PREFACE.

“She freely lent to all the poor,— Who left a pledge behind”?

This is the House that Jack built.

This is the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Maiden all forlorn, That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Man all tattered and torn, That kissed the Maiden all forlorn, That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Priest all shaven and shorn, That married the Man all tattered and torn, That kissed the Maiden all forlorn, That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Cock that crowed in the morn, That waked the Priest all shaven and shorn, That married the Man all tattered and torn, That kissed the Maiden all forlorn, That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

This is the Farmer who sowed the corn, That fed the Cock that crowed in the morn, That waked the Priest all shaven and shorn, That married the Man all tattered and torn, That kissed the Maiden all forlorn, That milked the Cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the Dog, That worried the Cat, That killed the Rat, That ate the Malt, That lay in the House that Jack built.

John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he, Of famous London town. John Gilpin’s spouse said to her dear, “Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen. “To-morrow is our wedding-day, And we will then repair Unto the ‘Bell’ at Edmonton, All in a chaise and pair. “My sister, and my sister’s child, Myself, and children three, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride On horseback after we.”

He soon replied, “I do admire Of womankind but one, And you are she, my dearest dear, Therefore it shall be done. “I am a linendraper bold, As all the world doth know, And my good friend the calender Will lend his horse to go.”

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, “That’s well said; And for that wine is dear, We will be furnished with our own, Which is both bright and clear.” John Gilpin kissed his loving wife; O’erjoyed was he to find, That though on pleasure she was bent, She had a frugal mind.

The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allowed To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stayed, Where they all did get in; Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folks so glad! The stones did rattle underneath, As if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse’s side Seized fast the flowing mane, And up he got, in haste to ride, But soon came down again; For saddletree scarce reached had he, His journey to begin, When, turning round his head, he saw Three customers come in. So down he came; for loss of time, Although it grieved him sore, Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, Would trouble him much more.

’Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind, When Betty screaming came downstairs, “The wine is left behind!” “Good lack!” quoth he, “yet bring it me, My leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword When I do exercise.” Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) Had two stone bottles found, To hold the liquor that she loved, And keep it safe and sound. Each bottle had a curling ear, Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side, To make his balance true. Then over all, that he might be Equipped from top to toe, His long red cloak, well brushed and neat, He manfully did throw.

Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o’er the stones, With caution and good heed.

But finding soon a smoother road Beneath his well-shod feet, The snorting beast began to trot, Which galled him in his seat.

“So, fair and softly!” John he cried, But John he cried in vain; That trot became a gallop soon, In spite of curb and rein. So stooping down, as needs he must Who cannot sit upright, He grasped the mane with both his hands, And eke with all his might. His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got, Did wonder more and more. Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; 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;” Says 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 he did 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.

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 lived 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 seem’d 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 show’d the rogues they lied—

The man recover’d of the bite;

The dog it was that died.

Now ponder well, you parents deare, These wordes which I shall write; A doleful story you shall heare, In time brought forth to light. A gentleman of good account In Norfolke dwelt of late, Who did in honour far surmount Most men of his estate. Sore sicke he was, and like to dye, No helpe his life could save; His wife by him as sicke did lye, And both possest one grave.

No love between these two was lost, Each was to other kinde; In love they liv’d, in love they dyed, And left two babes behinde: The one a fine and pretty boy, Not passing three yeares olde; The other a girl more young than he, And fram’d in beautye’s molde.

The father left his little son, As plainlye doth appeare, When he to perfect age should come, Three hundred poundes a yeare. And to his little daughter Jane Five hundred poundes in gold, To be paid downe on marriage-day, Which might not be controll’d:

But if the children chanced to dye, Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possesse their wealth; For so the wille did run.

“Now, brother,” said the dying man, “Look to my children deare; Be good unto my boy and girl, No friendes else have they here: “To God and you I do commend My children deare this daye; But little while be sure we have Within this world to staye. “You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one; God knowes what will become of them, When I am dead and gone.”

With that bespake their mother deare: “O brother kinde,” quoth shee, “You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or miserie:

“And if you keep them carefully, Then God will you reward; But if you otherwise should deal, God will your deedes regard.”

With lippes as cold as any stone, They kist the children small: “God bless you both, my children deare;” With that the teares did fall.

These speeches then their brother spake To this sicke couple there: “The keeping of your little ones, Sweet sister, do not feare:

“God never prosper me nor mine, Nor aught else that I have, If I do wrong your children deare, When you are layd in grave.”

