Mythology & Folklore
Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3)
From The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by J. O. Halliwell (London: Warne; first ed. 1842; this printing 1886)
Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3),
As I go round (4), ring by ring (5),
A virgin (6) goes a maying (7),
Here's a flower (8), and there's a flower (9),
Growing in my lady's garden (10),
If you set your foot awry (11),
Gentle John will make you cry (12),
If you set your foot amiss (13),
Gentle John (14) will give you a kiss.
This [lady or gentleman] is none of ours,
Has put [him or her] self in [the selected child's] power,
So clap all hands, and ring all bells, and make the wedding o'er.
Codex Note
Halliwell's class: Games.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/311/.
Chicago
Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/311/.
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