THE SONG OF SIXPENCE PICTURE BOOK [Illustration: CONTAINING SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE PRINCESS BELLE ETOILE ALPHABET OF OLD FRIENDS] WALTER CRANE'S PICTURE BOOKS LONDON & NEW YORK: JOHN LANE [Illustration] [Illustration] THE SONG OF SIXPENCE PICTURE BOOK CONTAINING SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE; PRINCESS BELLE ETOILE; AN ALPHABET OF OLD FRIENDS: WITH THE ORIGINAL COLOURED DESIGNS BY WALTER CRANE INCLUDING A PREFACE AND OTHER EMBELLISHMENTS [Illustration] LONDON & NEW YORK JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD PREFACE Whether the Poet undertook to write and SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE for thatpopular price is not stated in his simple rhyme, but, at all events, welearn that he started with "a pocket full, " and proceeded to draw on hisimagination for all it was worth. What that famous blackbird-pie reallycost--except in black-birds--is not disclosed, though the King seemed toshow some anxiety about the state of his treasury, as he was discovered"in his counting house" imediately after the feast. But while the Queen, regardless of expense, regales herself on "bread and honey" in "theparlour", and her Maid-of-honour, or perhaps of-all-work, is engaged atthe clothes-line, nothing is said about a princess. No doubt there was a princess, and that Princess might have beenPRINCESS BELLE-ETOILE? Anyway here she is in the same boat--I meanbook--and certainly her adventures are romantic enough to prevent anysurprise at the company in which Her Highness now finds herself. Even princesses cannot do without Alphabets, and so in her train comesAN ALPHABET in which will be discovered many OLD and tried FRIENDS ofthe Nursery. Thus we launch another volume of our series, like a fairy ship with arather mixed cargo, in the hope that--to change the metaphor--like theblackbird-pie, it may prove, when opened, to be "a pretty dish to setbefore--" their Babyships. Walter Crane [Illustration] Kensington. Sept: 1909 [Illustration] [Illustration] SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE [Illustrations, with each couplet] Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye, Four and twenty black-birds, Baked in a pie When the pie was open'd The birds began to sing Was'nt that a dainty dish To set before the King? The King was in his counting-house, Counting out his money. The Queen was in the parlour, Eating bread and honey. The maid was in the garden, Hanging out the clothes; There came a little blackbird, And nipp'd off her nose. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] PRINCESS BELLE-ETOILE. Once upon a time there were three Princesses, named Roussette, Brunette, and Blondine, who lived in retirement with their mother, a Princess whohad lost all her former grandeur. One day an old woman called and askedfor a dinner, as this Princess was an excellent cook. After the meal wasover, the old woman, who was a fairy, promised that their kindnessshould be rewarded, and immediately disappeared. Shortly after, the King came that way, with his brother and the LordAdmiral. They were all so struck with the beauty of the threePrincesses, that the King married the youngest, Blondine, his brothermarried Brunette, and the Lord Admiral married Roussette. The good Fairy, who had brought all this about, also caused the youngQueen Blondine to have three lovely children, two boys and a girl, outof whose hair fell fine jewels. Each had a brilliant star on theforehead, and a rich chain of gold around the neck. At the same timeBrunette, her sister, gave birth to a handsome boy. Now the young Queenand Brunette were much attached to each other, but Roussette was jealousof both, and the old Queen, the King's mother, hated them. Brunette diedsoon after the birth of her son, and the King was absent on a warlikeexpedition, so Roussette joined the wicked old Queen in forming plans toinjure Blondine. They ordered Feintise, the old Queen's waiting-woman, to strangle the Queen's three children and the son of Princess Brunette, and bury them secretly. But as she was about to execute this wickedorder, she was so struck by their beauty, and the appearance of thesparkling stars on their foreheads, that she shrank from the deed. [Illustration] So she had a boat brought round to the beach, and put the four babes, with some strings of jewels, into a cradle, which she placed in theboat, and then set it adrift. The boat was soon far out at sea. Thewaves rose, the rain poured in torrents, and the thunder roared. Feintise could not doubt that the boat would be swamped, and feltrelieved by the thought that the poor little innocents would perish, forshe would otherwise always be haunted by the fear that something wouldoccur to betray the share she had had in their preservation. But the good Fairy protected them, and after floating at sea for sevendays they were picked up by a Corsair. He was so struck by their beautythat he altered his course, and took them home to his wife, who had nochildren. She was transported with joy when he placed them in her hands. They admired together the wonderful stars, the chains of gold that couldnot be taken off their necks, and their long ringlets. Much greater wasthe woman's astonishment when she combed them, for at every instantthere rolled out of their hair pearls, rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. She told her husband of it, who was not less surprised than herself. "I am very tired, " said he, "of a Corsair's life, and if the locks ofthose little children continue to supply us with such treasures, I