Away went hat and wig;
He little dreamt, when he set out,
Of running such a rig.
The wind did blow, the cloak did fly
Like streamer long and gay,
Till, loop and button failing both,
At last it flew away.
Then might all people well discern
The bottles he had slung;
A bottle swinging at each side,
As hath been said or sung.
The dogs did bark, the children screamed.
Up flew the windows all;
And every soul cried out, "Well done!"
As loud as he could bawl.
Away went Gilpin--who but he?
His fame soon spread around:
"He carries weight! he rides a race!
'Tis for a thousand pound!"
And still as fast as he drew near,
'Twas wonderful to view
How in a trice the turnpike-men
Their gates wide open threw.
And now, as he went bowing down
His reeking head full low,
The bottles twain behind his back
Were shattered at a blow.
Down ran the wine into the road,
Most piteous to be seen,
Which made the horse's flanks to smoke
As they had basted been.
But still he seemed to carry weight,
With leathern girdle braced;
For all might see the bottle-necks
Still dangling at his waist.
Thus all through merry Islington
These gambols he did play,
Until he came unto the Wash
Of Edmonton so gay;
And there he threw the wash about
On both sides of the way,
Just like unto a trundling mop.
Or a wild goose at play.
At Edmonton his loving wife
From the balcony spied
Her tender husband, wondering much
To see how he did ride.
"Stop, stop, John Gilpin!--Here's the house!"
They all at once did cry;
"The dinner waits, and we are tired,"
Said Gilpin--"So am I!"
But yet his horse was not a whit
Inclined to tarry there;
For why?--his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.
So like an arrow swift he flew,
Shot by an archer strong;
So did he fly--which brings me to
The middle of my song.
Away went Gilpin out of breath
And sore against his will,
Till at his friend the calender's.
His horse at last stood still.
The calender, amazed to see
His neighbour in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,
And thus accosted him:
"What news? what news? your tidings tell;
Tell me you must and shall--
Say why bareheaded you are come,
Or why you come at all?"
Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit,
And loved a timely joke;
And thus unto the calender
In merry guise he spoke:
"I came because your horse would come:
And, if I well forebode,
My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road."
The calender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin,
Returned him not a single word,
But to the house went in;
Whence straight he came with hat and wig,
A wig that flowed behind,
A hat not much the worse for wear,
Each comely in its kind.
He held them up, and in his turn
Thus showed his ready wit,
"My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.
"But let me scrape the dirt away,
That hangs upon your face;
And stop and eat, for well you may
Be in a hungry case."
Said John, "It is my wedding-day,
And all the world would stare
If wife should dine at Edmonton,
And I should dine at Ware."
So turning to his horse, he said,
"I am in haste to dine;
'Twas for your pleasure you came here,
You shall go back for mine."
Ah! luckless speech, and bootless boast!
For which he paid full dear;
For while he spake, a braying ass
Did sing most loud and clear;
Whereat his horse did snort, as he
Had heard a lion roar,
And galloped off with all his might,
As he had done before.
Away went Gilpin, and away
Went Gilpin's hat and wig:
He lost them sooner than at first,
For why--they were too big.
Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw
Her husband posting down
Into the country far away,
She pulled out half-a-crown;
And thus unto the youth she said,
That drove them to the "Bell,"
"This shall be yours when you bring back
My husband safe and well."
The youth did ride, and soon did meet
John coming back amain;
Whom in a trice he tried to stop,
By catching at his rein;
But not performing what he meant,
And gladly would have done,
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him faster run.
Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels,
The postboy's horse right glad to miss
The lumbering of the wheels.
Six gentlemen upon the road,
Thus seeing Gilpin fly,
With postboy scampering in the rear,
They raised the hue and cry.
"Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman!"
Not one of them was mute;
And all and each that passed that way
Did join in the pursuit.
And now the turnpike gates again
Flew open in short space;
The toll-men thinking, as before,
That Gilpin rode a race.
And so he did, and won it too,
For he got first to town;
Nor stopped till where he had got up,
He did again get down.
Now let us sing, "Long live the King,
And Gilpin, long live he;"
And when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to see.
