I had four brothers over the sea,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.
And they each sent a present unto me,
Petrum, Partrum, Paradise, Temporie,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.
The first sent a chicken, without any bones;
The second sent a cherry, without any stones.
Petrum, &c.
[Pg 31] The third sent a book, which no man could read;
The fourth sent a blanket, without any thread.
Petrum, &c.
How could there be a chicken without any bones?
How could there be a cherry without any stones?
Petrum, &c.
How could there be a book which no man could read?
How could there be a blanket without a thread?
Petrum, &c.
When the chicken's in the egg-shell, there are no bones;
When the cherry's in the blossom, there are no stones.
Petrum, &c.
[Pg 32] When the book's in ye press no man it can read;
When the wool is on the sheep's back, there is no thread.
Petrum, &c.
Two, three, and four legs
Two legs sat upon three legs,
With one leg in his lap;
In comes four legs,
And runs away with one leg.
[Pg 33] Up jumps two legs,
Catches up three legs,
Throws it after four legs,
And makes him bring back one leg.