The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 21

Purple, yellow, red, and green, The king cannot reach it nor the queen; Nor can old Noll, whose power's so great: Tell me this riddle while I count eight.

CCXVIII.

Pease-porridge hot, pease-porridge cold, Pease-porridge in the pot, nine days old.

Spell me _that_ without a P, And a clever scholar you will be.

CCXIX.

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?

CCXX.

[A Chimney.]

Black within, and red without; Four corners round about.

CCXXI.

There was a man rode through our town, Gray Grizzle was his name; His saddle-bow was gilt with gold, Three times I've named his name.

CCXXII.

[A Hedgehog.]

As I went over Lincoln bridge I met mister Rusticap; Pins and needles on his back, A going to Thorney fair.

CCXXIII.

[One leg is a leg of mutton; two legs, a man; three legs, a stool; four legs, a dog.]

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.

CCXXIV.

[A Bed.]

Formed long ago, yet made to-day, Employed while others sleep; What few would like to give away, Nor any wish to keep.

CCXXV.

[A Cinder-sifter.]

A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose, A hundred eyes, and never a nose.

CCXXVI.

[A Well.]

As round as an apple, as deep as a cup, And all the king's horses can't pull it up.

CCXXVII.

[A Cherry.]

As I went through the garden gap, Who 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.

CCXXVIII.

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.

CCXXIX.

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 there going to St. Ives?

CCx.x.x.

[The Holly Tree.]

Highty, tighty, paradighty clothed in green, The king could not read it, no more could the queen; They sent for a wise man out of the East, Who said it had horns, but was not a beast!

CCx.x.xI.

See, see! what shall I see?

A horse's head where his tail should be.

CCx.x.xII.

[A fire-brand with sparks on it.]