[Footnote *: "I have an old edition of this author by me, the title of which is more sonorous and heroical than those of later date, which, for the better information of the reader, it may not be improper to insert in this place, 'Tom Thumb his Life and Death; wherein is declar'd his many marvellous Acts of Manhood, full of wonder and strange merriment.' Then he adds, 'Which little Knight liv'd in King Arthur's time, in the court of Great Britain.' Indeed, there are so many spurious editions of this piece upon one account or other, that I wou'd advise my readers to be very cautious in their choice."--_A Comment upon the History of T. T._ 1711. A "project for the reprinting of Tom Thumb, with marginal notes and cuts," is mentioned in the old play of _The Projectours_, 1665, p. 41.] LXII. [The following lines, slightly altered, occur in a little black-letter book by W. Wagner, printed about the year 1561; entitled, 'A very mery and pythie commedie, called, the longer thou livest, the more foole thou art.' See also a whole song, ending with these lines, in Ritson's 'North Country Chorister,' 8vo, Durham, 1802, p. 1.] Bryan O'Lin, and his wife, and wife's mother, They all went over a bridge together: The bridge was broken, and they all fell in, The deuce go with all! quoth Bryan O'Lin. LXIII. Old Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander. Mother Goose had a house, 'Twas built in a wood, Where an owl at the door For sentinel stood. This is her son Jack, A plain-looking lad, He is not very good, Nor yet very bad. She sent him to market, A live goose he bought, Here, mother, says he, It will not go for nought. Jack's goose and her gander, Grew very fond; They'd both eat together, Or swim in one pond. Jack found one morning, As I have been told, His goose had laid him An egg of pure gold. Jack rode to his mother, The news for to tell, She call'd him a good boy, And said it was well. Jack sold his gold egg To a rogue of a Jew, Who cheated him out of The half of his due. Then Jack went a courting, A lady so gay, As fair as the lily, And sweet as the May. The Jew and the Squire Came behind his back, And began to belabour The sides of poor Jack. The old Mother Goose, That instant came in, And turned her son Jack Into fam'd Harlequin. She then with her wand, Touch'd the lady so fine, And turn'd her at once Into sweet Columbine. The gold egg into the sea Was thrown then,-- When Jack jump'd in, And got the egg back again. The Jew got the goose, Which he vow'd he would kill, Resolving at once His pockets to fill. Jack's mother came in, And caught the goose soon, And mounting its back, Flew up to the moon. LXIV.