The parents being dead and gone, The children home he takes, And bringes them straite unto his house, Where much of them he makes.

He had not kept these pretty babes A twelvemonth and a daye, But, for their wealth, he did devise To make them both awaye.

He bargain’d with two ruffians strong, Which were of furious mood, That they should take the children young, And slaye them in a wood.

He told his wife an artful tale, He would the children send To be brought up in faire London, With one that was his friend.

Away then went those pretty babes, Rejoycing at that tide, Rejoycing with a merry minde, They should on cock-horse ride.

They prate and prattle pleasantly As they rode on the waye, To those that should their butchers be, And work their lives’ decaye:

So that the pretty speeche they had, Made murderers’ heart relent; And they that undertooke the deed, Full sore did now repent. Yet one of them, more hard of heart, Did vow to do his charge, Because the wretch, that hired him, Had paid him very large.

The other would not agree thereto, So here they fell to strife; With one another they did fight, About the children’s life:

And he that was of mildest mood Did slaye the other there, Within an unfrequented wood, Where babes did quake for feare!

He took the children by the hand, While teares stood in their eye, And bade them come and go with him, And look they did not crye:

And two long miles he ledd them on, While they for food complaine: “Stay here,” quoth he, “I’ll bring ye bread, When I come back againe.”

These prettye babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and downe;

But never more they sawe the man Approaching from the town.

Their prettye lippes with blackberries Were all besmear’d and dyed;

And when they sawe the darksome night, They sat them downe and cryed.

Thus wandered these two prettye babes, Till death did end their grief; In one another’s armes they dyed, As babes wanting relief.

No burial these prettye babes Of any man receives,

Till Robin-redbreast painfully Did cover them with leaves.

It’s of three jovial huntsmen, an’ a hunting they did go; An’ they hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ they blew their horns also. Look ye there!

An’ one said, “Mind yo’r e’en, an’ keep yo’r noses reet i’ th’ wind.

An’ then, by scent or seet, we’ll leet o’ summat to our mind.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the first thing they did find Was a tatter’t boggart, in a field, an’ that they left behind. Look ye there! One said it was a boggart, an’ another he said “Nay; It’s just a ge’man-farmer, that has gone an’ lost his way.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the next thing they did find Was a gruntin’, grindin’ grindlestone, an’ that they left behind. Look ye there! One said it was a grindlestone, another he said “Nay; It’s nought but an’ owd fossil cheese, that somebody’s roll’t away.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the next thing they did find Was a bull-calf in a pin-fold, an’ that, too, they left behind. Look ye there! One said it was a bull-calf, an’ another he said “Nay; It’s just a painted jackass, that has never larnt to bray.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the next thing they did find Was a two-three children leaving school, an’ these they left behind. Look ye there! One said that they were children, but another he said “Nay; They’re no’ but little angels, so we’ll leave ’em to their play.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the next thing they did find Was a fat pig smiling in a ditch, an’ that, too, they left behind. Look ye there! One said it was a fat pig, but another he said “Nay; It’s just a Lunnon Alderman, whose clothes are stole away.” Look ye there!

They hunted, an’ they hollo’d, an’ the next thing they did find Was two young lovers in a lane, an’ these they left behind. Look ye there! One said that they were lovers, but another he said “Nay; They’re two poor wanderin’ lunatics come, let us go away.” Look ye there!

So they hunted, an’ they hollo’d, till the setting of the sun; An’ they’d nought to bring away at last, when th’ huntin’-day was done. Look ye there! Then one unto the other said, “This huntin’ doesn’t pay; But we’n powler’t up an’ down a bit, an’ had a rattlin’ day.” Look ye there!

Sing a Song for Sixpence.

A Pocketful

of Rye;

Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds

Baked

in a Pie.

When the Pie was opened, The Birds began to sing;

Was not that

a dainty Dish

To set before the King?

The King was in

his Counting-house,

Counting out his Money.

The Queen was in

the Parlour,

Eating Bread and Honey.

The Maid was in

the Garden,

Hanging out the Clothes;

There came a little Blackbird,

And snapped off her Nose.

But there came a Jenny Wren and popped it on again.

The Queen of Hearts, She made some Tarts,

All on a Summer’s Day:

The Knave of Hearts, He stole those Tarts,

And took them right away.

The King of Hearts, Called for those Tarts,

And beat the Knave full sore:

The Knave of Hearts, Brought back those Tarts,

And vowed he’d steal no more.

