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.
