Читать книгу: «Рифмы матушки Гусыни»

Матушка Гусыня и ее веселые стишки

У английской детской поэзии очень долгая и богатая история. В разные эпохи появлялись стихотворения, как сочиненные взрослыми для детей, так и придуманные самими детьми для того, чтобы игры, в которые они играли, были веселее и увлекательнее.

К тому моменту, когда в печати вышло первое большое собрание детских английских стихов (XVIII век), таких произведений бытовало огромное множество. Супруги Оупи отобрали из этого гигантского количества наиболее интересные произведения и составили книгу, которую назвали «Рифмы матушки Гусыни» – по имени одного из популярных персонажей детских стихов. Разнообразие произведений, составивших этот сборник, поистине удивительно. Здесь есть и стихи, и песенки, и считалки, и дразнилки, и сказки, и колыбельные, и многое другое.

С тех пор сборник дополнялся, расширялся, корректировался и разошелся по всему миру в огромном количестве изданий. Пожалуй, нет ни одного ребенка в англоязычных странах, который бы не знал этой книги. Ее персонажи стали не только неотъемлемой частью культуры, но и вошли как действующие лица в произведения многих авторов. Самый яркий пример – знаменитые книги об Алисе Льюиса Кэролла, которые буквально «напичканы» цитатами из «Рифм матушки Гусыни». Это и Шалтай-Болтай, и неразлучные Твидлдум и Твидлди, и Дама Крестей, и многие другие.

Встречаются персонажи из «Рифм матушки Гусыни» и в хорошо известных нашему читателю книгах Памелы Трэверс о чудесной няне Мэри Поппинс, и в «Винни-Пухе» Александра Милна. Под ее влиянием оформилось творчество одного из величайших английских поэтов, родоначальника «поэзии абсурда» (или «нонсенса») Эдварда Лира, чьим, к слову сказать, последователем и почитателем был Льюис Кэрролл.

Переводить «Рифмы» на русский язык начали еще в XIX веке, но настоящее знакомство русского читателя с этими произведениями состоялось после появления переводов Корнея Чуковского и Самуила Маршака. Хотя они переводили лишь отдельные стихи из этой книги, переводы эти тут же завоевали большую популярность. О Шалтае-Болтае (Humpty-Dumpty) даже англичане писали, что Маршак своим переводом «сделал его русским». То же можно сказать о стихотворениях «Из чего только сделаны мальчики…», «Пудель» (пер. Маршака), «Жил на свете старичок скрюченные ножки…», «Барабек» (пер. Чуковского) и многих других.

Переводить стихотворения из сборника «Рифмы матушки Гусыни» довольно сложно: ведь при всей их внешней простоте нужно добиться такой же простоты по-русски. Да и чтобы смешно было, тоже не мешает. Все эти переводы делались мной на протяжении более чем 15 лет. Как это получилось – судить читателю. Кроме того, книга будет интересна не только тем, кто интересуется английской поэзией, но и тем, кто изучает английский язык.

И. Родин

1.
Old King Cole

 
Old King Cole
Was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.
 
 
Every fiddler, he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he.
Twee, tweedle, dee,
Tweedle, dee, dee,
Went the fiddlers.
Oh there’s none so rare
As can compare,
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.
 

2.
Hector Protector

 
Hector Protector was dressed all in green;
Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.
The Queen did not like him,
No more did the King;
So Hector Protector was sent back again.
 

3.
Sing a Song of Sixpence

 
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye;
Four-and-twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
 
 
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing.
Was not that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
 
 
The king was in his counting-house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.
 
 
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes;
‘Long came a blackbird
And snapt off her nose.
 

4.
«A carrion crow sat on an oak…»

 
A carrion crow sat on an oak,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
Watching a tailor shape his coat.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
 
 
Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
 
 
The tailor he shot and missed his mark,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
And shot his own sow right through the heart.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.
 

5.
London Bridge

 
London Bridge is broken down,
Broken down, broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
My fair lady.
 
 
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
 
 
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
 
 
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.
 
 
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.
 
 
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
 
 
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
 
 
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
 
 
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.
 
 
Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair lady.
 
 
Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep,
My fair lady.
 
 
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair lady.
 

6.
A Farmer Went Trotting Upon His Gray Mare

 
A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump,
With his daughter behind him, so rosy and fair,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump.
 