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s HORSES. With a Gee-wo here, and a Gee-wo there, And here a Gee, and there a Gee, And everywhere a Gee; Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s LAMBS. With a Baa-baa here, and a Baa-baa there, And here a Baa, and there a Baa, And everywhere a Baa; With a Gee-wo here, and a Gee-wo there, And here a Gee, and there a Gee, And everywhere a Gee; Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s HENS. With a Chuck-chuck here, and a Chuck-chuck there, And here a Chuck, and there a Chuck, And everywhere a Chuck; With a Baa-baa here, and a Baa-baa there, And here a Baa, and there a Baa, And everywhere a Baa; With a Gee-wo here, and a Gee-wo there, &c., &c., &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s PIGS. With a Grunt-grunt here, and a Grunt-grunt there, And here a Grunt, and there a Grunt, And everywhere a Grunt; With a Chuck-chuck here, and a Chuck-chuck there, And here a Chuck, and there a Chuck, And everywhere a Chuck; With a Baa-baa here, and a Baa-baa there, &c., &c., &c. With a Gee-wo here, and a Gee-wo there, &c., &c., &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s DUCKS. With a Quack-quack here, and a Quack-quack there, And here a Quack, and there a Quack, And everywhere a Quack; With a Grunt-grunt here, and a Grunt-grunt there, &c., &c., &c. With a Chuck-chuck here, &c. With a Baa-baa here, &c. With a Gee-wo here, &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I use to keep my master’s DOGS, With a Bow-bow here, and a Bow-wow there, And here a Bow, and there a Wow, And everywhere a Wow; With a Quack-quack here, and a Quack-quack there, &c., &c., &c. With a Grunt-grunt here, &c. With a Chuck-chuck here, &c. With a Baa-baa here, &c. With a Gee-wo here, &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s CHILDREN. With a Shouting here, and a Pouting there, And here a Shout, and there a Pout, And everywhere a Shout; With a Bow-bow here, and a Bow-wow there. &c., &c., &c. With a Quack-quack here, &c. With a Grunt-grunt here, &c. With a Chuck-chuck here, &c. With a Baa-baa here, &c. With a Gee-wo here, &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

When I was a farmer, a Farmer’s Boy, I used to keep my master’s TURKEYS. With a Gobble-gobble here, and a Gobble-gobble there, And here a Gobble, and there a Gobble, And everywhere a Gobble; With a Shouting here, and a Pouting there, &c., &c., &c. With a Bow-wow here, &c. With a Quack-quack here, &c. With a Grunt-grunt here, &c. With a Chuck-chuck here, &c. With a Baa-baa here, &c. With a Gee-wo here, &c. Says I, My pretty lass, will you come to the banks of the Aire oh?

A Lady said to her Son—a poor young Squire: “You must seek a Wife with a Fortune!”

“Where are you going, my Pretty Maid?” “I’m going a-milking, Sir,” she said.

“Shall I go with you, my Pretty Maid?” “Oh yes, if you please, kind Sir,” she said.

“What is your Father, my Pretty Maid?”

“My Father’s a Farmer, Sir,” she said.

“Shall I marry you, my Pretty Maid?” “Oh thank you, kindly, Sir,” she said.

“But what is your fortune, my Pretty Maid?” “My face is my fortune, Sir,” she said.

“Then I can’t marry you, my Pretty Maid!” “Nobody asked you, Sir!” she said.

“Nobody asked you, Sir!” she said.

“Sir!” she said.

“Nobody asked you, Sir!” she said.

Hey, diddle, diddle,

The Cat

and the Fiddle.

The Cow jumped over the Moon,

The little Dog laughed

to see such fun,

And the Dish ran away with the Spoon.

Bye, Baby Bunting!

Father’s

gone

a-hunting.

Gone to fetch

a Rabbit-skin

To wrap the Baby Bunting in.

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 his way 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! “Pretty Miss Mousey for to see?” With a rowley-powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!

Now they soon arrived at Mousey’s Hall, Heigho, says Rowley! And gave a loud knock, and gave a loud call. With a rowley-powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!

“Pray, Miss Mousey, 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, Miss 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, Miss 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,” Miss 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 thus 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 a silvery 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!

The Huntsman blows his horn in the morn, When folks goes hunting, oh! When folks goes hunting, oh! When folks goes hunting, oh! The Huntsman blows his horn in the morn, When folks goes hunting, oh!

The Fox jumps over the Parson’s gate, And the Hounds all after him go, And the Hounds all after him go, And the Hounds all after him go.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy, So I’ll cry, Tally-ho! So I’ll cry, Tally-ho!

