Nursery Rhyme. CXXX. Songs.

    Oh, where are you going,
        My pretty maiden fair,
    With your red rosy cheeks,
        And your coal-black hair?
    I'm going a-milking,
        Kind sir, says she;
    And it's dabbling in the dew,
        Where you'll find me.

    May I go with you,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    Oh, you may go with me,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    If I should chance to kiss you,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    The wind may take it off again,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    And what is your father,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    My father is a farmer,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

    And what is your mother,
        My pretty maiden fair, &c.
    My mother is a dairy-maid,
        Kind sir, says she, &c.

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. CXXXVI. Songs.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Cats

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXIX. Gaffers And Gammers.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. XLI. Literal

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Nursery Rhyme. CLXVIII. Songs.

    Where are you going, my pretty maid?
    I'm going a-milking, sir, she said.
    May I go with you, my pretty maid?
    You're kindly welcome, sir, she said.
    What is your father, my pretty maid?
    My father's a farmer, sir, she said.

    Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?
    Yes, if you please, kind sir, she said.
    Will you be constant, my pretty maid?
    That I can't promise you, sir, she said.
    Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid!
    Nobody asked you, sir! she said.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLX. Love And Matrimony.

    "Little maid, pretty maid, whither goest thou?"
    "Down in the forest to milk my cow."
    "Shall I go with thee?" "No, not now;
    When I send for thee, then come thou."

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CXLV. Songs.

    Trip upon trenchers, and dance upon dishes,
    My mother sent me for some barm, some barm;
    She bid me tread lightly, and come again quickly,
    For fear the young men should do me some harm.
        Yet didn't you see, yet didn't you see,
        What naughty tricks they put upon me:

        They broke my pitcher,
            And spilt the water,
        And huff'd my mother,
            And chid her daughter,
    And kiss'd my sister instead of me.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CXXXVII. Songs.

    Up at Piccadilly oh!
        The coachman takes his stand,
    And when he meets a pretty girl,
        He takes her by the hand;
            Whip away for ever oh!
            Drive away so clever oh!
            All the way to Bristol oh!
    He drives her four-in-hand.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CLIX. Songs.

    My maid Mary
    She minds her dairy,
            While I go a hoing and mowing each morn,
    Merrily run the reel
    And the little spinning wheel
            Whilst I am singing and mowing my corn.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXXII. Games.

        [A stands with a row of girls (her daughters) behind her; B, a suitor, advances.]

    B.    Trip trap over the grass: If you please will you let one of
                        your [eldest] daughters come,
                Come and dance with me?
                I will give you pots and pans, I will give you brass,
                I will give you anything for a pretty lass.
    A.    says, "No."
    B.    I will give you gold and silver, I will give you pearl,
                I will give you anything for a pretty girl.
    A.    Take one, take one, the fairest you may see.
    B.    The fairest one that I can see
                Is pretty Nancy, - come to me.

        [B carries one off, and says:]

                You shall have a duck, my dear,
...

Unknown