The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 41

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CCCCLXIV.

Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean; And so, betwixt them both, you see, They lick'd the platter clean.

CCCCLXV.

Little Jack Dandy-prat was my first suitor; He had a dish and a spoon, and he'd some pewter; He'd linen and woollen, and woollen and linen, A little pig in a string cost him five s.h.i.+lling.

CCCCLXVI.

THE KEYS OF CANTERBURY.

Oh, madam, I will give you the keys of Canterbury, To set all the bells ringing when we shall be merry, If you will but walk abroad with me, If you will but walk with me.

Sir, I'll not accept of the keys of Canterbury, To set all the bells ringing when we shall be merry; Neither will I walk abroad with thee, Neither will I talk with thee!

Oh, madam, I will give you a fine carved comb, To comb out your ringlets when I am from home, If you will but walk with me, &c.

Sir, I'll not accept, &c.

Oh, madam, I will give you a pair of shoes of cork,[*]

One made in London, the other made in York, If you will but walk with me, &c.

Sir, I'll not accept, &c.

Madam, I will give you a sweet silver bell,[+]

To ring up your maidens when you are not well, If you will but walk with me, &c.

Sir, I'll not accept, &c.

Oh, my man John, what can the matter be?

I love the lady and the lady loves not me!

Neither will she walk abroad with me, Neither will she talk with me.

Oh, master dear, do not despair, The lady she shall be, shall be your only dear, And she will walk and talk with thee, And she will walk with thee!

Oh, madam, I will give you the keys of my chest, To count my gold and silver when I am gone to rest, If you will but walk abroad with me, If you will but talk with me.

Oh, sir, I will accept of the keys of your chest, To count your gold and silver when you are gone to rest, And I will walk abroad with thee, And I will talk with thee!

[Footnote *: This proves the song was not later than the era of chopines, or high cork shoes.]

[Footnote +: Another proof of antiquity. It must probably have been written before the invention of bell-pulls.]

CCCCLXVII.

_He._ If you with me will go, my love, You shall see a pretty show, my love, Let dame say what she will: If you will have me, my love, I will have thee, my love, So let the milk-pail stand still.

_She._ Since you have said so, my love, Longer I will go, my love, Let dame say what she will: If you will have me, my love, I will have thee, my love, So let the milk-pail stand still.

CCCCLXVIII.

On Sat.u.r.day night, Shall be all my care To powder my locks And curl my hair.

On Sunday morning My love will come in, When he will marry me With a gold ring.

CCCCLXIX.

Master I have, and I am his man, Gallop a dreary dun; Master I have, and I am his man, And I'll get a wife as fast as I can; With a heighly gaily gamberally, Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy, Gallop a dreary dun.

CCCCLXX.

I doubt, I doubt my fire is out, My little wife isn't at home; I'll saddle my dog, and I'll bridle my cat, And I'll go fetch my little wife home.

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CCCCLXXI.

Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's window, Thumpaty, thumpaty, thump!

He asked for admittance, she answered him "No!"

Frumpaty, frumpaty, frump!

"No, no, Roger, no! as you came you may go!"

Stumpaty, stumpaty, stump!

CCCCLXXII.

Thomas and Annis met in the dark.

"Good morning," said Thomas.

"Good morning," said Annis.

And so they began to talk.

"I'll give you," says Thomas, "Give me," said Annis; "I prithee, love, tell me what?"

"Some nuts," said Thomas.

"Some nuts," said Annis; "Nuts are good to crack."

"I love you," said Thomas.

"Love me!" said Annis; "I prithee love tell me where?"

"In my heart," said Thomas.

"In your heart!" said Annis; "How came you to love me there?"

"I'll marry you," said Thomas.

"Marry me!" said Annis; "I prithee, love, tell me when?"

"Next Sunday," said Thomas.