 
A raven cried “Croak,” and they all tumbled down,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump;
The mare broke her knees and the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump.
 
 
The mischievous raven flew laughing away,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump,
And vowed he would serve them the same next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump.
 

7.
A Frog He Would A-wooing Go

 
A frog he would a-wooing go,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
A frog he would a-wooing go,
Whether his mother would let him or no.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
So off he set with his opera hat,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
So off he set with his opera hat,
And on the road he met with a rat,
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Pray, Mr. Rat will you go with me?
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
Pray, Mr. Rat will you go with me,
Kind Mrs. Mousey for to see…
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
They came to the door of Mousey’s hall,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Pray, Mrs. Mouse are you within?
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
Oh yes, kind sirs, I’m sitting to spin.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Pray, Mrs. Mouse will you give us some beer?
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Pray, Mr. Frog will you give us a song?
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
Let it be something that’s not very long.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Indeed, Mrs. Mouse, replied Mr. Frog,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
A cold has made me as hoarse as a dog.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
Since you have a cold, Mr. Frog, Mousey said,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
I’ll sing you a song that I’ve just made.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
But while they were all a-merry-making
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
A cat and her kittens came tumbling in.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
The cat she seized the rat by the crown,
Heigh ho! says Rowley,
The kittens they pulled the little mouse down.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
This put Mr. Frog in a terrible fright,
Heigh ho! says Rowley.
He took up his hat and he wished them goodnight.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
But as Froggy was crossing over a brook,
Heigh ho! says Rowley.
A lily white duck came and gobbled him up.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 
 
So there was the end of one, two, three,
Heigh ho! says Rowley.
The rat, the mouse, and the little froggy.
With a rowley, powley, gammon, and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
 

8.
A Riddle, A Riddle, As I Suppose

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

9.
Arthur O’Bower Has Broken His Band

 
Arthur O’Bower has broken his band,
He comes roaring up the land.
A King of Scots, with all his power,
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower.
 

10.
As I Was Going to Derby

 
As I was going to Derby
Upon a market-day,
I met the finest ram, sir,
That ever was fed on hay.
 
 
This ram was fat behind, sir;
This ram was fat before;
This ram was ten yards high, sir;
Indeed, he was no more.
 
 
The wool upon his back, sir,
Reached up unto the sky,
The eagles build their nests there,
For I heard the young ones cry.
 
 
The space between the horns, sir,
Was as far as man could reach,
And there they built a pulpit,
But no-one in it preached.
 
 
This ram had four legs to walk upon,
This ram had four legs to stand,
And every leg he had, sir,
Stood on an acre of land.
 
 
Now the man that fed the ram, sir,
He fed him twice a day,
And each time that he fed him, sir,
He ate a rick of hay.
 
 
The wool upon this ram’s tail
Was very fine and thin.
It took all the girls in Derby town
Seven years to spin.
 
 
And if you don’t believe me
And think it is a lie,
Then you go down to Derby town
And see as well as I.
 

11.
As I Was Going to St. Ives

 
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?
 

12.
«As I was going up Pippen Hill…»

 
As I was going up Pippen Hill,
Pippen Hill was dirty.
There I met a pretty miss
And she dropt me a curtsey.
 
 
Little miss, pretty miss,
Blessings light upon you!
If I had half a crown a day,
I’d spend it gladly on you.
 

13.
«As round as an apple…»

 
As round as an apple,
As deep as a cup,
And all the king’s horses
Can’t fill it up.
 

14.
«If you are to be a gentleman…»

 
If you are to be a gentleman,
As I suppose you’ll be,
You’ll neither laugh nor smile,
For a tickling of the knee.
 

15.
«Barney Bodkin broke his nose…»

 
Barney Bodkin broke his nose,
Without feet we can’t have toes;
Crazy folks are always mad,
Want of money makes us sad.
 

