The unmeaning "Hey diddle diddle" is a corruption of the very intelligible Αδ' αδηλα, δηλα δ' αδε, which is literally "Sing words not clear, and Sing words clear;" with which may be compared a Sibylline verse in Greek, Δηλος αρ' ουκ ετι δηλος; αδηλα δε παντα τα Δηλου.
| [58] | The above ingenious translation and remarks were communicated by Mr. George Burges. |
[TOMMY LINN.]
Tommy Linn is a Scotchman born,
His head is bald and his beard is shorn;
He has a cap made of a hare skin,
An alderman is Tommy Linn.
Tommy Linn has no boots to put on,
But two calves' skins, and the hair it was on.
They are open at the side and the water goes in:
Unwholesome boots, says Tommy Linn.
Tommy Linn no bridle had to put on,
But two mouse's tails that he put on;
Tommy Linn had no saddle to put on,
But two urchin skins, and them he put on.
Tommy Linn's daughter sat on the stair,
Oh, dear father, gin I be not fair?
The stairs they broke, and she fell in,
You're fair enough now, says Tommy Linn.
Tommy Linn had no watch to put on,
So he scooped out a turnip to make himself one;
He caught a cricket, and put it within;
It's my own ticker, says Tommy Linn.
Tommy Linn, his wife, and wife's mother,
They all fell into the fire together;
Oh, said the topmost, I've got a hot skin:
It's hotter below, says Tommy Linn.
An immense variety of songs and catches relating to Tommy Linn are known throughout the country. The air of Thom of Lyn is one of those mentioned in the Complaynt of Scotland, 1549. See Chambers, p. 192, who gives a Scotch version of the above song. The song itself is quoted in Wager's play, 'The longer thou livest the more foole thou art,' written about the year 1560. Dr. Leyden conjectures that the hero is the same with Tamlene, who is introduced into a well-known fairy ballad published by Sir W. Scott.
[THE BEGGARS OF RATCLIFFE FAIR.]
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was John, and his wife's name
was Jumping Joan;
So there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Richard, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Richard;
So there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Robert, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Robert;
So there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Rice, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Rice;
So there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Jones, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Jones;
So there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Lloyd, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Lloyd;
So there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Owen, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Owen;
So there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Lewin, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Lewin;
So there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Shenkyn, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Shenkyn;
So there was Shenkyn and Mrs. Ap Shenkyn,
And there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Howell, and his wife's name
was Mrs. Ap Howell;
So there was Howell and Mrs. Ap Howell,
And there was Shenkyn and Mrs. Ap Shenkyn,
And there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
And there was Richard and Mrs. Ap Richard,
And there was John and Jumping Joan,
Merry companions every one.
This singular accumulative tale produces great amusement amongst children when rapidly repeated. Mr. Chambers, p. 197, has given a Scotch version, very different from the above, commencing—
The first time that I gaed to Coudingham fair,
I fell in with a jolly beggar;
The beggar's name O it was Harry,
And he had a wife, and they ca'd her Mary:
O Mary and Harry, and Harry and Mary,
And Janet and John,
That's the beggars one by one;
But now I will gie you them pair by pair,
All the brave beggars of Coudingham fair.