"If you sing afore bite, You'll cry before night."
"It is unlucky to sing carols before Christmas;" or before the first "arish mow [35]" is made. Also, "To scat [36] hands before Christmas," i.e., beat them for warmth.
"It is unlucky to pour out water or any other liquor back-handed."
"It is unlucky to lend, or say thank you for a pin." And
"If you see a pin, and pass it by, You'll want a pin before you die."
"It is unlucky to mend your clothes on you, for then you will never grow rich."
It is unlucky to wear a hole in the bottom of a shoe, for
"A hole in the sole, You'll live to spend whole."
Servants who come to their places after noon never stay, etc., etc.
Many old games worth recording are still played by Cornish children, out of doors in summer, indoors in winter, and at their numerous school-treats. To those common elsewhere, other names in Cornwall are often given, and different words sung. Some well known thirty-five years ago, now (1890) live only in the memory of those who were children then, or linger in a very fragmentary state in some remote country districts. Such as
To play this the children were divided into two parties. In the first were only the three dukes; in the second the other players, who stood in a long line, linked hand in hand, facing them,--the mother in the middle, with her daughters ranged according to size on each side of her. One duke was chosen as spokesman, and he began the following dialogue, which was sung; the party singing advanced and retreated, whilst the others stood still:--
"Here 'comes' three dukes a-riding, a-riding-- Here 'comes' three dukes a-riding, to court your daughter Jane."
"My daughter Jane is yet too young To bear your silly, flattering tongue."
"Be she young or be she old, She for her beauty must and shall be sold."
"So fare thee well, my lady gay, We'll take our horse and ride away, And call again another day."
"Come back! come back! you Spanish knight, And clean your spurs, they are not bright."
"My spurs are bright as 'rickety rock' (and richly wrought), And in this town they were not bought, And in this town they shan't be sold, Neither for silver, copper, nor gold. So fare thee well," etc.
"Come back! come back! you Spanish Jack (or coxcomb)."