The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 47

So Billy Pringle he laid down and cried, And Betty Pringle she laid down and died; So there was an end of one, two, and three: Billy Pringle he, Betty Pringle she, And the piggy wiggy.

DXLIII.

c.o.c.k Robin got up early, At the break of day, And went to Jenny's window, To sing a roundelay.

He sang c.o.c.k Robin's love To the pretty Jenny Wren, And when he got unto the end, Then he began again.

DXLIV.

I had two pigeons bright and gay, They flew from me the other day; What was the reason they did go?

I cannot tell for I do not know.

DXLV.

Jack Sprat's pig, He was not very little, Nor yet very big; He was not very lean, He was not very fat; He'll do well for a grunt, Says little Jack Sprat.

DXLVI.

[The Proverb of Barnaby Bright is given by Ray and Brand as referring to St. Barnabas.]

Barnaby Bright he was a sharp cur, He always would bark if a mouse did but stir; But now he's grown old, and can no longer bark, He's condemn'd by the parson to be hanged by the clerk.

DXLVII.

p.u.s.s.y cat eat the dumplings, the dumplings, p.u.s.s.y cat eat the dumplings.

Mamma stood by, And cried, Oh, fie!

Why did you eat the dumplings?

DXLVIII.

The robin and the wren, They fought upon the parrage pan; But ere the robin got a spoon, The wren had eat the parrage down.

DXLIX.

Little Bob Robin, Where do you live?

Up in yonder wood, sir, On a hazel twig.

DL.

The winds they did blow, The leaves they did wag; Along came a beggar boy, And put me in his bag.

He took me up to London, A lady did me buy, Put me in a silver cage, And hung me up on high.

With apples by the fire, And nuts for to crack, Besides a little feather bed To rest my little back.

DLI.

I had a little cow, to save her, I turned her into the meadow to graze her; There came a heavy storm of rain, And drove the little cow home again.

The church doors they stood open, And there the little cow was cropen: The bell-ropes they were made of hay, And the little cow eat them all away: The s.e.xton came to toll the bell, And pushed the little cow into the well!

DLII.

In the month of February, When green leaves begin to spring, Little lambs do skip like fairies, Birds do couple, build, and sing.

DLIII.

p.u.s.s.y sits behind the fire, How can she be fair?

In comes the little dog, p.u.s.s.y, are you there?

So, so, Mistress p.u.s.s.y, Pray how do you do?

Thank you, thank you, little dog, I'm very well just now.

DLIV.

The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do?

I can scarce maintain two.

Pooh, pooh, says the wren, I have got ten, And keep them all like gentlemen!

DLV.

Bow, wow, wow, Whose dog art thou?

Little Tom Tinker's dog, Bow, wow, wow.

DLVI.

Pitty Patty Polt, Shoe the wild colt!

Here a nail; And there a nail; Pitty Patty Polt.

DLVII.

How d' 'e dogs, how? whose dog art thou, Little Tom Tinker's dog! what's that to thou?

Hiss! bow, a wow, wow!

DLVIII.