The oft-repeated rhyme of—
"Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,[K]
To see a fair[L] lady upon a white horse;
Bells[M] on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She will have music wherever she goes,"
has a charm with every child.
The ride of my Lady of Godiva is fancifully suggested by the Coventry version.
"Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away."
"Gay go up and gay go down
To ring the bells of London town.
"Bull's-eyes and targets, say the bells of St. Marg'-ret's;
Brick-bats and tiles, chime the bells of St. Giles';
Halfpence and farthings, ring the bells of St. Martin's;
Oranges and lemons, toll the bells of St. Clement's;
Pancakes and fritters, say the bells of St. Peter's;
Two sticks and an apple, say the bells of Whitechapel;
Old Father Baldpate, toll the slow bells of Aldgate;
You owe me ten shillings, say the bells of St. Helen's;
When will you pay me? say the bells of Old Bailey;
When I grow rich, chime the bells of Shoreditch;
Pray when will that be? ask the bells of Stepney;
I'm sure I don't know, tolled the big bell at Bow.
"Gay go up and gay go down
To ring the bells of London town."