HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON?
HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON?
10 to 100 players.
Indoors; out of doors.
The players are divided into two lines and stand facing each other, with a distance of about ten feet between. Each line numbers off in twos, and the players in each line take hold of hands. The following dialogue takes place between the two lines, all of the players in a line asking or answering the questions in unison. The lines rock forward and backward during the dialogue from one foot to another, also swinging the clasped hands forward and backward in time to the rhythm of the movement and the words. The time should be rapid.
The first line asks:—
"How many miles to Babylon?"
Second line:—
"Threescore and ten."
"Will we be there by candle light?"
"Yes, and back again."
"Open your gates and let us through."
"Not without a beck [courtesy] and a boo [bow]."
"Here's a beck and here's a boo,
Here's a side and here's a sou;
Open your gates and let us through."