Note 40 — Chapter VIII
Reading edition
With all due deference to Punch, I think his version is slightly, only slightly, inaccurate. I have before me five copies, two MS. and three printed, all of which run—
"Come, prithee make it up, Miss, And be as lovers be, We'll go to Bagnigge Wells, Miss, And there we'll have some tea. It's there you'll see the Lady-birds Perch'd on the Stinging Nettles; The Chrystal water Fountain, And the Copper, shining Kettles. It's there you'll see the Fishes, More curious they than Whales, And they're made of Gold and Silver, Miss, And wags their little tails. Oh! they wags their little Tails —They wags their little Tails Oh! they're made of gold and silver, Miss, and they wags their little Tails. Oh! dear! Oh! la! Oh! dear! Oh! la! Oh! dear! Oh! la! How funny!"