The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37522   Message #640912
Posted By: Jim Dixon
02-Feb-02 - 06:19 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MARRIAGE OF THE FROGGE AND THE MOUSE
I can't resist posting this. Copied from the link posted by IanC above (with some editing):

THE MARRIAGE OF THE FROGGE AND THE MOUSE

'Twas the Frogge in the well,
Humble dum, humble, dum.
And the merrie Mouse in the Mill,
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

The Frogge he would a woing ride...
Sword and a buckler by his side...

When he was upon his high horse set...
His boots they shone as blacke as jet...

When he came to a merry mill pin...
Lady Mouse beene you within?...

Then came out the dusty Mouse...
"I am Lady of this house,"...

"Hast thou any minde of me?"...
"I have e'ne greate minde of thee,"...

Who shall this marriage make?...
Our Lord which is the rat...

What shall we have to our supper?...
Three beanes in a pound of butter...

When supper they were at...
The Frog, the Mouse, and even the Rat...

Then came in gib our cat...
And catcht the mouse even by the backe...

Then did they separate...
And the frog leapt on the floore so flat...

Then came in Dicke our Drake...
And drew the frogge even to the lake...

The Rat run up the wall...
A goodly company, the divell goe with all...

[From "Melismata - Musicall Phansies Fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours, To 3, 4, and 5 Voyces," London, 1611.]