Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXVI. Paradoxes.

    I would if I cou'd,
    If I cou'dn't, how cou'd I?
    I cou'dn't, without I cou'd, cou'd I?
    Cou'd you, without you cou'd, cou'd ye?
    Cou'd ye, cou'd ye?
    Cou'd you, without you cou'd, cou'd ye?

Unknown

The identity of this poet is not known. Their works, which are often of significant historical or cultural value, have been attributed to 'Unknown'. This designation is commonly used when the creator of works, ranging from ancient texts to more modern writings, remains anonymous or uncredited. Despite the lack of personal details, the impact and importance of these works endure, offering insight into the eras and cultures from which they originated.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. XLVII. Tales.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DCL. Relics.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCXXXVIII. Jingles.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLIV. Love And Matrimony.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

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Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXII. Paradoxes.

    O that I was where I would be,
    Then would I be where I am not!
    But where I am must be,
    And where I would be I cannot.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXIX. Paradoxes.

        [The following occurs in a MS. of the seventeenth century, in the Sloane Collection, the reference to which I have mislaid.]

    The man in the wilderness asked me,
    How many strawberries grew in the sea?
    I answered him, as I thought good,
    As many as red herrings grew in the wood.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXVIII. Paradoxes.

    Barney Bodkin broke his nose,
    Without feet we can't have toes;
    Crazy folks are always mad,
    Want of money makes us sad.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXIV. Paradoxes.

    There was a man of Newington,
        And he was wond'rous wise,
    He jump'd into a quickset hedge,
        And scratch'd out both his eyes:
    But when he saw his eyes were out,
        With all his might and main,
    He jump'd into another hedge,
        And scratch'd 'em in again.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXII. Paradoxes.

There was an old woman had nothing,
    And there came thieves to rob her;
When she cried out she made no noise,
    But all the country heard her.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXIV. Paradoxes.

        [Mind your punctuation!]

    I saw a peacock with a fiery tail,
    I saw a blazing comet drop down hail,
    I saw a cloud wrapped with ivy round,
    I saw an oak creep upon the ground,
    I saw a pismire swallow up a whale,
    I saw the sea brimful of ale,
    I saw a Venice glass full fifteen feet deep,
    I saw a well full of men's tears that weep,
    I saw red eyes all of a flaming fire,
    I saw a house bigger than the moon and higher,
    I saw the sun at twelve o'clock at night,
    I saw the man that saw this wondrous sight.

Unknown