* * * * *
The bee doth love the sweetest flower,
So doth the blossom the April shower.
_One, two, buckle my shoe_
One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Shut the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight;
Nine, ten,
A good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve,
Who will delve?
Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a waiting;
Nineteen, twenty,
My plate's empty.
_Six little mice sat down to spin_
Six little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy passed by, and she peeped in.
"What are you at, my little men?"
"Making coats for gentlemen."
"Shall I come in and bite off your thread?"
"No, no, Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our head."
_Jocky was a piper's son_
Jocky was a piper's son,
And he fell in love when he was young,
And the only tune he could play
Was, "Over the hills and far away;"
Over the hills and a great way off,
And the wind will blow my top-knot off.
_There was a piper had a cow_
There was a piper had a cow,
And he had nought to give her;
He pulled out his pipes, and played her a tune,
And bade the cow consider.
The cow considered very well,
And gave the piper a penny,
And bade him play the other tune--
"Corn rigs are bonny."
_Mary, Mary, quite contrary_
Mary, Mary,
Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Silver bells,
And cockle-shells,
And pretty maids all of a row.
[Illustration: "PRETTY MAIDS ALL OF A ROW."]
_There was a crooked man_
There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile:
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
_There was a jolly miller_
There was 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.
_Who killed Cock Robin?_
Who killed Cock Robin?
"I," said the sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin."
Who saw him die?
"I," said the fly,
"With my little eye,
I saw him die."
Who caught his blood?
"I," said the fish,
"With my little dish,
I caught his blood."
Who'll make his shroud?
"I," said the beetle,
"With my thread and needle,
I'll make his shroud."
Who'll bear the torch?
"I," said the linnet,
"Will come in a minute,
I'll bear the torch."
Who'll be the clerk?
"I," said the lark,
"I'll say Amen in the dark,
I'll be the clerk."
Who'll dig his grave?
"I," said the owl,
"With my spade and shovel,
I'll dig his grave."
Who'll be the parson?
"I," said the rook,
"With my little book,
I'll be the parson."
Who'll be chief mourner?
"I," said the dove,
"I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner."
Who'll sing his dirge?
"I," said the thrush,
"As I sing in a bush,
I'll sing his dirge."
Who'll carry his coffin?
"I," said the kite,
"If it be in the night,
I'll carry his coffin."
Who'll toll the bell?
"I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull,
I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air
Fell sighing and sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.
_Diddle diddle dumpling_
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his breeches on,
One stocking off, and one stocking on;
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
_Pussy-cat, pussy-cat_
Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, where have you been?
I've been up to London to look at the queen.
Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under the chair.
[Illustration: PUSSY-CAT PUSSY-CAT]
_Billy, Billy, come and play_
"Billy, Billy, come and play,
While the sun shines bright as day."
"Yes, my Polly, so I will,
For I love to please you still."
"Billy, Billy, have you seen,
Sam and Betsy on the green?"
"Yes, my Poll, I saw them pass,
Skipping o'er the new-mown grass."
"Billy, Billy, come along,
And I will sing a pretty song."
"O then, Polly, I'll make haste,
Not one moment will I waste,
But will come and hear you sing,
And my fiddle I will bring."
_I had a little hen_
I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,
She washed up the dishes, and kept the house clean;
She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,
She brought it home in less than an hour;
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire and told me a fine tale.
_Lady bird, lady bird_
Lady bird, lady bird, fly away home,
Your house is on fire, your children have flown.
All but one, and her name is Ann,
And she has crept under the pudding-pan.
_Hushy baby, my doll_
Hushy baby, my doll, I pray you don't cry,
And I'll give you some bread and some milk by-and-by;
Or, perhaps you like custard, or maybe a tart,--
Then to either you're welcome, with all my whole heart.
But how, my dear baby, shall I make you eat
Of the bread, or the milk, or the custard, or meat?
For those pretty red lips seem shut up so fast,
I much fear they won't open to taste the repast.
Ah! but then, my sweet child, you'll surely not cry,
Oh no, not one tear is there now in your eye;
Come kiss me, my dear, then, although you're but wood,
For I'm sure now you smile, and look very good.
