Volume Ii Part 45 (2/2)
Two players hold up their joined hands, the rest pa.s.s under one by one, repeating, ”Three days' holidays, three days' holidays!” They pa.s.s under a second time, all repeating, ”b.u.mping day, b.u.mping day!” when the two leaders strike each player on the back in pa.s.sing. The third time they say, ”Catch, catch, catch!” and the leaders catch the last in the train between their arms. He has the choice of ”strawberries or grapes,” and is placed behind one of the leaders, according to his answer. When all have been ”caught,” the two parties pull against each other.-Berrington (Burne's _Shrops.h.i.+re Folk-lore_, p. 522).
”Holidays,” says Miss Burne, ”anciently consisted of three days, as at Easter and Whitsuntide, which explains the words of this game;” and the manorial work days were formerly three a week. See ”Currants and Raisins.”
Three Dukes
[Music]
-Madeley, Shrops.h.i.+re (Miss Burne).
[Music]
-Biggar, Lanarks.h.i.+re (W. Ballantyne).
[Music]
-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
[Music]
-Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
I. Here come three dukes a-riding, A-riding, a-riding; Here come three dukes a-riding, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
What is your good will, sirs?
Will, sirs? will, sirs?
What is your good will, sirs?
With a rancy, tancy, tay!
Our good will is to marry, To marry, to marry; Our good will is to marry, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
Marry one of us, sirs, Us, sirs, us, sirs; Marry one of us, sirs, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
You're all too black and greasy [or dirty], Greasy, greasy; You're all too black and greasy, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
We're good enough for you, sirs, You, sirs, you, sirs; We're good enough for you, sirs, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
You're all as stiff as pokers, Pokers, pokers; You're all as stiff as pokers, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
We can bend as much as you, sirs, You, sirs, you, sirs; We can bend as much as you, sirs, With a rancy, tancy, tay!
Through the kitchen and down the hall, I choose the fairest of you all; The fairest one that I can see Is pretty Miss --, walk with me.
-Madeley, Salop (Miss Burne), 1891.
[Another Shrops.h.i.+re version has for the fourth verse-
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