16.
A Was an Archer

 
A was an archer, who shot at a frog,
B was a butcher, and had a great dog.
C was a captain, all covered with lace,
D was a drunkard, and had a red face.
E was an esquire, with pride on his brow,
F was a farmer, and followed the plow.
G was a gamester, who had but ill-luck,
H was a hunter, and hunted a buck.
I was an innkeeper, who loved to carouse,
J was a joiner, and built up a house.
K was King William, once governed this land,
L was a lady, who had a white hand.
M was a miser, and hoarded up gold,
N was a nobleman, gallant and bold.
O was an oyster girl, and went about town,
P was a parson, and wore a black gown.
Q was a queen, who wore a silk slip,
R was a robber, and wanted a whip.
S was a sailor, and spent all he got,
T was a tinker, and mended a pot.
U was an usurer, a miserable elf,
V was a vintner, who drank all himself.
W was a watchman, and guarded the door,
X was expensive, and so became poor.
Y was a youth, that did not love school,
Z was a zany, a poor harmless fool.
 

17.
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray

 
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They were two bonny lasses;
They built their house upon the lea,
And covered it with rashes.
 
 
Bessy kept the garden gate,
And Mary kept the pantry;
Bessy always had to wait,
While Mary lived in plenty.
 

18.
Billy Pringle Had a Little Pig

 
Billy Pringle had a little pig,
When it was young it was not very big,
When it was old it lived in clover,
Now it’s dead and that’s all over.
Billy Pringle he lay down and died,
Betty Pringle she lay down and cried,
So there was an end of one, two, and three,
Billy Pringle he, Betty Pringle she,
and the piggy wiggy wee.
 

19.
«Bonny lass, pretty lass…»

 
Bonny lass, pretty lass,
Wilt thou be mine?
Thou shall not wash dishes,
Nor yet serve the swine;
 
 
Thou shalt sit on a cushion,
And sew a fine seam,
And thou shalt eat strawberries,
Sugar, and cream!
 

20.
«Bye, baby bunting…»

 
Bye, baby bunting,
Daddy’s gone a-hunting,
To get a little rabbit skin
To wrap the baby bunting in.
 

21.
«Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose…»

 
Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose,
Have you any feathers loose?
Truly have I, pretty fellow,
Half enough to fill a pillow.
Here are quills, take one or two,
And down to make a bed for you.
 

22.
Charley, Charley, Stole the Barley

 
Charley, Charley, stole the barley
Out of the baker’s shop,
The baker came out and gave him a clout,
Which made poor Charley hop.
 

23.
To Bed, To Bed, Says Sleepy-Head

 
“To bed, to bed,” cried Sleepy-Head;
“Let’s stay awhile,” said Slow;
Said Greedy Nan, “Put on the pan,
Let’s dine before we go.”
 
 
“To bed, to bed,” cried Sleepy-Head.
But all the rest said, “No!
It is morning now; you must milk the cow,
And to-morrow to bed we go.”
 

24.
«Come when you’re called…»

 
Come when you’re called,
Do what you’re bid,
Shut the door after you,
Never be chid.
 

25.
«Hickory, Dickory, Dock…»

 
Hickory, Dickory, Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, Dickory, Dock.
 

26.
«Dickory, dickory, dare…»

 
Dickory, dickory, dare,
The pig flew up in the air;
The man in brown
Soon brought him down,
Dickory, dickory, dare.
 

27.
Ding Dong Bell

 
Ding Dong Bell,
Pussy’s in the well.
Who put her in?
Little Tommy Lin.
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Trout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To drown poor little Pussy cat,
Who never did him any harm,
But killed the mice in his father’s barn.
 

28.
«Doctor Foster went to Gloucester…»

 
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain,
He stepped in a puddle,
Right up to his middle,
And never went there again.
 

29.
Four-and-twenty Tailors

 
Four-and-twenty tailors went to kill a snail;
The best man among them durst not touch her tail.
She put out her horns like a little Kyloe cow.
Run, tailors, run, or she’ll kill you all e’en now.
 

30.
«Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie…»

 
Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry;
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.
 

31.
Girls and Boys

 
Girls and boys come out to play,
The moon it shines as bright as day;
Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
And come to your playmates in the street;
Come with a whoop, come with a call,
Come with a good will, or come not at all;
Up the ladder and down the wall,
A halfpenny loaf will serve us all.
 

32.
«Great A, little b…»

 
Great A, little b,
The cat’s in the cupboard
And she can’t C.
 

33.
«Grey goose and gander…»

 
Grey goose and gander,
Waft your wings together,
And carry the good king’s daughter
Over the one strand river.
 

