A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Nursery Songs/II. A LYING TALE
O when I was an infant young,
To London I did go,
Among the French and Spaniards there
My gallantry to show.
And when I came to the Eastern shore,
I let my head hang down,
I tripped along o'er banks and hills
But never touched the ground.
Fal-de-liddle-li-do
Fal-de-liddle-iddle-dee.
So when I reached the Eastern shore,
I met a giant high,
His little feet filled up the street,
His head it touched the sky.
He looked down, and with a frown
He bid me pass his way.
He looked up, and bid me sup
A posset made of whey.
He challenged me to dance and sing,
To whistle or to pipe.
I played every instrument
And whipped the giant quite.
He challenged me to jump a brook,
He challenged me to run;
I beat the pride out of his hide,
And killed him when I'd done.
The people all admiring stood,
To see me, not afraid.
They gave to me a salver bright,
A hundred ton it weighed.
I made myself a little box,
'Twas but three acres square,
I filled it up unto the top
With my bright silver ware.
When I did go from London town,
I rode upon an ox,
In by my thigh, in pocket I
Did put my little box.
And when I reached the Western shore,
They kicked me out of door,
They would not trust me for a pint,
Because I looked so poor.
I bought myself a flock of sheep,
I thought they all were wethers.
And some of them they gave me lambs
And some gave only feathers.
Methinks they were the bravest sheep
To give such good increase,
I cut their wool when the moon was full,
And I had two lambs apiece.
I bought a little poodle dog,
A pretty dog was he,
Where'er I went, 'twas his intent
To run and follow me.
His tail was but ten yards long,
His ears but five feet wide,
And round the world in half a day
Upon him I might ride.
I bought myself a coal-black hen,
Of her I took much care,
I set her on a mussel shell
And out she hatched a hare.
The hare she grew at such a pace,
She soon was ten hands high.
Comeif you know a better joke,
I'm very sure you lie.
Fal-de-liddle-li-do
Fal-de-liddle-iddle-dee.