Читать книгу Comparative Studies in Nursery Rhymes - Eckenstein Lina - Страница 2

… To my gaze the phantoms of the Past,

The cherished fictions of my boyhood, rise:

The House that Jack built – and the Malt that lay

Within the House – the Rat that ate the Malt —

The Cat, that in that sanguinary way

Punished the poor thing for its venial fault—

The Worrier-Dog – the Cow with crumpled horn—

And then – ah yes! and then – the Maiden all forlorn!

O Mrs. Gurton – (may I call thee Gammer?)

Thou more than mother to my infant mind!

I loved thee better than I loved my grammar—

I used to wonder why the Mice were blind,

And who was gardener to Mistress Mary,

And what – I don't know still – was meant by "quite contrary."