Perry Merry Dictum, Domine- Mason 1877
[Taken by Bronson from Miss Mason's Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs, 1877, published by Metzler. All the songs and tunes in this now scarce book were, its compiler says, derived from oral tradition and mostly learnt from her grandmother, Mrs. Mitford.]
Perry Merry Dictum, Domine (A Paradox) Mason, 1877 [my title- also title in Digital Tradition]
I have four brothers over the sea
Perry merry dictum, domine
They each sent a present for me
Perry merry dictum, domine
Partum quartum pare dissentum
Perry merry dictum, domine
The first sent a chicken without any bone
The second a cherry without any stone.
The third sent a book that no man could read
The fourth sent a blanket without any thread.
How could there be a chicken without any bone?
How could there be a cherry without any stone?
How could there be a book that no man could read?
How could there be a blanket without any thread?
When the chicken is in the egg, it has no bone
When the cherry is in the blossom it has no stone.
When the book is in the press, no man can it read
When the blanket is in the fleece it has no thread.