willgive up roaming the seas. " The Corsair's wife, whose name was Corsine, was enchanted at this, and loved the four infants so much the more forit. She named the Princess, Belle-Etoile, her eldest brother, Petit-Soleil, the second, Heureux, and the son of Brunette, Cheri. As they grew older, the Corsair applied himself seriously to theireducation, as he felt convinced there was some great mystery attached totheir birth. The Corsair and his wife had never told the story of the four children, who passed for their own. They were exceedingly united, but Prince Cherientertained for Princess Belle-Etoile a greater affection than the othertwo. The moment she expressed a wish for anything, he would attempt evenimpossibilities to gratify her. One day Belle-Etoile overheard the Corsair and his wife talking. "When Ifell in with them, " said the Corsair, "I saw nothing that could give meany idea of their birth. " "I suspect, " said Corsine, "that Cheri is nottheir brother, he has neither star nor neck-chain. " Belle-Etoileimmediately ran and told this to the three Princes, who resolved tospeak to the Corsair and his wife, and ask them to let them set out todiscover the secret of their birth. After some remonstrance they gainedtheir consent. A beautiful vessel was prepared, and the young Princessand the three Princes set out. They determined to sail to the very spotwhere the Corsair had found them, and made preparations for a grandsacrifice to the fairies, for their protection and guidance. They wereabout to immolate a turtle-dove, but the Princess saved its life, andlet it fly. At this moment a syren issued from the water, and said, "Cease your anxiety, let your vessel go where it will; land where itstops. " The vessel now sailed more quickly. Suddenly they came in sightof a city so beautiful that they were anxious their vessel should enterthe port. Their wishes were accomplished; they landed, and the shore ina moment was crowded with people, who had observed the magnificence oftheir ship. They ran and told the King the news, and as the grandterrace of the Palace looked out upon the sea-shore, he speedilyrepaired thither. The Princes, hearing the people say, "There is theKing, " looked up, and made a profound obeisance. He looked earnestly atthem, and was as much charmed by the Princess's beauty, as by thehandsome mien of the young Princes. He ordered his equerry to offer themhis protection, and everything that they might require. The King was so interested about these four children, that he went intothe chamber of the Queen, his mother, to tell her of the wonderful starswhich shone upon their foreheads, and everything that he admired inthem. She was thunderstruck at it, and was terribly afraid that Feintisehad betrayed her, and sent her secretary to enquire about them. What hetold her of their ages confirmed her suspicions. She sent for Feintise, and threatened to kill her. Feintise, half dead with terror, confessedall; but promised, if she spared her, that she would still find means todo away with them. The Queen was appeased; and, indeed, old Feintise didall she could for her own sake. Taking a guitar, she went and sat downopposite the Princess's window, and sang a song which Belle-Etoilethought so pretty that she invited her into her chamber. "My fairchild, " said Feintise, "Heaven has made you very lovely, but you yetwant one thing--the dancing-water. If I had possessed it, you would nothave seen a white hair upon my head, nor a wrinkle on my face. Alas! Iknew this secret too late; my charms had already faded. " "But whereshall I find this dancing-water?" asked Belle-Etoile. "It is in theluminous forest, " said Feintise. "You have three brothers; does not anyone of them love you sufficiently to go and fetch some?" "My brothersall love me, " said the Princess, "but there is one of them who would notrefuse me anything. " The perfidious old woman retired, delighted athaving been so successful. The Princes, returning from the chase, foundBelle-Etoile engrossed by the advice of Feintise. Her anxiety about itwas so apparent, that Cheri, who thought of nothing but pleasing her, soon found out the cause of it, and, in spite of her entreaties, hemounted his white horse, and set out in search of the dancing-water. When supper-time arrived, and the Princess did not see her brotherCheri, she could neither eat nor drink; and desired he might be soughtfor everywhere, and sent messengers to find him and bring him back. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] The wicked Feintise was very anxious to know the result of her advice;and when she heard that Cheri had already set out, she was delighted, and reported to the Queen-Mother all that had passed. "I admit, Madam, "said she, "that I can no longer doubt that they are the same fourchildren: but one of the Princes is already gone to seek thedancing-water, and will no doubt perish in the attempt, and I shall findsimilar means to do away with all of them. " The plan she had adopted with regard to Prince Cheri was one of the mostcertain, for the dancing-water was not easily to be obtained; it was sonotorious from the misfortunes which occurred to all who sought it, thatevery one knew the road to it. He was eight days without taking anyrepose but in the woods. At the end of this period he began to suffervery much from the heat; but it was not the heat of the sun, and he didnot know the cause of it, until from the top of a mountain he perceivedthe luminous forest; all the trees were burning without being consumed, and casting out flames to such a distance that the