| No. | Barnes. | En- borne. | Dorset- shire. | Upton. | Sporle. | Col- chester. | Winter- ton. | Forest of Dean. | Lip- hook. | Earls Heaton. | Suf- folk. | Berk- shire. | Staf- ford- shire. | New- bury. | South Devon. | Cam- bridge. | Og- bourne. | Manton. | Ber- wick- shire. | Scot- land. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | — | Poor Mary is weeping. | Poor [ ] sat a-weeping. | Poor Mary sat a-weeping. | Mary sits a-weeping. | — | Poor Sarah’s a-weeping. | — | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Sally is a-weeping. | What is Jennie weeping for? | Poor Mary is a-weeping. |
| 2. | Pray, Mary, what are you weeping for? | Pray, what are you a-weeping for? | Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for? | Pray, tell me what you’re weeping for. | — | — | Mary, what are you weep’ng for? | Oh! what is Nellie weeping for? | Oh, what is she a-weeping for? | Poor Mary, what are you weeping for? | What is she weeping for? | — | — | Pray what are you weeping for? | What is she weeping for? | — | Pray what is she weeping for? | Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. | — | Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. |
| 3. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Pray tell us what you are weeping for? | — | Pray tell me what she is weeping for? | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | She’s weeping for a lover. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | I am weeping for my true love. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | — | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | I’m weeping for my sweetheart. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | — | She’s weeping for a sweetheart. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | She’s weeping for her lover. | She’s weeping for a lover. | She’s weeping for her lover. | — | I’m weeping for my true love. | I’m weeping for my sweetheart. | I’m weeping for my own true love. | — |
| 5. | On a bright summer’s day. | This bright summer’s day. | On a bright shiny day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | — | — | — | This bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a fine summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | This bright summer’s day. | On a fine summer’s day. | — | On a bright summer’s day. | — | All on this summer’s day. | On a fine summer’s day. |
| 6. | — | — | — | — | — | By the side of the river. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7. | — | — | — | — | — | She sat down and cried. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8. | — | — | — | — | — | — | Close by the sea side. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | [See No. 41.] | — | — | Down by the seaside. | — | — |
| 9. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | On a cold and sunshine day. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10. | Pray, Mary, choose your lover. | Rise up and choose your lover. | — | Stand up and choose your lover. | Pray, get up and choose one. | Pray, get up and choose one. | Pray, get up and choose one. | Now stand up and choose one. | Rise up and choose your lover. | — | Pray get up and choose one. | — | Stand up and choose your lover. | Rise up and choose your lover. | — | Stand up upon your feet and show the one you love so sweet. | Stand up and choose your true love. | — | — | Stand up and choose your love. |
| 11. | — | — | Pray, Sally, go and get one. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | She shall have a sweetheart. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rise up and choose another love. | — |
| 13. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | On the carpet she shall kneel till the grass grows on the field. | — | — | — | — |
| 14. | Now you’re married, I wish you joy. | Now Mary she is married. | — | — | — | Now you’re married, I wish you joy. | — | — | — | — | Now you’re married, we wish you joy. | — | — | Now Mary she is married. | — | Now you’re married I wish you joy. | — | — | — | — |
| 15. | First a girl, then a boy. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | First a girl and second a boy. | — | — | — | — |
| 16. | Seven years after, son and daughter. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17. | — | — | Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18. | — | — | — | — | Now you’re married you must obey. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19. | — | — | — | — | You must be true to all you say. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20. | — | — | — | — | You must be kind and good. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21. | — | — | — | — | Help wife to chop wood. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22. | — | — | — | — | — | Father and mother you must obey. | — | — | — | — | Father and mother you must obey. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23. | — | — | — | — | — | Love one another like sister and brother. | — | — | — | — | Love one another like brother and sister. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24. | Pray, young couple, come kiss together. | — | — | — | — | Pray, young couple, come kiss together. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25. | — | — | One kiss will never part you. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26. | — | — | — | Go to church with your lover. | — | — | — | — | Go to church, love. | — | Pray go to church, love. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27. | — | — | — | Be happy in a ring, love. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Say your prayers, love. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29. | Kiss her once, twice, kiss three times over. | — | — | Kiss both together, love. | — | — | — | — | Kiss your lovers. | — | — | — | — | — | — | If one don’t kiss, the other must. | — | — | — | — |
| 30. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | My father he is dead, sir. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Because my father’s dead and gone. |