34.
«Hey diddle diddle…»

 
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
 
 
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
 

35.
«How many days has my baby to play…»

 
How many days has my baby to play?
Saturday, Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
 
 
Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
Hop away, skip away,
My baby wants to play,
My baby wants to play every day.
 

36.
«Higher than a house, higher than a tree…»

 
Higher than a house, higher than a tree.
Oh! whatever can that be?
 

37.
How Many Miles to Babylon?

 
“How many miles to Babylon?”
“Threescore miles and ten.”
“Can I get there by candle-light?”
“Yes, and back again!
If your heels are nimble and light,
You may get there by candle-light.”
 

38.
«If wishes were horses…»

 
If wishes were horses,
Beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches,
I would wear one by my side.
 

39.
«I had a little dog, and his name was Blue Bell…»

 
I had a little dog, and his name was Blue Bell,
I gave him some work and he did it very well;
I sent him upstairs to pick up a pin,
He stepped in the coal-scuttle up to the chin;
I sent him to the garden to pick some sage,
He tumbled down and fell into a rage;
I sent him to the cellar, to draw a pot of beer,
He came up again and said there was none there.
 

40.
«I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen…»

 
I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,
She washed me the dishes and kept the house clean;
She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,
She brought it home in less than an hour;
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire and told many a fine tale.
 

41.
«I had a little hobby-horse…»

 
I had a little hobby-horse,
And it was dapple grey;
Its head was made of pea-straw,
Its tail was made of hay.
 
 
I sold it to an old woman
For a copper groat;
And I’ll not sing my song again
Without a new coat.
 

42.
Little Husband

 
I had a little husband,
No bigger than my thumb;
I put him in a pint-pot,
And there I bid him drum.
 
 
I bought a little horse,
That galloped up and down;
I bridled him and saddled him,
And sent him out of town.
 
 
I gave him some garters,
To garter up his hose,
And a little handkerchief
To wipe his pretty nose.
 

43.
«I love little pussy, her coat is so warm…»

 
I love little pussy, her coat is so warm,
And if I don’t hurt her she’ll do me no harm;
I won’t pull her tail, nor drive her away,
But pussy and I together will play.
 

44.
Little Nut Tree

 
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 for the sake
Of my little nut tree.
 

45.
«I had a little pony…»

 
I had a little pony,
His name was Dapple Grey,
I lent him to a lady,
To ride a mile away.
 
 
She whipped him, she slashed him,
She rode him through the mire;
I would not lend my pony now,
For all the lady’s hire.
 

46.
«Round about, round about…»

 
Round about, round about,
Maggotty pie;
My father loves good ale,
And so do I.
 

47.
In a Cottage in Fife

 
In a cottage in Fife
Lived a man and his wife
Who, believe me, were comical folk;
For, to people’s surprise,
They both saw with their eyes,
And their tongues moved whenever they spoke!
 
 
When they were asleep,
I’m told, that to keep
Their eyes open they could not contrive;
They both walked on their feet,
And ’twas thought what they eat
Helped, with drinking, to keep them alive!
 

48.
«In Spring I look gay…»

 
In Spring I look gay,
Decked in comely array,
In Summer more clothing I wear;
When colder it grows,
I fling off my clothes,
And in Winter quite naked appear.
 

49.
«I saw a peacock with a fiery tail…»

 
I saw a peacock with a fiery tail,
I saw a blazing comet drop down hail,
I saw a cloud wrapped with ivy round,
I saw an oak creep upon the ground,
I saw a pismire swallow up a whale,
I saw the sea brimful of ale,
I saw a Venice glass full fifteen feet deep,
I saw a well full of men’s tears that weep,
I saw red eyes all of a flaming fire,
I saw a house bigger than the moon and higher,
I saw the sun at twelve o’clock at night,
I saw the man that saw this wondrous sight.
 

50.
Ye Fairy Ship

 
A ship, a ship a-sailing,
A-sailing on the sea,
And it was deeply laden
With pretty things for me;
There were raisins in the cabin,
And almonds in the hold;
The sails were made of satin,
And the mast it was of gold.
 
 
The four-and-twenty sailors
That stood between the decks,
Were four-and-twenty white mice
With rings about their necks.
The captain was a duck, a duck,
With a jacket on his back,
And when this fairy ship set sail,
The captain he said, “Quack!”
 