_Cock a doodle doo!_
Cock a doodle doo!
My dame has lost her shoe;
My master's lost his fiddling stick,
And don't know what to do.
Cock a doodle doo!
What is my dame to do?
Till master finds his fiddling stick,
She'll dance without her shoe.
Cock a doodle doo!
My dame has lost her shoe,
And master's found his fiddling stick,
Sing doodle doodle doo!
Cock a doodle doo!
My dame will dance with you.
While master fiddles his fiddling stick,
For dame and doodle doo.
Cock a doodle doo!
Dame has lost her shoe;
Gone to bed and scratched her head,
And can't tell what to do.
_There was an old woman_
There was an old woman had three sons,
Jerry and James and John:
Jerry was hung, James was drowned,
John was lost, and never was found;
And there was an end of her three sons,
Jerry and James and John!
_When the wind is in the east_
When the wind is in the east,
'Tis neither good for man nor beast;
When the wind is in the north,
The skilful fisher goes not forth;
When the wind is in the south,
It blows the bait in the fishes' mouth;
When the wind is in the west,
Then 'tis at the very best.
[Illustration: "WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE EAST"]
_Where should a baby rest?_
Where should a baby rest?
Where but on its mother's arm--
Where can a baby lie
Half so safe from every harm?
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Softly sleep, my baby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Soft, soft, my baby.
Nestle there, my lovely one!
Press to mine thy velvet cheek;
Sweetly coo, and smile, and look,
All the love thou canst not speak,
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Softly sleep, my baby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby,
Soft, soft, my baby.
_Let us go to the woods_
"Let us go to the woods," says Richard to Robin,
"Let us go to the woods," says Robin to Bobbin,
"Let us go to the woods," says John all alone,
"Let us go to the woods," says every one.
"What to do there?" says Richard to Robin,
"What to do there?" says Robin to Bobbin,
"What to do there?" says John all alone,
"What to do there?" says every one.
"We will shoot a wren," says Richard to Robin,
"We will shoot a wren," says Robin to Bobbin,
"We will shoot a wren," says John all alone,
"We will shoot a wren," says every one.
"Then pounce, pounce," says Richard to Robin,
"Then pounce, pounce," says Robin to Bobbin,
"Then pounce, pounce," says John all alone,
"Then pounce, pounce," says every one.
"She is dead, she is dead," says Richard to Robin,
"She is dead, she is dead," says Robin to Bobbin,
"She is dead, she is dead," says John all alone,
"She is dead, she is dead," says every one.
"How shall we get her home?" says Richard to Robin,
"How shall we get her home?" says Robin to Bobbin,
"How shall we get her home?" says John all alone,
"How shall we get her home?" says every one.
"In a cart with six horses," says Richard to Robin,
"In a cart with six horses," says Robin to Bobbin,
"In a cart with six horses," says John all alone.
"In a cart with six horses," says every one.
"How shall we get her dressed?" says Richard to Robin,
"How shall we get her dressed?" says Robin to Bobbin,
"How shall we get her dressed?" says John all alone,
"How shall we get her dressed?" says every one.
"We will hire seven cooks," says Richard to Robin,
"We will hire seven cooks," says Robin to Bobbin,
"We will hire seven cooks," says John all alone,
"We will hire seven cooks," says every one.
_Hickory, Dickory, Dock_
Hickory, Dickory, Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, Dickory, Dock.
_A Frog he would a-wooing go_
A Frog he would a-wooing go,
Heigho, says Rowley,
Whether his mother would let him or no.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
So off he set with his opera hat,
Heigho, says Rowley,
And on the road he met with a rat.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Pray, Mr. Rat, will you go with me,"
Heigho, says Rowley,
"Kind Mrs. Mousey for to see?"
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
When they reached the door of Mousey's hall,
Heigho, says Rowley,
They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Pray, Mrs. Mouse, are you within?"
Heigho, says Rowley,
"Oh, yes, kind sirs, I'm sitting to spin."
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Pray, Mrs. Mouse, will you give us some beer?
Heigho, says Rowley,
For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer."
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Pray, Mr. Frog, will you give us a song?