| 31. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | She’s kneeling by her father’s grave. |
| 32. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Pray put the ring on. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Pray come back, love. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Now it’s time to go away. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Now she’s got a lover. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Who is her lover? | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I. O. is her lover. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Where is her lover? | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Her lover is sleeping. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | At the bottom of the sea. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ring a ring o’ roses a pocketful of posies. | A ring of roses a pocketful of posies. | — | — |
| 43. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | We all tumble down. | — | — |
| No. | Barnes. | Enborne. | Dorsetshire. | Upton. | Sporle. | Colchester. | Winterton. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | — | Poor Mary is weeping. | Poor [ ] sat a-weeping. | Poor Mary sat a-weeping. | Mary sits a-weeping. |
| 2. | Pray, Mary, what are you weeping for? | Pray, what are you a-weeping for? | Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for? | Pray, tell me what you’re weeping for. | — | — | Mary, what are you weep’ng for? |
| 3. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | She’s weeping for a lover. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | I am weeping for my true love. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | — | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. |
| 5. | On a bright summer’s day. | This bright summer’s day. | On a bright shiny day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | — | — |
| 6. | — | — | — | — | — | By the side of the river. | — |
| 7. | — | — | — | — | — | She sat down and cried. | — |
| 8. | — | — | — | — | — | — | Close by the sea side. |
| 9. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10. | Pray, Mary, choose your lover. | Rise up and choose your lover. | — | Stand up and choose your lover. | Pray, get up and choose one. | Pray, get up and choose one. | Pray, get up and choose one. |
| 11. | — | — | Pray, Sally, go and get one. | — | — | — | — |
| 12. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14. | Now you’re married, I wish you joy. | Now Mary she is married. | — | — | — | Now you’re married, I wish you joy. | — |
| 15. | First a girl, then a boy. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16. | Seven years after, son and daughter. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17. | — | — | Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one. | — | — | — | — |
| 18. | — | — | — | — | Now you’re married you must obey. | — | — |
| 19. | — | — | — | — | You must be true to all you say. | — | — |
| 20. | — | — | — | — | You must be kind and good. | — | — |
| 21. | — | — | — | — | Help wife to chop wood. | — | — |
| 22. | — | — | — | — | — | Father and mother you must obey. | — |
| 23. | — | — | — | — | — | Love one another like sister and brother. | — |
| 24. | Pray, young couple, come kiss together. | — | — | — | — | Pray, young couple, come kiss together. | — |
| 25. | — | — | One kiss will never part you. | — | — | — | — |
| 26. | — | — | — | Go to church with your lover. | — | — | — |
| 27. | — | — | — | Be happy in a ring, love. | — | — | — |
| 28. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29. | Kiss her once, twice, kiss three times over. | — | — | Kiss both together, love. | — | — | — |
| 30. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| No. | Forest of Dean. | Liphook. | Earls Heaton. | Suffolk. | Berkshire. | Staffordshire. | Newbury. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | — | Poor Sarah’s a-weeping. | — | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. | Poor Mary sits a-weeping. |
| 2. | Oh! what is Nellie weeping for? | Oh, what is she a-weeping for? | Poor Mary, what are you weeping for? | What is she weeping for? | — | — | Pray what are you weeping for? |
| 3. | — | — | Pray tell us what you are weeping for? | — | Pray tell me what she is weeping for? | — | — |
| 4. | I’m weeping for my sweetheart. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | — | She’s weeping for a sweetheart. | I’m weeping for a sweetheart. | She’s weeping for her lover. | She’s weeping for a lover. |
| 5. | — | This bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a fine summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | On a bright summer’s day. | This bright summer’s day. |
| 6. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9. | On a cold and sunshine day. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10. | Now stand up and choose one. | Rise up and choose your lover. | — | Pray get up and choose one. | — | Stand up and choose your lover. | Rise up and choose your lover. |
| 11. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12. | — | She shall have a sweetheart. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14. | — | — | — | Now you’re married, we wish you joy. | — | — | Now Mary she is married. |
| 15. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22. | — | — | — | Father and mother you must obey. | — | — | — |
| 23. | — | — | — | Love one another like brother and sister. | — | — | — |
| 24. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26. | — | Go to church, love. | — | Pray go to church, love. | — | — | — |
| 27. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28. | — | Say your prayers, love. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29. | — | Kiss your lovers. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30. | — | — | My father he is dead, sir. | — | — | — | — |