51.
I Saw Three Ships

 
I saw three ships come sailing by,
Sailing by, sailing by,
I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New Year’s Day in the morning.
 
 
And what do you think was in them then,
In them then, in them then,
And what do you think was in them then,
On New Year’s Day in the morning?
 
 
Three pretty girls were in them then,
In them then, in them then,
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New Year’s Day in the morning.
 
 
And one could whistle, and one could sing,
The other play on the violin;
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New Year’s Day in the morning.
 

52.
«Jack be nimble…»

 
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over
The candlestick.
 

53.
«I won’t be my father’s Jack…»

 
I won’t be my father’s Jack,
I won’t be my father’s Jill;
I will be the fiddler’s wife,
And have music when I will.
 
 
T’other little tune,
T’other little tune,
Prithee, Love, play me
T’other little tune.
 

54.
«I went to the wood and got it…»

 
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.
 

55.
«I would, if I could…»

 
I would, if I could,
If I couldn’t how could I?
I couldn’t, without I could, could I?
Could you, without you could, could ye?
Could ye? Could ye?
Could you, without you could, could ye?
 

56.
«Jerry Hall…»

 
Jerry Hall,
He is so small,
A rat could eat him,
Hat and all.
 

57.
Jack Sprat

 
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.
 

58.
«Lend me thy mare to ride a mile…»

 
“Lend me thy mare to ride a mile.”
“She is lamed, leaping over a stile.”
 
 
“Alack! and I must keep the fair!
I’ll give thee money for thy mare.”
 
 
“Oh, oh! say you so?
Money will make the mare to go!”
 

59.
«Little Betty Blue…»

 
Little Betty Blue,
Lost her holiday shoe.
What will poor Betty do?
Give her another.
 

60.
Little Bo-Peep

 
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone,
And they’ll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them.
 
 
Little Bo Peep fell fast asleep,
And dreamt she heard them bleating.
But when she awoke,
She found it a joke
For they were still all fleeting.
 
 
Then up she took her little crook,
Determined for to find them.
She found them indeed,
But it made her heart bleed,
For they’d left all their tails behind them!
 
 
It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray
Into a meadow nearby.
There she espied,
Their tails side by side,
All hung on a tree to dry.
 
 
She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling.
And tried as she could,
As a shepherdess should
To tack each again to its lambkin.
 

61.
Little Boy Blue

 
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow,
The cow’s in the corn.
But where is the boy
Who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haycock,
Fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I;
For if I do, he’s sure to cry.
 

62.
Little Girl, Little Girl

 
Little girl, little girl, where have you been?
Gathering roses to give to the queen.
Little girl, little girl, what gave she you?
She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe.
 

63.
«Little Jack Horner…»

 
Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner,
Eating a Christmas pie.
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said, “What a good boy am I!”
 

64.
«Jenny Wren fell sick…»

 
Jenny Wren fell sick
Upon a merry time,
In came Robin Redbreast
And brought her sops and wine.
 
 
“Eat well of the sop, Jenny,
Drink well of the wine.”
“Thank you, Robin, kindly,
You shall be mine.”
 
 
Jenny Wren got well,
And stood upon her feet,
And told Robin plainly,
She loved him not a bit.
 
 
Robin he got angry,
And hopped upon a twig,
Saying, “Out upon you, fie upon you!
Bold faced jig!”
 

65.
«Little Miss Muffet…»

 
Little Miss Muffet,
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her,
And frightened, Miss Muffet, away.
 

66.
«Little Nancy Etticoat…»

 
Little Nancy Etticoat
In a white petticoat,
And a red nose;
She has not feet or hands
The longer she stands
The shorter she grows.
 

67.
«Little Tommy Tittlemouse…»

 
Little Tommy Tittlemouse,
Lived in a little house;
He caught fishes
In other men’s ditches.
 

68.
«Little King Pippin he built a fine hall…»

 
Little King Pippin he built a fine hall,
Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall;
The windows were made of black puddings and white,
And slated with pancakes, – you ne’er saw the like!
 

69.
«Lives in winter…»

 
Lives in winter,
Dies in summer,
And grows with its roots upward!
 

70.
Mary Had a Little Lamb

 
Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
 
 
And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
 
 
It followed her to school one day,
School one day, school one day,
It followed her to school one day,
That was against the rule.
 