Heigho, says Rowley,
But let it be something that's not very long."
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Indeed, Mrs. Mouse," replied Mr. Frog,
Heigho, says Rowley,
"A cold has made me as hoarse as a hog."
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
"Since you have caught cold, Mr. Frog," Mousey said,
Heigho, says Rowley,
"I'll sing you a song that I have just made."
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
But while they were all a merry-making,
Heigho, says Rowley,
A cat and her kittens came tumbling in.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
The cat she seized the rat by the crown;
Heigho, says Rowley,
The kittens they pulled the little mouse down.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
This put Mr. Frog in a terrible fright;
Heigho, says Rowley,
He took up his hat, and he wished them good-night.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
But as Froggy was crossing over a brook,
Heigho, says Rowley,
A lily-white duck came and gobbled him up.
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
So there was an end of one, two, and three,
Heigho, says Rowley,
The Rat, the Mouse, and the little Frog-gee!
With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!
_When I was a bachelor_
When I was a bachelor I lived by myself,
And all the meat I got I put upon a shelf,
The rats and the mice did lead me such a life,
That I went to London, to get myself a wife.
The streets were so broad, and the lanes were so narrow,
I could not get my wife home without a wheelbarrow,
The wheelbarrow broke, my wife got a fall,
Down tumbled wheelbarrow, little wife, and all.
_Goosey, goosey, gander_
Goosey, goosey, gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs,
And in my lady's chamber;
There I met an old man
That would not say his prayers;
I took him by the left leg,
And threw him downstairs.
_Robin the Bobbin_
Robin the Bobbin, the big bouncing Ben,
He ate more meat than fourscore men;
He ate a cow, he ate a calf,
He ate a butcher and a half;
He ate a church, he ate a steeple,
He ate the priest and all the people!
_Rock-a-bye, baby_
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green;
Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen;
And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring;
And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the king.
_Tom, Tom, the piper's son_
Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young,
But all the tunes that he could play,
Was "Over the hills and far away."
Over the hills, and a great way off,
And the wind will blow my top-knot off.
Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise,
That he pleased both the girls and boys,
And they stopped to hear him play,
"Over the hills and far away."
Tom with his pipe did play with such skill,
That those who heard him could never keep still;
Whenever they heard they began for to dance,
Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance.
[Illustration: THOSE THAT HEARD HIM COULD NEVER KEEP STILL.]
As Dolly was milking the cow one day,
Tom took out his pipe and began for to play;
So Doll and the cow danced "the Cheshire round,"
Till the pail was broke, and the milk ran on the ground.
He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs,
He used his pipe, and she used her legs;
She danced about till the eggs were all broke,
She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke.
He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and glass;
He took out his pipe and played them a tune,
And the jackass's load was lightened full soon.
_A pie sate on a pear-tree_
A pie sate on a pear-tree,
A pie sate on a pear-tree,
A pie sate on a pear-tree,
Heigh O, heigh O, heigh O!
Once so merrily hopped she,
Twice so merrily hopped she,
Thrice so merrily hopped she,
Heigh O, heigh O, heigh O!
Shoe the horse, and shoe the mare;
But let the little colt go bare.
_Doctor Faustus was a good man_
Doctor Faustus was a good man,
He whipped his scholars now and then;
When he whipped them he made them dance,
Out of Scotland into France,
Out of France into Spain,
And then he whipped them back again!
* * * * *
Sing! sing! What shall I sing?
The cat's run away with the pudding string.
_The fox and his wife_
The fox and his wife they had a great strife,
They never ate mustard in all their whole life;
They ate their meat without fork or knife,
And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!
The fox jumped up on a moonlight night;
The stars they were shining, and all things bright;
Oh, ho! said the fox, it's a very fine night
For me to go through the town, e-ho!
The fox when he came to yonder stile,
He lifted his lugs and he listened awhile!
Oh, ho! said the fox, it's but a short mile
From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho!
The fox when he came to the farmer's gate,
Who should he see but the farmer's drake;
I love you well for your master's sake,
And long to be picking your bone, e-ho!
The grey goose she ran round the haystack,
Oh, ho! said the fox, you are very fat;
You'll grease my beard and ride on my back
From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!
