The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren
It
was
a
merry
time,
When
Jenny
Wren
was
young,
So
neatly
as
she
dressed,
And
so
sweetly
as
she
sung.
Robin
Redbreast
lost
his
heart,
He
was
a
gallant
bird;
He
doffed
his
hat
to
Jenny,
And
thus
to
her
he
said:
“My
dearest
Jenny
Wren,
If
you
will
but
be
mine,
You
shall
dine
on
cherry
pie
And
drink
nice
currant
wine.
“Ill
dress
you
like
a
goldfinch,
Or
like
a
peacock
gay;
So,
if
you'll
have
me,
Jenny,
Let
us
appoint
the
day.”
Jenny
blushed
behind
her
fan,
And
thus
declared
her
mind
“Then
let
it
be
to-morrow,
Bob—
I
take
your
offer
kind.
“Cherry
pie
is
very
good,
So
is
currant
wine;
But
I'll
wear
my
russet
gown
And
never
dress
too
fine.”
Robin
rose
up
early,
At
the
break
of
day;
He
flew
to
Jenny
Wren's
house
To
sing
a
roundelay.
He
met
the
Cock
and
Hen,
And
blade
the
Cock
declare
This
was
his
wedding
day
With
Jenny
Wren
the
fair.
The
Cock
then
blew
his
horn,
To
let
the
neighbours
know
This
was
Robin's
wedding
day
And
they
might
see
the
show.
Then
followed
him
the
Lark,
For
he
could
sweetly
sing,
And
he
was
to
be
the
clerk
At
Cock
Robin's
wedding.
He
sang
of
Robin's
love
For
little
Jenny
Wren;
And
when
he
came
unto
the
end,
Then
he
began
again.
At
first
came
Parson
Rook,
With
spectacles
and
band;
And
one
of
Mother
Hubbard's
books
Held
within
his
hand.
The
Goldfinch
came
on
next,
To
give
away
the
bride;
The
Linnet,
being
bridesmaid,
Walked
by
Jenny's
side;
And
as
she
was
awalking,
Said,
“Upon
my
word,
I
think
that
your
Cock
Robin
Is
a
very
pretty
bird.”
The
Blackbird
and
the
Thrush,
And
charming
Nightingale,
Whose
sweet
songs
sweetly
echo
Through
every
grove
and
dale;
The
Sparrow
and
the
Tomtit,
And
many
more
were
there;
All
came
to
see
the
wedding
Of
Jenny
Wren
the
fair.
The
Bullfinch
walked
by
Robin,
And
thus
to
him
did
say:
“Pray
mark,
friend
Robin
Redbreast,
That
Goldfinch
dressed
so
gay;
“Though
her
gay
apparel
Becomes
her
very
well,
Yet
Jenny's
modest
dress
and
look
Must
bear
away
the
bell.”
Then
came
the
bride
and
bridegroom;
Quite
plainly
was
she
dressed,
And
blushed
so
much,
her
cheeks
were
As
red
as
Robin's
breast.
But
Robin
cheered
her
up;
“My
pretty
Jen,”
says
he,
“We're
going
to
be
married,
And
happy
we
shall
be.”
“Oh,”
then
says
Parson
Rook,
“Who
gives
this
maid
away?”
“I
do,”
says
the
Goldfinch,
“And
her
fortune
I
will
pay:
“Here's
a
bag
of
grain
of
many
sorts,
And
other
things
besides;
Now
happy
be
the
bridegroom,
And
happy
be
the
bride!”
“And
you
will
have
her,
Robin,
To
be
your
wedded
wife?”
“Yes
I
will,”
says
Robin,
“And
love
her
all
my
life!”
“And
you
will
have
him,
Jenny,
Your
husband
now
to
be?”
“Yes,
I
will,”
says
Jenny,
“And
love
him
heartily.”
Then
on
the
finger
fair
Cock
Robin
put
the
ring;
“You're
married
now,”
says
Parson
Rook,
While
the
lark
aloud
did
sing;
“Happy
be
the
bridegroom,
And
happy
be
the
bride!
And
may
not
man,
nor
bird,
nor
beast,
This
happy
pair
divide!”
The
birds
were
asked
to
dine;
Not
Jenny's
friends
alone,
But
every
pretty
songster
That
had
Cock
Robin
known.
They
had
a
cherry
pie,
Besides
some
currant
wine,
And
every
guest
brought
something,
That
sumptuous
they
might
dine.
Now
they
all
sat
or
stood,
To
eat
and
to
drink;
And
every
one
said
what
He
happened
to
think.
They
each
took
a
bumper,
And
drank
to
the
pair;
Cock
Robin
the
bridegroom,
And
Jenny
the
fair.
The
dinner-things
removed,
They
all
began
to
sing;
And
soon
they
made
the
place
For
a
mile
around
to
ring.
The
concert
it
was
fine,
And
every
birdie
tried
Who
best
should
sing
for
Robin
And
Jenny
Wren
the
bride.
When
in
came
the
Cuckoo,
And
made
a
great
rout;
He
caught
hold
of
Jenny,
And
pulled
her
about.
Cock
Robin
was
angry,
And
so
was
the
Sparrow,
Who
fetched
in
a
hurry
His
bow
and
his
arrow.
His
aim
then
he
took,
But
he
took
it
not
right,
His
skill
was
not
good,
Or
he
shot
in
a
fright;
For
the
Cuckoo
he
missed,
But
Cock
Robin
he
killed!—
And
all
the
birds
mourned
That
his
blood
was
so
spilled.
Mother Goose
Mother Goose is often cited as the author of hundreds of children’s stories that have been passed down through oral tradition and published over centuries. Various chants, songs, and even games have been attributed to her, but she is most recognized for her nursery rhymes, which have been familiar with readers of all generations. Her work is often published as Mother Goose Rhymes.