| 31. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32. | — | — | — | Pray put the ring on. | — | — | — |
| 33. | — | — | — | Pray come back, love. | — | — | — |
| 34. | — | — | — | Now it’s time to go away. | — | — | — |
| 35. | — | — | — | — | Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross. | — | — |
| 36. | — | — | — | — | — | Now she’s got a lover. | — |
| 37. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| No. | South Devon. | Cambridge. | Ogbourne. | Manton. | Berwickshire. | Scotland. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Mary is a-weeping. | Poor Sally is a-weeping. | What is Jennie weeping for? | Poor Mary is a-weeping. |
| 2. | What is she weeping for? | — | Pray what is she weeping for? | Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. | — | Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. |
| 3. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4. | She’s weeping for her lover. | — | I’m weeping for my true love. | I’m weeping for my sweetheart. | I’m weeping for my own true love. | — |
| 5. | On a fine summer’s day. | — | On a bright summer’s day. | — | All on this summer’s day. | On a fine summer’s day. |
| 6. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8. | [See No. 41.] | — | — | Down by the seaside. | — | — |
| 9. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10. | — | Stand up upon your feet and show the one you love so sweet. | Stand up and choose your true love. | — | — | Stand up and choose your love. |
| 11. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12. | — | — | — | — | Rise up and choose another love. | — |
| 13. | — | On the carpet she shall kneel till the grass grows on the field. | — | — | — | — |
| 14. | — | Now you’re married I wish you joy. | — | — | — | — |
| 15. | — | First a girl and second a boy. | — | — | — | — |
| 16. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29. | — | If one don’t kiss, the other must. | — | — | — | — |
| 30. | — | — | — | — | — | Because my father’s dead and gone. |
| 31. | — | — | — | — | — | She’s kneeling by her father’s grave. |
| 32. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37. | Who is her lover? | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38. | I. O. is her lover. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39. | Where is her lover? | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40. | Her lover is sleeping. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41. | At the bottom of the sea. | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42. | — | — | Ring a ring o’ roses a pocketful of posies. | A ring of roses a pocketful of posies. | — | — |
| 43. | — | — | — | We all tumble down. | — | — |
(b) A ring is formed by the children joining hands. One child kneels in the centre, covering her face with her hands. The ring dances round, and sings the first two verses. The kneeling child then takes her hands from her face and sings the next verse, still kneeling. While the ring sings the next verse, she rises and chooses one child out of the ring. They stand together, holding hands while the others sing the marriage formula, and kiss each other at the command. The ring of children dance round quickly while singing this. When finished the first “Mary” takes a place in the ring, and the other child kneels down (Barnes and other places). At [Enborne] school, Newbury (Miss Kimber), this game is played by boys and girls. All the children in the ring sing the first two verses. Then the boys alone in the ring sing the next verse; all the ring singing the fourth. While singing this the kneeling child rises and holds out her hand to any boy she prefers, who goes into the ring with her. When he is left in the ring at the commencement of the game again, a boy’s name is substituted for that of “Mary.” There appears to be no kissing. In the [Liphook version] (Miss Fowler), after the girl has chosen her sweetheart the ring breaks, and the two walk out and then kneel down, returning to the ring and kissing each other. A version identical with that of [Barnes] is played by the girls of Clapham High School. All tunes sent me were similar to [that given].
(c) The analysis of the game rhymes is on [pp. 56-60].
This analysis shows that the incidents expressed by the rhymes are practically the same in all the versions. In the majority of the cases the weeping is depicted as part of a ceremony, by which it is known that a girl desires a lover; she is enabled then to choose one, and to be married. The marriage formula is the usual one in the [Barnes’ version], but follows another set of words in three other versions. In the cases where the marriage is neither expressed by a formula, nor implied by other means ([Winterton] and [Forest of Dean]), the versions are evidently fragments only, and probably at one time ended, as in the other cases, with marriage. But in three other cases the ending is not with marriage. The [Earls Heaton] and [Scottish versions] represent the cause of weeping as the death of a father, the Berkshire version introduces the apparently unmeaning incident of Mary bearing a shepherd’s cross, and the [South Devon version] represents the cause of weeping the death of a lover at sea. It is obvious that at places where sailors abound, the incident of weeping for a sailor-lover who is dead would get inserted, and the fact of this change only occurring once in the versions I have collected, tells all the more strongly in favour of the original version having represented marriage and love, and not death, but it does not follow that the marriage formula belongs to the oldest or original form of the game. I am inclined to think this has been added since marriage was thought to be the natural and proper result of choosing a sweetheart.
(d) The change in some of the verses, as in the [Cambridge version], is due to corruption and the marked decadence now occurring in these games. No. 13 in the analysis is from the game “[Pretty little girl of mine],” and Nos. 42-3 “[Ring o’ Roses].”