country around was adry desert. At this terrible scene he descended, and more than once gave himself upfor lost. As he approached this great fire he was ready to die withthirst; and perceiving a spring falling into a marble basin, he alightedfrom his horse, approached it, and stooped to take up some water in thelittle golden vase which he had brought with him, when he saw aturtle-dove drowning in the fountain. Cheri took pity on it, and savedit. "My Lord Cheri, " she said, "I am not ungrateful; I can guide you tothe dancing-water, which, without me, you could never obtain, as itrises in the middle of the forest, and can only be reached by goingunderground. " The Dove then flew away, and summoned a number of foxes, badgers, moles, snails, ants, and all sorts of creatures that burrow inthe earth. Cheri got off his horse at the entrance of the subterraneanpassage they made for him, and groped his way after the kind Dove, whichsafely conducted him to the fountain. The Prince filled his golden vase;and returned the same way he came. He found Belle-Etoile sorrowfully seated under some trees, but when shesaw him she was so pleased that she scarcely knew how to welcome him. Old Feintise learned from her spies that Cheri had returned, and thatthe Princess, having washed her face with the dancing-water, had becomemore lovely than ever. Finding this, she lost no time in artfully makingthe Princess sigh for the wonderful singing-apple. Prince Cheri againfound her unhappy, and again found out the cause, and once more set outon his white horse, leaving a letter for Belle-Etoile. In the meanwhile, the King did not forget the lovely children, andreproached them for never going to the Palace. They excused themselvesby saying that their brother's absence prevented them. Prince Cheri at break of day perceived a handsome young man, from whomhe learned where the singing-apple was to be found: but after travellingsome time without seeing any sign of it, he saw a poor turtle-dove fallat his feet almost dead. He took pity on it, and restored it, when itsaid, "Good-day, handsome Cheri, you are destined to save my life, and Ito do you signal service. You are come to seek for the singing-apple: itis guarded by a terrible dragon. " The Dove then led him to a place wherehe found a suit of armour, all of glass: and by her advice he put it on, and boldly went to meet the dragon. The two-headed monster came boundingalong, fire issuing from his throat; but when he saw his alarming figuremultiplied in the Prince's mirrors he was frightened in his turn. Hestopped, and looking fiercely at the Prince, apparently laden withdragons, he took flight and threw himself into a deep chasm. The Princethen found the tree, which was surrounded with human bones, and breakingoff an apple, prepared to return to the Princess. She had never sleptduring his absence, and ran to meet him eagerly. When the wicked Feintise heard the sweet singing of the apple, her griefwas excessive, for instead of doing harm to these lovely children, sheonly did them good by her perfidious counsels. She allowed some days topass by without showing herself; and then once more made the Princessunhappy by saying that the dancing-water and the singing-apple wereuseless without the little green bird that tells everything. Cheri again set out, and after some trouble learnt that this bird was tobe found on the top of a frightful rock, in a frozen climate. At length, at dawn of day, he perceived the rock, which was very high and verysteep, and upon the summit of it was the bird, speaking like an oracle, telling wonderful things. He thought that with a little dexterity itwould be easy to catch it, for it seemed very tame. He got off hishorse, and climbed up very quietly. He was so close to the green birdthat he thought he could lay hands on it, when suddenly the rock openedand he fell into a spacious hall, and became as motionless as a statue;he could neither stir, nor utter a complaint at his deplorablesituation. Three hundred knights, who had made the same attempt, were inthe same state. To look at each other was the only thing permitted them. [Illustration] The time seemed so long to Belle-Etoile, and still no signs of herbeloved Cheri, that she fell dangerously ill; and in the hopes ofcuring her, Petit-Soleil resolved to seek him. But he too was swallowed up by the rock and fell into the great hall. The first person he saw was Cheri, but he could not speak to him; andPrince Heureux, following soon after, met with the same fate as theother two. When Feintise was aware that the third Prince was gone, she wasexceedingly delighted at the success of her plan; and when Belle-Etoile, inconsolable at finding not one of her brothers return, reproachedherself for their loss, and resolved to follow them, she was quiteoverjoyed. The Princess was disguised as a cavalier, but had no other armour thanher helmet. She was dreadfully cold as she drew near the rock, butseeing a turtle-dove lying on the snow, she took it up, warmed it, andrestored it to life: and the dove reviving, gaily said, "I know you, inspite of your disguise; follow my advice: when you arrive at the rock, remain at the bottom and begin to sing the sweetest song you know; thegreen bird will listen to you; you must then pretend to go to sleep;when it sees me, it will come down to peck me, and at that moment youwill be able to seize it. " All this fell out as the Dove foretold. The green bird begged forliberty. "First, " said Belle-Etoile, "I wish that thou wouldst restoremy three brothers to me. " "Under my left wing there is a red