 
It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
 
 
And so the teacher turned it out,
Turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near…
 
 
And waited patiently about,
Patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
 
 
“Why does the lamb love Mary so?
Mary so? Mary so?
Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry.
 
 
“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,
The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know!
Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know.”
The teacher did reply.
 

71.
«Mister East gave a feast…»

 
Mister East gave a feast;
Mister North laid the cloth;
Mister West did his best;
Mister South burnt his mouth
With eating a cold potato.
 

72.
Monday’s Child is Fair of Face

 
Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath Day,
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
 

73.
«My father he dead, but I can’t tell you how…»

 
My father he dead, but I can’t tell you how;
He left me six horses to drive in my plough;
With a whim, wham, wabble ho!
Jack’s lost his saddle oh!
Blossy boys, bubble oh!
Over the brow.
 
 
I sold my six horses and bought me a cow;
I’d fain have made a fortune, but didn’t know how:
With a whim, wham, wabble ho!
Jack’s lost his saddle oh!
Blossy boys, bubble oh!
Over the brow.
 
 
I sold my cow and bought me a calf,
I never made a bargain but I lost the better half.
With a whim, wham, wabble ho!
Jack’s lost his saddle oh!
Blossy boys, bubble oh!
Over the brow.
 
 
I sold my calf and bought me a cat,
To lie down before the fire and warm its little back:
With a whim, wham, wabble ho!
Jack’s lost his saddle oh!
Blossy boys, bubble oh!
Over the brow.
 
 
I sold my cat and bought me a mouse,
But she fired her tail and burnt down my house:
With a whim, wham, wabble ho!
Jack’s lost his saddle oh!
Blossy boys, bubble oh!
Over the brow.
 

74.
«Old Boniface he loved good cheer…»

 
Old Boniface he loved good cheer,
And took his glass of Burton,
And when the nights grew sultry hot
He slept without a shirt on.
 

75.
«Old Mother Goose…»

 
Old Mother Goose,
When she used to wander,
Would ride through the sky
On a very fine gander.
 

76.
«Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing…»

 
“Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?”
“Speak a little louder, sir, I’m very thick o’ hearing.”
“Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?”
“Thank you, kind sir, I hear very clearly.”
 

77.
One Misty, Moisty, Morning

 
One misty, moisty, morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
There I met an old man
All clothed in leather,
All clothed in leather,
With a cap under his chin.
How do you do?
And how do you do?
And how do you do again?
 

78.
«Over the water, and over the lea…»

 
Over the water, and over the lea,
And over the water to Charley;
And Charley loves good ale and wine,
And Charley loves good brandy,
And Charley loves a pretty girl
As sweet as sugar candy.
 
 
Over the water and over the sea,
And over the water to Charley;
I’ll have none of your nasty beef,
Nor I’ll have none of your barley.
But I’ll have some of your very best flour
To make a white cake for my Charley.
 

79.
Punch and Judy

 
Punch and Judy
Fought for a pie,
Punch gave Judy
A knock in the eye.
 
 
Says Punch to Judy,
“Will you have any more?”
Says Judy to Punch,
“My eye is too sore.”
 

80.
«Pussycat, pussycat…»

 
Pussycat, pussycat,
Where have you been?
I’ve been to London
To visit the Queen.
 
 
Pussycat, pussycat,
What did you there?
I frightened a little mouse
Under her chair.
 

81.
«Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross…»

 
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.
 

82.
«Ride a cock-horse to Banbury cross…»

 
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury cross,
To buy little Johnny a galloping horse;
It trots behind and it ambles before,
And Johnny shall ride till he can ride no more.
 

83.
«Ring the bell…»

 
Ring the bell!
Knock at the door!
Draw the latch!
And walk in!
 

84.
Simple Simon

 
Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
“Let me taste your ware.”
 
 
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
“Show me first your penny.”
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
“Indeed, I have not any.”
 
 
Simple Simon went a-fishing
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother’s pail.
 

85.
«Ten little mice sat down to spin…»

 
Ten little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy looked down, and she looked in.
What are you doing, my little men?
We’re making some clothes for gentlemen.
Shall I come in to cut your threads?
No, kind sir, you’ll bite off our heads.
 

86.
Solomon Grundy

 
Solomon Grundy,
Born on Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday:
And that was the end
Of Solomon Grundy.
 

