CCCXXX. SEE-SAW sacradown, Which is the way to London town? CCCXXXI. HERE stands a post, A better man than you; CCCXXXII. [A stands with a row of girls (her daughters) behind her; B, a suitor, advances.] B. TRIP trap over the grass: If you please will you let one of your [eldest] daughters come, Come and dance with me? I will give you pots and pans, I will give you brass, I will give you anything for a pretty lass. A. says, "No." B. I will give you gold and silver, I will give you pearl, I will give you anything for a pretty girl. A. Take one, take one, the fairest you may see. B. The fairest one that I can see [B carries one off, and says:] You shall have a duck, my dear, And you shall have a young man [Children say:] If this young man should happen to die, And we'll all clap hands together. [So it is repeated until the whole are taken.] CCCXXXIII. [The "Three Knights of Spain" is a game played in nearly the same manner as the preceding. The dramatis persone form themselves in two parties, one representing a courtly dame and her daughters, the other the suitors of the daughters. The last party, moving backwards and forwards, with their arms entwined, approach and recede from the mother party, which is stationary, singing to a very sweet air. See Chambers' Popular Rhymes,' p. 66.] Suitors. WE are three brethren out of Spain, Mother. My daughter Jane she is too young, Suitors. Be she young, or be she old, Mother. Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright. Suitors. Of my spurs take you no thought, We'll call again another day. Mother. Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And take the fairest in your sight. Suitor. The fairest maid that I can see, Is pretty Nancy,―come to me. Here comes your daughter safe and sound, Every pocket with a thousand pound; Please to take your daughter in. CCCXXXIV. [A game on the slate.] EGGS, butter, bread, Stick, stock, stone dead! Stick him up, stick him down, CCCXXXV. [In the following childish amusement, one extends his arm, and the other in illustration of the narrative, strikes him gently with the side of his hand at the shoulder and wrist; and then at the word "middle," with considerable force, on the flexor muscles at the elbow-joint.] My father was a Frenchman, CCCXXXVI. [Patting the foot on the five toes.] SHOE the colt, shoe! Shoe the wild mare ; See if she'll bear. If she'll bear, We'll give her some grains; If she won't bear, We'll dash out her brains! |