Rilloby-Rill

    Grasshoppers four a-fiddling went,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    They earned but little towards their rent
    But all day long with their elbows bent
                They fiddled a tune called Rilloby-rilloby,
                Fiddled a tune called Rilloby-rill.

    Grasshoppers soon on Fairies came,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    Fairies asked with a manner of blame,
    "Where do you come from, what is your name?
                What do you want with your Rilloby-rilloby,
                What do you want with your Rilloby-rill?"

    "Madam, you see before you stand,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    The Old Original Favourite Grand
    Grasshopper's Green Herbarian Band,
                And the tune we play is Rilloby-rilloby,
                Madam, the tune is Rilloby-rill."

    Fairies hadn't a word to say,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    Fairies seldom are sweet by day,
    But the Grasshoppers merrily fiddled away,
                O but they played with a willoby-rilloby,
                O but they played with a willoby-will!

    Fairies slumber and sulk at noon,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    But at last the kind old motherly moon
    Brought them dew in a silver spoon,
                And they turned to ask for Rilloby-rilloby,
                One more round of Rilloby-rill.

    Ah! but nobody now replied,
                Heigh-ho! never be still!
    When day went down the music died,
    Grasshoppers four lay side by side,
                And there was an end of their Rilloby-rilloby,
                There was an end of their Rilloby-rill.

Henry John Newbolt

Sir Henry John Newbolt was an English poet and author, famous for his ballads such as 'Vitaï Lampada'. He graduated from Oxford and was called to the bar, but he is better remembered for his literary contributions than his legal career. Newbolt served as a government advisor on military and naval literature during World War I. He was knighted in 1915 for his services to literature. Newbolt's work often reflected themes of patriotism and duty.

Henry John Newbolt

Devon

Henry John Newbolt, Simple Poetry

Seringapatam

Henry John Newbolt, Simple Poetry

Northumberland

Henry John Newbolt, Simple Poetry

English

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When good-nights have been prattled, and prayers have been said,
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Then, skirting the trees on a carpet of snow,
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Floretty's Musical Contribution

All seemed delighted, though the elders more,
Of course, than were the children. - Thus, before
Much interchange of mirthful compliment,
The story-teller said his stories "went"
(Like a bad candle) best when they went out, -
And that some sprightly music, dashed about,
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Of melody that drenched the senses through; -
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Popcorn, Glass Balls, and Cranberries (As it were)

        I. The Lion


    The Lion is a kingly beast.
    He likes a Hindu for a feast.
    And if no Hindu he can get,
    The lion-family is upset.

    He cuffs his wife and bites her ears
    Till she is nearly moved to tears.
    Then some explorer finds the den
    And all is family peace again.



        II.    An Explanation of the Grasshopper


    The Grasshopper, the grasshopper,
    I will explain to you: -
    He is the Brownies' racehorse,
    The fairies' Kangaroo.



        III.    The Dangerous Little Boy Fairies


    In fairyland the little boys
    Would rather fight than eat their meals.
    They like to chase a gauze-winged fly
    And catch and beat him till he ...

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Off The Ground

Three jolly Farmers
    Once bet a pound
Each dance the others would
    Off the ground.
Out of their coats
    They slipped right soon,
And neat and nicesome
    Put each his shoon.
One - Two - Three! -
    And away they go,
Not too fast,
    And not too slow;
Out from the elm-tree's
    Noonday shadow,
Into the sun
    And across the meadow.
Past the schoolroom,
    With knees well bent
Fingers a-flicking,
    They dancing went.
Up sides and over,
    And round and round,
They crossed click-clacking,
    The Parish bound,
By Tupman's meadow
    They did their mile,
Tee-to-tum
    On a three-barred stile.
Then straight through Whipham,
    Downhill to Week,
Footing it lightsome,
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The Fairy Rade.

        I.

Ai me! why stood I on the bent
When Summer wept o'er dying June!
I saw the Fairy Folk ride faint
    Aneath the moon.


        II.

The haw-trees hedged the russet lea
Where cuckoo-buds waxed rich with gold;
The wealthy corn rose yellowly
    Endlong the wold.


        III.

Betwixt the haw-trees and the mead
"The Fairy Rade" came glimmering on;
A creamy cavalcade did speed
    O'er the green lawn.


        IV.

The night was ringing with their reins;
Loud laughed they till the cricket hushed;
The whistles on their coursers' manes
    Shrill music gushed.


        V.

The whistles tagged their horses' manes
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The Daddy Long-Legs And The Fly.



    I.

Once Mr. Daddy Long-legs,
Dressed in brown and gray,
Walked about upon the sands
Upon a summer's day:
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When the wind was rather cold,
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They drank some periwinkle-wine,
And played an hour or two, or more,
At battlecock and shuttledore.


    II.

Said Mr. Daddy Long-legs
To Mr. Floppy Fly,
"Why do you never come to court?
I wish you 'd tell me why.
All gold and shine, in dress so fine,
You'd quite delight the court.
Why do you never go at all?
I really think you _ought_.
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