feather, " said the bird: "pull itout, and touch the rock with it. " The Princess hastened to do as she was instructed; the rock split fromthe top to the bottom: she entered with a victorious air the hall inwhich stood the three Princes with many others; she ran towards Cheri, who did not know her in her helmet and male attire, and could neitherspeak nor move. The green bird then told the Princess she must rub theeyes and mouth of all those she wished to disenchant with the redfeather, which good office she did to all. The three Princes and Belle-Etoile hastened to present themselves to theKing; and when Belle-Etoile showed her treasures, the little green birdtold him that the Princes Petit-Soleil and Heureux and the PrincessBelle-Etoile were his children, and that Prince Cheri was his nephew. Queen Blondine, who had mourned for them all these years, embraced them, and the wicked Queen-Mother and old Feintise were justly punished. Andthe King, who thought his nephew Cheri the handsomest man at Court, consented to his marriage with Belle-Etoile. And lastly, to makeeveryone happy, the King sent for the Corsair and his wife, who gladlycame. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] AN ALPHABET OF OLD FRIENDS. A A carrion crow sat on an oak, Watching a tailor shape his cloak. "Wife, bring me my old bent bow, That I may shoot yon carrion crow. " The tailor he shot and missed his mark, And shot his own sow quite through the heart. "Wife, wife, bring brandy in a spoon, For our old sow is in a swoon. " B Ba, ba, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, marry, have I, Three bags full. One for my master, One for my dame, But none for the little boy That cries in the lane. C _Hen. _ Cock, cock, I have la-a-ayed! _Cock. _ Hen, hen, that's well sa-a-ayed! _Hen. _ Although I have to go bare-footed every day-a-ay! _Cock. _ (_Con spirito. _) Sell your eggs and buy shoes! Sell your eggs and buy shoes! D Dickery, dickery, dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, Down the mouse ran, Dickery, dickery, dock. [Illustration: ABCD] [Illustration: EFGH] E Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess, They all went together to seek a bird's nest They found a bird's nest with five eggs in; They all took one, and left four in. F Father, father, I've come to confess. O, yes, dear daughter, what have you done? G Gang and hear the owl yell, Sit and see the swallow flee, See the foal before its mither's e'e, 'Twill be a thriving year wi' thee. H Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree-top; When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the wind ceases the cradle will fall, And down will come baby and cradle and all. I I had a little husband No bigger than my thumb; I put him in a pint pot, And there I bade him drum. I bought a little horse That galloped up and down; I bridled him, and saddled him, And sent him out of town. I gave him a pair of garters, To tie up his little hose, And a little silk handkerchief, To wipe his little nose. J Jack Sprat would eat no fat, His wife would eat no lean; Was not that a pretty trick To make the platter clean? K King Cole was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he. He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three Every fiddler had a fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he: Twee, tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddlers. Oh, there's none so rare As can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three! L Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them. Let them alone and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them, &c. M Mistress Mary, Quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, And cockle shells. And cowslips all of a-row. N Needles and pins, needles and pins, When a man marries his trouble begins. [Illustration: IJKLM] [Illustration: NOPQR] O Once I saw a little bird, Come hop, hop, hop; So I cried, "Little bird, Will you stop, stop, stop?" And was going to the window, To say, "How do you do?" When he shook his little tail, And far away he flew. P Pease-pudding hot, pease-pudding cold; Pease-pudding in the pot, nine days old. Q Queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey. R Ride a-cock horse to Banbury Cross, To see an old woman get up on her horse; Rings on her fingers and bells at her toes, And so she makes music wherever she goes. S Simple Simon met a pieman, Going to the fair; Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Let me taste your ware!" T 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. U Up hill and down dale, Butter is made in every vale; And if Nancy Cock Is a good girl, She shall have a spouse. And make butter anon, Before her old grandmother Grows a young man. V Valentine, Oh, Valentine, Curl your locks as I do mine: Two before and two behind; Good-morrow to you, Valentine. W "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. "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. [Illustration: STUV] [Illustration: WXYZ] X Cross X patch, Draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin: Take a cup And drink it up, Then call the neighbours in. Y 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. Z ZODIAC FOR THE NURSERY. The ram, the bull, the heavenly twins. And next the crab, the lion shines, The virgin and the scales, The scorpion, archer, and the goat, The man who holds the watering-pot, And fish with glittering scales. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration][Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] WALTER CRANE'S PICTURE BOOKS