87.
«Taffy was a Welshman…»

 
Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house,
And stole a piece of beef.
 
 
I went to Taffy’s house,
Taffy wasn’t in,
I jumped upon his Sunday hat,
And poked it with a pin.
 
 
Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a sham,
Taffy came to my house
And stole a leg of lamb.
 
 
I went to Taffy’s house,
Taffy was away,
I stuffed his socks with sawdust
And filled his shoes with clay.
 
 
Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a cheat,
Taffy came to my house
And stole a piece of meat;
 
 
I went to Taffy’s house,
Taffy was not there,
I hang his coat and trousers
To roast before a fire.
 

88.
«The cat sat asleep by the side of the fire…»

 
The cat sat asleep by the side of the fire,
The mistress snored loud as a pig:
Jack took up his fiddle, by Jenny’s desire,
And struck up a bit of a jig.
 

89.
«Dickory, dickory, dare…»

 
Dickory, dickory, dare,
The pig flew up in the air;
The man in brown
Soon brought him down,
Dickory, dickory, dare.
 

90.
«The hart he loves the high wood…»

 
The hart he loves the high wood,
The hare she loves the hill,
The knight he loves his bright sword,
The lady – loves her will.
 

91.
«The King of France went up the hill…»

 
The King of France went up the hill,
With twenty thousand men;
The King of France came down the hill,
And ne’er went up again.
 

92.
The Lion and The Unicorn

 
The lion and the unicorn
Were fighting for the crown.
The lion beat the unicorn
All about the town.
 
 
Some gave them white bread,
And some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum-cake,
And sent them out of town.
 

93.
«The man in the moon came down too soon…»

 
The man in the moon came down too soon
To inquire the way to Norridge;
The man in the South, he burnt his mouth
With eating cold plum porridge.
 

94.
«The man in the wilderness…»

 
The man in the wilderness
Asked me,
How many strawberries
Grew in the sea?
 
 
I answered him
As I thought good,
As many as red herrings
Grew in the wood.
 

95.
«The Queen of Hearts…»

 
The Queen of Hearts,
She made some tarts
Upon a summer day;
The Knave of Hearts,
He stole those tarts,
And took them quite away.
 
 
The King of Hearts,
He missed those tarts,
And beat the knave full sore;
The Knave of Hearts
Brought back those tarts,
And vowed he’d steal no more.
 

96.
«There was a fat man of Bombay…»

 
There was a fat man of Bombay,
Who was smoking one sunshiny day,
When a bird called a snipe,
Flew away with his pipe,
Which vexed the fat man of Bombay.
 

97.
Jolly Miller

 
There was a jolly miller once
Lived on the river Dee;
He worked and sang from morn till night,
No lark more blithe than he.
 
 
And this the burden of his song
For ever used to be,
“I care for nobody, no, not I,
And nobody cares for me.”
 

98.
«There was a lady loved a swine…»

 
There was a lady loved a swine,
“Honey!” said she;
“Pig-hog, wilt thou be mine?”
“Hunc!” said he.
 
 
“I’ll build thee a silver sty,
Honey!” said she;
“And in it thou shalt lie!”
“Hunc!” said he.
 
 
“Pinned with a silver pin,
Honey!” said she;
“That thou mayest go out and in,”
“Hunc!” said he.
 
 
“Will thou have me now,
Honey?” said she;
“Speak, or my heart will break,”
“Hunc!” said he.
 

99.
«There was a little girl…»

 
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid.
 

100.
«There was a little green house…»

 
There was a little green house,
And in the little green house
There was a little brown house,
And in the little brown house
There was a little yellow house,
And in the little yellow house
There was a little white house,
And in the little white house
There was a little heart.
 

101.
There Was a Mad Man

 
There was a mad man,
And he had a mad wife,
And they lived all in a mad town:
They had children three at a birth,
And mad they were every one.
 
 
The father was mad,
The mother was mad,
And the children mad beside;
And they all got on a mad horse,
And madly they did ride.
 
 
They rode by night and they rode by day,
Yet never a one of them fell;
They rode so madly all the way,
Till they came to the gates of hell.
 
 
Old Nick was glad to see them so mad,
And gladly let them in:
But he soon grew sorry to see them so merry,
And let them out again.