SIMPLE SIMON
SIMPLE SIMON met a pie-man,
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pie-man,
"Let me taste your ware."
Says the pie-man unto Simon,
"First give me a penny."
Says Simple Simon to the pie-man,
"I have not got any."
He went to catch a dicky-bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he had got a little salt
To put upon his tail.
He went to ride a spotted cow,
That had got a little calf,
She threw him down upon the ground,
Which made the people laugh.
Then Simple Simon went a-hunting,
For to catch a hare,
He rode a goat about the street,
But could not find one there.
He went for to eat honey
Out of the mustard-pot,
He bit his tongue until he cried,
That was all the good he got.
SIMPLE SIMON went a-fishing
For to catch a whale;
And all the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.
He went to take a bird's nest,
Was built upon a bough;
A branch gave way, and Simon fell
Into a dirty slough.
He went to shoot a wild duck,
But the wild duck flew away;
Says Simon, "I can't hit him,
Because he will not stay."
ONCE Simon made a great Snowball,
And brought it in to roast;
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.
HE went to slide upon the ice,
Before the ice would bear;
Then he plunged in above his knees,
Which made poor Simon stare.
He went to try if cherries ripe
Grew upon a thistle;
He pricked his finger very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He washed himself with blacking-ball,
Because he had no soap:
Then, then, said to his mother,
"I'm a beauty now, I hope."
He went for water in a sieve,
But soon it all ran through;
And now poor Simple Simon
Bids you all adieu.
