Notes and Queries, Number 35, June 29, 1850: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 35, June 29, 1850: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
"_A Frog he would a-wooing go._"--It may perhaps be interesting to some of
your correspondents on the subject of "A frog he would a-wooing go," to
know that there exists an Irish version of that woeful tale, which differs
in several respects from the ballad which has so long been familiar to
English ears. The burthen of "Heigho! says Rowley," does not occur in the
Hibernian composition, but a still less intelligible chorus supplies its
place. The air is exceedingly quaint, and seems to me to bear the stamp of
antiquity. The words are as follow:--
"Misther Frog lived in a well,
Heigho! my lanti-iddity!
And the merry mouse in the mill,
Terry heigho! for lang for liddity!
Says Mr. Frog, 'I will go coort,'
Heigho, &c.
'Saddle me nag and polish me boots!'
Terry heigho, &c.
Frog came _to_ Lady Mouse's hall,
Heigho, &c.
Gave a rap and thundering call,
Terry heigho, &c.
'Where _is_ the people _of_ this house?'
Heigho, &c.
'Here am I,' says my Lady Mouse,
Terry heigho, &c.
'I've come to court Miss Kitty here,'
Heigho, &c.
'If that she can fancy me.'
Terry heigho, &c.
'Uncle Rat is not at home;'
Heigho, &c.
'He'll give you an answer--I have none,'
Terry heigho, &c.
Uncle Rat, when he came in,
Heigho, &c.
'Who's been here since I left home?'
Terry heigho, &c.
'Misther Frog, a worthy man;'
Heigho, &c.
'Give him a wife, Sir, if you can,'
Terry heigho, &c.
'Where shall we make the bride's bed?'
Heigho, &c.
'Down below, in the Horse's Head.'
Terry heigho, &c.
'What shall we have for the wedding supper?'
Heigho, &c.
'A roasted potato and a roll o' butter.'
Terry heigho, &c.
Supper was laid down to dine,
Heigho, &c.
Changed a farthing and brought up wine,
Terry heigho, &c.
First come in was a nimble bee,
Heigho, &c.
With his fiddle upon his knee,
Terry heigho, &c.
Next come in was a creeping snail,
Heigho, &c.
With his bagpipes under his tail,
Terry heigho, &c.
Next came in was a neighbour's pig,
Heigho, &c.
'Pray, good people, will ye play us a jig?'
Terry heigho, &c.
Next come in was a neighbour's hen,
Heigho, &c.
Took the fiddler by the wing,
Terry heigho, &c.
Next come in was a neighbour's duck,
Heigho, &c.
Swallow'd the piper, head and pluck,
Terry heigho, &c.
Next come in was a neighbour's cat,
Heigho, &c.
Took the young bride by the back,
Terry heigho, &c.
Misther Frog jumped down the well,
Heigho, &c.
'Zounds, I'll never go coort again!'
Terry heigho, &c.
Uncle Rat run up a wall,
Heigho, &c.
'Zounds, the divil's among you all!'
Terry heigho, &c."
W. A. G.
* * * * *
Replies to Minor Queries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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