a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance, etc.

All your left feet in, All your left feet out, Shake your left feet a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance, etc.

All your noddles in, All your noddles out, Shake all your noddles a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance, etc.

Put all yourselves in, Put all yourselves out, Shake all yourselves a little a little, And turn yourselves about. Here we dance Looby Loo, Here we dance Looby Light, Here we dance Looby Loo, All on a Saturday night.

Walking up the green grass, A dusty dusty day, Fair maids, and pretty maids, As ever you did see. Suppose a man'd die, And leave his wife a widow, The bells'd ring, and we should sing, And all dance round together.

Oats and beans and barley grow, Oats and beans and barley grow; Do you, or I, or any one know, How oats and beans and barley grow?

First the farmer sows his seed, Then he stands and takes his ease, Stamps his feet, and claps his hands, And turns him round to view the lands. Yeo ho! Yeo ho!

Waiting for a partner, Waiting for a partner, Open the ring, and send one in. So now you're married you must obey, You must be true to all you say; You must be kind, you must be good, And help your wife to chop the wood. Yeo ho! Yeo ho!

STAFFORDSHIRE

Green gravel, green gravel, the grass is so green, The fairest damsel that ever was seen.

O Mary, O Mary, your true love is dead! He sent you a letter to turn round your head.

O mother, O mother, do you think it is true? O yes, O yes, and what shall I do?

I'll wash you in milk, and dress you in silk, And write down your name with a gold pen and ink.

SINGING GAME

Rosy apple, lemon, and pear, Bunch of roses she shall wear, Gold and silver by her side, Choose the one to be your bride. Take her by the lily-white hand, Lead her across the water, Give her kisses, one, two, three, Mrs Rose's daughter.

APPLE PIPS

One I love, two I love, three I love, I say Four I love with all my heart, five I cast away; Six he loves, seven she loves, eight they both love; Nine he comes, ten he tarries, Eleven he courts, and twelve he marries.

SCOTTISH GAME SONG

Here we go by jingo ring, By jingo ring, by jingo ring, Here we go by jingo ring, And round about Mary matins sing.

Round the Maypole, Trit, trit, trot! See what a Maypole We have got. Fine and gay, Trip away! Happy in our new May-day.

Gentlemen and ladies, I wish you happy May, We come to show the garland, For 'tis the first of May.

Good-morning, lords and ladies, It is the first of May. We hope you'll view our garland, It is so smart and gay. I love my little brother, And sister every day, But I seem to love them better In the merry month of May.

COUNTING-OUT RHYME

One-ery, two-ery, tick-ery, ten, Bobs of vinegar, gentlemen: A bird in the air, A fish in the sea, A bonnie wee lassie come singing to thee, One, two, three!

MISCELLANEOUS RHYMES

A SHROPSHIRE BALLAD

It hails, it rains, in Merry-Cock land, It hails, it rains, both great and small, And all the little children in Merry-Cock land, They have need to play at ball. They toss'd the ball so high, They toss'd the ball so low, Amongst all the Jews' cattle, And amongst the Jews below. Out came one of the Jew's daughters, Dressed all in green, "Come my sweet Saluter, And fetch the ball again." "I durst not come, I must not come, Unless all my little playfellows come along, For if my mother sees me at the gate, She'll cause my blood to fall." She show'd me an apple as green as grass, She show'd me a gay gold ring, She show'd me a cherry as red as blood, And so she entic'd me in. She took me in the parlour, She laid me down to sleep, With a Bible at my head, And a Testament at my feet. And if my playfellows quere for me, Tell them I am asleep.

I had a true love over the sea, Parla me dixi dominee! He sent me love tokens one, two, three, With a rotrum potrum trumpitrorum, Parla me dixi dominee!

He sent me a book that none could read, He sent me a web without a thread.

He sent me a cherry without a stone, He sent me a bird without a bone.

How can there be a book that none can read? How can there be a web without a thread?

How can there be a cherry without a stone? How can there be a bird without a bone?

When the book's unwritten none can read; When the web's in the fleece it has no thread.

When the cherry's in the bloom it has no stone; When the bird's in the egg it has no bone.

With a rotrum potrum trumpitrorum, Parla me dixi dominee!

DREAM OF A GIRL WHO LIVED AT SEVENOAKS

Seven sweet singing birds up in a tree, Seven swift sailing ships white upon the sea; Seven bright weather-cocks shining in the sun; Seven slim race-horses ready for a run; Seven golden butterflies flitting overhead; Seven red roses blowing in a garden bed; Seven white lilies, with honey bees inside them; Seven round rainbows, with clouds to divide them; Seven pretty little girls, with sugar on their lips; Seven witty little boys, whom everybody tips; Seven nice fathers, to call little maids joys; Seven nice mothers, to kiss the little boys; Seven nights running I dreamt it all plain; With bread and jam for supper I could dream it all again.

There was an old woman, and she liv'd in a shoe, She had so many children, she didn't know what to do. She crumm'd 'em some porridge without any bread; And she borrow'd a beetle, and she knock'd 'em all o' th' head. Then out went the old woman to bespeak 'em a coffin, And when she came back she found 'em all a-loffeing.

There was an old woman drawn up in a basket, Three or four times as high as the moon, And where she was going I never did ask it, But in her hand she carried a broom.