Part 22 (1/2)

What will we play?

We'll cut our hands away.

Who cut them, who?

Rain from out the blue.

Where is the rain?

Hens drank it up again.

Hens? And where are they?

Gone their eggs to lay.

Who will eat them up?

Friars when they sup.

What do friars do?

Sing 'gori-gori-goo.'”

Watching Spanish children, one may see two little girls, say White Rose and Sweetness, fly out into an open s.p.a.ce, where White Rose carefully places the tips of her small shoes in touch with those of Sweetness. Then they clasp hands, fling their little bodies as far back as these conditions permit, and whirl round and round, singing l.u.s.tily--until they are overcome by giddiness--the following rigmarole, or one of its variants:--

”t.i.tirinela, if you please!

t.i.tirinela, bread and cheese: 'What is your father's wors.h.i.+pful name?'

'Sir Red-pepper, who kisses your hands.'

'And how does he call his beautiful dame?'

'Lady Cinnamon, at your commands.'

t.i.tirinela, toe to toe!

t.i.tirinela, round we go!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM THE TOWER OF GOLD DOWN THE GUADALQUIViR]

Even in some of their prettiest games the verses have a childish incoherence. Some dozen little girls form a circle, for instance, with the b.u.t.terfly in the centre. They lift her dress-skirt by the border, and hold it outspread about her. Another child, on the outside, runs around and around the ring, singing:--

”Who are these chatterers?

Oh, such a number!

Not by day nor by night Do they let me slumber.

They're daughters of the Moorish king, Who search the garden-close For lovely Lady Ana, The sweetest thing that grows.

She's opening the jasmine And shutting up the rose.”

Then the children suddenly lift their hands, which are holding b.u.t.terfly's frock, so as to envelop her head in the folds. The little singer outside continues:--

”b.u.t.terfly, b.u.t.terfly, Dressed in rose-petals!

Is it on candle-flame b.u.t.terfly settles?

How many s.h.i.+rts Have you woven of rain?

Weave me another Ere I call you again.”

These songs are repeated seven times. Then comes another stanza:--

”Now that Lady Ana Walks in garden sweet, Gathering the roses Whose dew is on her feet, b.u.t.terfly, b.u.t.terfly, Can you catch us? Try it, try!”

With this the circle breaks and scatters, while b.u.t.terfly, blinded as she is by the folds of her own skirt wrapped about her head, does her best to overtake some one, who shall then become her successor.

Many of the games are simplicity itself. Often the play is merely a circle dance, sometimes ending in a sudden kneeling or sitting on the ground, One of the songs accompanying this dance runs:--

”Potatoes and salt must little folks eat, While the grown-up people dine Off lemons and chestnuts and oranges sweet, With cocoanut milk for wine.