Part 16 (1/2)

I see a goose ring a hog, And a snail that bit a dog; Thou hast well drunken, man: Who's the fool now?

I see a mouse catch the cat, Fie! man, fie!

I see a mouse catch the cat, Who's the fool now?

I see a mouse catch the cat, And the cheese to eat the rat; Thou hast well drunken, man: Who's the fool now?

From _Deuteromelia printed in the reign of James I_.

_THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BO_

I

On the Coast of Coromandel Where the early pumpkins blow, In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

Two old chairs, and half a candle, One old jug without a handle,-- These were all his worldly goods: In the middle of the woods, These were all the worldly goods Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

II

Once, among the Bong-trees walking Where the early pumpkins blow, To a little heap of stones Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

There he heard a Lady talking, To some milk-white Hens of Dorking,-- ”'Tis the Lady Jingly Jones!

On that little heap of stones Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!”

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

III

”Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!

Sitting where the pumpkins blow, Will you come and be my wife?”

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, ”I am tired of living singly,-- On this coast so wild and s.h.i.+ngly,-- I'm a-weary of my life; If you'll come and be my wife, Quite serene would be my life!”

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

IV

”On this Coast of Coromandel Shrimps and watercresses grow, Prawns are plentiful and cheap,”

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

”You shall have my chairs and candle, And my jug without a handle!

Gaze upon the rolling deep (Fish is plentiful and cheap): As the sea, my love is deep!”

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

Lady Jingly answered sadly, And her tears began to flow,-- ”Your proposal comes too late, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

I would be your wife most gladly!”

(Here she twirled her fingers madly,) ”But in England I've a mate!

Yes! you've asked me far too late, For in England I've a mate, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!”

VI

Mr. Jones (his name is Handel,-- Handel Jones, Esquire & Co.) Dorking fowls delights to send, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!