“What shall we have to our supper?”
“Three beans in a pound of butter?”
When supper they were at,
The frog, the mouse, and e’en the rat;
Then came in Gib our cat,
And catched the mouse e’en by the back.
Then did they separate,
And the frog leaped on the floor so flat.
Then came in Dick our drake,
And drew the frog e’en to the lake.
The rat run up the wall,
Humbledum, humbledum;
A goodly company, the Devil go with all!
Tweedle tweedle twino.
From Thomas Campion’s Two Books of Airs (circ. 1613).
Jack and Joan, they think no ill,
Well can they judge of nappy ale,
And tell at large a winter tale;
Climb up to the apple loft,
And turn the crabs till they be soft.
Tib is all the father’s joy,
And little Tom the mother’s boy.
All their pleasure is Content;
And Care, to pay their yearly rent.
Joan can call by name her cows
And deck her windows with green boughs;
She can wreaths and tutties[9] make,
And trim with plums a bridal cake.
Jack knows what brings gain or loss;
And his long flail can stoutly toss:
Makes the hedge which others break,
And ever thinks what he doth speak.