Old Gammer Hipple-hopple hopped out of bed,
She opened the casement, and popped out her head;
Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is dead,
And the fox is gone through the town, oh!
Then the old man got up in his red cap,
And swore he would catch the fox in a trap;
But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip,
And ran through the town, the town, oh!
When he got to the top of the hill,
He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill,
For joy that he was safe
Through the town, oh!
When the fox came back to his den,
He had young ones both nine and ten,
"You're welcome home, daddy; you may go again,
If you bring us such nice meat
From the town, oh!"
* * * * *
They that wash on Friday, wash in need;
And they that wash on Saturday, oh! they're sluts indeed.
_Robert Barnes, fellow fine_
"Robert Barnes, fellow fine,
Can you shoe this horse of mine?"
"Yes, good Sir, that I can,
As well as any other man;
There's a nail, and there's a prod,
And now, good Sir, your horse is shod."
_Twinkle, twinkle, little star_
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark:
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?
In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
_On Christmas eve I turned the spit_
On Christmas eve I turned the spit,
I burnt my fingers, I feel it yet;
The cock sparrow flew over the table,
The pot began to play with the ladle;
The ladle stood up like a naked man,
And vowed he'd fight the frying-pan;
The frying-pan behind the door
Said he never saw the like before;
And the kitchen clock I was going to wind,
Said he never saw the like behind.
_Multiplication is vexation_
Multiplication is vexation,
Division is just as bad;
The Rule of Three perplexes me,
And Practice drives me mad.
_Elizabeth_
Elizabeth, Eliza, Betsy, and Bess,
Went over the water to rob a bird's nest,
They found a nest with five eggs in it,
They each took one, and left four in it.
* * * * *
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
_Good people all, of every sort_
Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song:
And if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.
In Islington there was a man,
Of whom the world might say,
That still a Godly race he ran,
Whene'er he went to pray.
A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad,
When he put on his clothes.
And in that town a dog was found:
As many dogs there be--
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
And curs of low degree.
This dog and man at first were friends,
But, when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.
Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wondering neighbours ran;
And swore the dog had lost his wits,
To bite so good a man.
The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.
But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogues they lied--
The man recovered of the bite;
The dog it was that died.
_There was an old woman_
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread,
She whipped them all round, and sent them to bed.
[Illustration: "SHE WHIPPED THEM ALL ROUND."]
_Monday's bairn_
Monday's bairn is fair of face,
Tuesday's bairn is full of grace,
Wednesday's bairn is full of woe,
Thursday's bairn has far to go,
Friday's bairn is loving and giving,
Saturday's bairn works hard for its living,
But the bairn that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blythe and good and gay.
_Punch and Judy_
Punch and Judy
Fought for a pie,
Punch gave Judy
A knock in the eye.
Says Punch to Judy,
"Will you have any more?"
Says Judy to Punch,
"My eyes are too sore."
_I will sing you a song_
I will sing you a song,
Though 'tis not very long,
Of the woodcock and the sparrow,
Of the little dog that burned his tail,
And he shall be whipped to-morrow.
_The little clock_
There's a neat little clock,
In the schoolroom it stands,
And it points to the time
With its two little hands
And may we, like the clock,
Keep a face clean and bright,
With hands ever ready
To do what is right.
_Cross patch, draw the latch_
Cross patch,
Draw the latch,
And sit by the fire and spin;
Take a cup,
And drink it up,
Then call your neighbours in.
_There was a lady loved a swine_
There was a lady loved a swine,
Honey, quoth she,
Pig-hog, wilt thou be mine?
Grunt, quoth he.
I'll build thee a silver stye
Honey, quoth she;
And in it thou shalt lie;
Grunt, quoth he.
Pinned with a silver pin,
Honey, quoth she,
That you may go out and in;
Grunt, quoth he.
Wilt thou now have me,
Honey, quoth she;
Grunt, grunt, grunt, quoth he,
And went his way.
_Robin-a-Bobbin_
Robin-a-Bobbin
Bent his bow,
Shot at a pigeon,
And killed a crow.
_In marble walls_