A Nonsense Anthology Part 16

I see a goose ring a hog, And a snail that bit a dog; Thou hast well drunken, man: Who's the fool now?

I see a mouse catch the cat, Fie! man, fie!

I see a mouse catch the cat, Who's the fool now?

I see a mouse catch the cat, And the cheese to eat the rat; Thou hast well drunken, man: Who's the fool now?

From _Deuteromelia printed in the reign of James I_.

_THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BO_

I

On the Coast of Coromandel Where the early pumpkins blow, In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

Two old chairs, and half a candle, One old jug without a handle,-- These were all his worldly goods: In the middle of the woods, These were all the worldly goods Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

II

Once, among the Bong-trees walking Where the early pumpkins blow, To a little heap of stones Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

There he heard a Lady talking, To some milk-white Hens of Dorking,-- "'Tis the Lady Jingly Jones!

On that little heap of stones Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

III

"Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!

Sitting where the pumpkins blow, Will you come and be my wife?"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, "I am tired of living singly,-- On this coast so wild and s.h.i.+ngly,-- I'm a-weary of my life; If you'll come and be my wife, Quite serene would be my life!"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

IV

"On this Coast of Coromandel Shrimps and watercresses grow, Prawns are plentiful and cheap,"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

"You shall have my chairs and candle, And my jug without a handle!

Gaze upon the rolling deep (Fish is plentiful and cheap): As the sea, my love is deep!"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

Lady Jingly answered sadly, And her tears began to flow,-- "Your proposal comes too late, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

I would be your wife most gladly!"

(Here she twirled her fingers madly,) "But in England I've a mate!

Yes! you've asked me far too late, For in England I've a mate, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!"

VI

Mr. Jones (his name is Handel,-- Handel Jones, Esquire & Co.) Dorking fowls delights to send, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Keep, oh, keep your chairs and candle, And your jug without a handle,-- I can merely be your friend!

Should my Jones more Dorkings send, I will give you three, my friend!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

VII

"Though you've such a tiny body, And your head so large doth grow,-- Though your hat may blow away, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Though you're such a Hoddy Doddy, Yet I wish that I could modi- fy the words I needs must say!

Will you please to go away?

That is all I have to say, Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!

Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!"

VIII

Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle, Where the early pumpkins blow, To the calm and silent sea Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle, Lay a large and lively Turtle.

"You're the Cove," he said, "for me: On your back beyond the sea, Turtle, you shall carry me!"

Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

IX

Through the silent roaring ocean Did the Turtle swiftly go; Holding fast upon his sh.e.l.l Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

With a sad primaeval motion Toward the sunset isles of Boshen Still the Turtle bore him well, Holding fast upon his sh.e.l.l.

"Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!"

Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

X

From the Coast of Coromandel Did that Lady never go, On that heap of stones she mourns For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

On that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a handle Still she weeps, and daily moans; On the little heap of stones To her Dorking Hens she moans, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.

_Edward Lear_.

_THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES_

The Pobble who has no toes Had once as many as we; When they said, "Some day you may lose them all,"

He replied, "Fish fiddle de-dee!"

And his Aunt Jobiska made him drink Lavender water tinged with pink; For she said, "The World in general knows There's nothing so good for a Pobble's toes!"

The Pobble who has no toes Swam across the Bristol Channel; But before he set out he wrapped his nose In a piece of scarlet flannel.

For his Aunt Jobiska said, "No harm Can come to his toes if his nose is warm; And it's perfectly known that a Pobble's toes Are safe--provided he minds his nose."