Now the Parson had a pair to wed As the Hounds came full in view He tossed his surplice over his head, And bid them all adieu!

But all my fancy dwelt on Nancy, So he cried, Tally-ho! So he cried, Tally-ho!

Oh! never despise the soldier-lad Though his station be but low, Though his station be but low, Though his station be but low.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy, So I’ll cry, Tally-ho!

Then pass around the can, my boys; For we must homewards go, For we must homewards go, For we must homewards go. And if you ask me of this song The reason for to shew, I don’t exactly know—ow ow, I don’t exactly know.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy, So I’ll sing, Tally-ho! So I’ll sing, Tally-ho! But all my fancy dwells on Nancy, So I’ll sing, TALLY-HO!

Come Lasses and Lads, get leave of your Dads,

And away to the May-pole hey:

For every he Has got him a she, With a Minstrel standing by.

For Willy has gotten his Jill, And Johnny has got his Jone, To jigg it, jigg it, jigg it, jigg it, Jigg it up and down.

“Strike up,” says Watt; “Agreed,” says Kate, “And I prithee, Fiddler, play;” “Content,” says Hodge, and so says Madge, For this is a Holiday! Then every man did put his hat off to his lass. And every girl did curchy, curchy, curchy on the grass.

“Begin,” says Hall; “Ay, ay,” says Mall, “We’ll lead up Pockington’s pound;” “No, no,” says Noll, and so says Doll, “We’ll first have Sellenger’s round.”

Then every man began to foot it round about. And every girl did jet it, Jet it, jet it in and out.

“You’re out,” says Dick; “Not I,” says Nick, “The Fiddler played it false;” “’Tis true,” says Hugh, and so says Sue, And so says nimble Alice.

The Fiddler then began to play the tune again, And every girl did trip it, Trip it, trip it to the men.

Then after an hour, they went to a bower, And played for ale and cakes. And kisses too—until they were due the lasses held the stakes.

The girls did then begin to quarrel with the men, And bid them take their kisses back, and give them their own again. And bid them take their kisses back, and give them their own again.

Now there they did stay the whole of the day, And tired the Fiddler quite, With singing and playing, without any paying, From morning until night.

They told the Fiddler then, they’d pay him for his play,

And each a 2-pence, 2-pence, 2-pence, gave him and went away.

“Good-night,” says Harry; “Good-night,” says Mary; “Good-night,” says Dolly to John;” “Good-night,” says Sue, to her sweetheart Hugh, “Good-night,” says everyone.

Some walked and some did run, Some loitered on the way, And bound themselves, by kisses twelve, To meet the next Holiday. And bound themselves, by kisses twelve, To meet the next Holiday.

Ride a Cock-Horse To Banbury Cross,

To see a fine Lady Get on a white Horse,

With rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes.

A farmer went trotting upon his grey Mare; Bumpety, bumpety, bump! With his Daughter behind him, so rosy and fair; Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

A Raven cried “Croak!” and they all tumbled down; Bumpety, bumpety, bump! The Mare broke her knees, and the Farmer his crown. Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

The mischievous Raven flew laughing away; Bumpety, bumpety, bump! And vowed he would serve them the same the next day; Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

Good people all, with one accord, Lament for Madam Blaize, Who never wanted a good word——

From those

who spoke her praise.

The needy seldom pass’d her door, And always found her kind; She freely lent to all the poor——

Who left

a pledge behind.

She strove the neighbourhood to please With manners wondrous winning;

And never follow’d wicked ways——

Unless when she was sinning.

At church, in silks and satins new, With hoop of monstrous size, She never slumber’d in her pew——

But when she shut her eyes.

Her love was sought, I do aver, By twenty beaux and more; The King himself has follow’d her—

When she has walk’d before.

But now, her wealth and finery fled, Her hangers-on cut short-all: The Doctors found, when she was dead— Her last disorder mortal.

Let us lament, in sorrow sore, For Kent Street well may say, That had she lived a twelvemonth more,— She had not died to-day.

So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage-leaf

to make

an apple-pie;

and at the same time a great she-bear, coming down the street, pops its head into the shop.

What! no soap?

So he died,

and she very imprudently married the Barber:

and there were present

the Picninnies, and the Joblillies,

and the Garyulies,

and the great Panjandrum himself, with the little round button at top;

and they all fell to playing the game of catch-as-catch-can,

till the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots.