Pinafore Palace Part 12

Down in a dark dungeon I saw a brave knight, All saddled, all bridled, all fit for the fight.

Gilt was his saddle, and bent was his bow; Thrice I've told you his name, and yet you don't know.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; Not all the King's horses, nor all the King's men, Could set Humpty Dumpty up again.

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.

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

As I went through the garden gap, Whom should I meet but d.i.c.k 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.

I went to 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.

There was a girl in our town, Silk an' satin was her gown, Silk an' satin, gold an' velvet, Guess her name, three times I've tell'd it.

As I 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 going to St. Ives?

Two legs 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.

As I was going o'er Westminster bridge, I met with a Westminster scholar; He pulled off his cap, _an' drew_ off his glove, And wished me a very good morrow.

What is his name?

Flour of 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.

I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear But a silver nutmeg, and a golden pear.

The King of Spain's daughter came to visit me, And all was because of my little nut tree.

I skipped over water, I danced over sea, And all the birds of the air, they couldn't catch me.

There is one that has a head without an eye, And there's one that has an eye without a head: You may find the answer if you try; And when all is said, Half the answer hangs upon a thread!

Christina G. Rossetti.

_Do You Guess it is I?_

I am a little thing; I am not very high; I laugh, dance and sing, And sometimes I cry.

I have a little head All covered o'er with hair, And I hear what is said With my two ears there.

On my two feet I walk; I run too with ease; With my little tongue I talk Just as much as I please.

I have ten fingers too, And just so many toes; Two eyes to see through, And but one little nose.

I've a mouth full of teeth, Where my bread and milk go in; And close by, underneath, Is my little round chin.

What is this little thing, Not very, very high, That can laugh, dance and sing?

Do you guess it is I?

Eliza Lee Follen.

IX

GRANDMOTHER'S WISDOM

He that would thrive Must rise at five; He that hath thriven May lie till seven; And he that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

c.o.c.k crows in the morn, To tell us to rise, And he who lies late Will never be wise.

For early to bed, And early to rise, Is the way to be healthy And wealthy and wise.

A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay; A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spoon; A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly.

As the days grow longer The storms grow stronger.

When the days begin to lengthen Then the cold begins to strengthen.

A suns.h.i.+ny shower, Won't last half an hour.

March winds and April showers Bring forth May flowers.

Evening red and morning gray Set the traveller on his way, But evening gray and morning red, Bring the rain upon his head.

When Jacky's a very good boy, He shall have cakes and a custard; But when he does nothing but cry, He shall have nothing but mustard.