A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Game Rhymes/I. THREE DUKES A-RIDING
ALL. Here come three Dukes a-riding,
A-riding, a-riding, a-riding,
Here come three Dukes a-riding,
To court your daughter Jane.
MOTHER. 'My daughter Jane is all too young,
To list t' your foolish flattering tongue.'
THE DUKES. 'O, be she young or be she old,
She for her beauty shall be sold.
So fare thee well, my lady gay,
We'll take our horses and ride away,
And call again some other day.'
MOTHER. 'Come back, come back! you Spanish knight,
And clean your spurs, they are not bright.'
THE DUKES. 'My spurs are bright and richly wrought,
And in this city they were bought,
And in this city I sha'n't be told
They are not bright; they sha'n't be sold,
Neither for silver, copper, nor gold.'
MOTHER. 'Come back, come back! you Spanish Jack,
And show your boots that are not black.'
THE DUKES. 'O Spanish Jack is not my name,
I'll stamp my foot and swear the same.
So fare thee well, my lady gay,
We'll take our horses and ride away,
And call again another day.'
MOTHER. 'Come back, come back! you Spanish knight,
And choose the fairest in your sight.'
THE DUKES. 'This is the fairest maid I see,
So pray, young damsel, to walk with me.'
[When all the daughters in turn have been
taken away, they are brought back to their
mother in the same order, the dukes chanting:]
THE DUKES. 'We've brought your daughter safe and sound,
And in each pocket a thousand pound,
And on each finger a gay gold ring,
So do not refuse the maid we bring,
But open your door and take her in.'
MOTHER. 'I'll take her in with all my heart,
For she and I were loth to part.'