Pinafore Palace Part 9

So is currant wine!

But I will wear my brown gown, And never dress too fine."

Robin rose up early At the break of day; He flew to Jenny Wren's house, To sing a roundelay.

He met the c.o.c.k and Hen, And bid the c.o.c.k declare, This was his wedding-day With Jenny Wren, the fair.

The c.o.c.k then blew his horn, To let the neighbors know, This was Robin's wedding-day, And they might see the show.

And first came parson Rook, With his spectacles and band, And one of _Mother Hubbard's_ books He held within his hand.

Then followed him the Lark, For he could sweetly sing, And he was to be clerk At c.o.c.k Robin's wedding.

He sung of Robin's love For little Jenny Wren; And when he came unto the end, Then he began again.

Then came the bride and bridegroom; Quite plainly was she dressed, And blushed so much, her cheeks were As red as Robin's breast.

But Robin cheered her up; "My pretty Jen," said he, "We're going to be married And happy we shall be."

The Goldfinch came on next, To give away the bride; The Linnet, being bride's maid, Walked by Jenny's side; And, as she was a-walking, She said, "Upon my word, I think that your c.o.c.k Robin Is a very pretty bird."

The Bulfinch walked by Robin, And thus to him did say, "Pray, mark, friend Robin Redbreast, That Goldfinch, dressed so gay; What though her gay apparel Becomes her very well, Yet Jenny's modest dress and look Must bear away the bell."

The Blackbird and the Thrush, And charming Nightingale, Whose sweet jug sweetly echoes Through every grove and dale; The Sparrow and Tom t.i.t, And many more, were there: All came to see the wedding Of Jenny Wren, the fair.

"O then," says parson Rook, "Who gives this maid away?"

"I do," says the Goldfinch, "And her fortune I will pay: Here's a bag of grain of many sorts, And other things beside; Now happy be the bridegroom, And happy be the bride!"

"And will you have her, Robin, To be your wedded wife?"

"Yes, I will," says Robin, "And love her all my life."

"And will you have him, Jenny, Your husband now to be?"

"Yes, I will," says Jenny, "And love him heartily."

Then on her finger fair c.o.c.k Robin put the ring; "You're married now," says Parson Rook, While the Lark aloud did sing: "Happy be the bridegroom, And happy be the bride!

And may not man, nor bird, nor beast, This happy pair divide."

The birds were asked to dine; Not Jenny's friends alone, But every pretty songster That had c.o.c.k Robin known.

They had a cherry pie, Beside some currant wine, And every guest brought something, That sumptuous they might dine.

Now they all sat or stood To eat and to drink; And every one said what He happened to think; They each took a b.u.mper, And drank to the pair: c.o.c.k Robin, the bridegroom, And Jenny Wren, the fair.

The dinner-things removed, They all began to sing; And soon they made the place Near a mile round to ring.

The concert it was fine; And every bird tried Who best could sing for Robin And Jenny Wren, the bride.

Then in came the Cuckoo, And he made a great rout; He caught hold of Jenny, And pulled her about.

c.o.c.k Robin was angry, And so was the Sparrow, Who fetched in a hurry His bow and his arrow.

His aim then he took, But he took it not right; His skill was not good, Or he shot in a fright; For the Cuckoo he missed, But c.o.c.k Robin killed!-- And all the birds mourned That his blood was so spilled,

_The Death and Burial of c.o.c.k Robin_

Who killed c.o.c.k Robin?

"I," said the Sparrow, "With my bow and arrow, I killed c.o.c.k Robin."

Who saw him die?

"I," said the Fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die."

Who caught his blood?

"I," said the Fish, "With my little dish, I caught his blood."

Who'll make his shroud?

"I," said the Beetle, "With my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud."

Who'll bear the torch?

"I," said the Linnet, "I'll come in a minute, I'll bear the torch."

Who'll be the clerk?

"I," said the Lark, "I'll say Amen in the dark; I'll be the clerk."

Who'll dig his grave?

"I," said the Owl, "With my spade and trowel, I'll dig his grave."

Who'll be the parson?

"I," said the Rook, "With my little book, I'll be the parson."

Who'll be chief mourner?

"I," said the Dove, "I mourn for my love; I'll be chief mourner."

Who'll sing his dirge?

"I," said the Thrush, "As I sing in a bush, I'll sing his dirge."

Who'll bear the pall?

"We," said the Wren, Both the c.o.c.k and the Hen; "We'll bear the pall."

Who'll carry his coffin?

"I," said the Kite, "If it be in the night, I'll carry his coffin."

Who'll toll the bell?

"I," said the Bull, "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."

All the birds of the air Fell to sighing and sobbing When they heard the bell toll For poor c.o.c.k Robin.

My dear, do you know, How a long time ago, Two poor little children, Whose names I don't know, Were stolen away on a fine summer's day, And left in a wood, as I've heard people say.

And when it was night, So sad was their plight!

The sun it went down, And the moon gave no light!

They sobbed and they sighed, and they bitterly cried, And the poor little things, they lay down and died.

And when they were dead, The robins so red, Brought strawberry-leaves And over them spread; And all the day long, They sung them this song: "Poor babes in the wood! Poor babes in the wood!

Oh don't you remember the babes in the wood?"