Taffy was a Welshman,

Taffy was a thief,

Taffy came to my house,

And stole a leg of beef.

I went to Taffy's house,

Taffy was not at home;

Taffy came to my house,

And stole a marrow-bone.

I went to Taffy's house,

Taffy was in bed;

I took the marrow-bone,

And broke Taffy's head.

Up hill and down dale,

Butter is made in every vale;

And if Nancy Cock

Is a good girl,

She shall have a spouse¹,

And make butter anon,

Before her old grandmother

Grows a young man.

Valentine, Oh, Valentine,

Curl your locks as I do mine;

Two before and two behind;

Good-morrow to you, Valentine.

"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 kindly² 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.

"What is your fortune, my pretty maid?"

"My face is my fortune, sir," she said.

"Then, I won't marry you, my pretty maid!"

"Nobody asked you, sir," she said.

Cross X patch,

Draw the latch³,

Sit by the fire and spin:

Take a cup

And drink it up,

Then call the neighbours in.

You know that Monday is Sunday's brother;

Tuesday is such another;

Wednesday you must go to church and pray;

Thursday is half-holiday;

On Friday it is too late to begin to spin,

And Saturday is half-holiday again.

The ram⁴, the bull, the heavenly twins,

And next the crab⁵, the lion shines,

The virgin⁶ and the scales,

The scorpion⁷, archer⁸, and the goat,

The man who holds the watering-pot,

And fish with glittering scales.