Perry, Merry, Dictum, Domini- Norcross (VT) c.1920
[My Title. Flanders Ancient Ballads, 1966. Zelta was born in 1908 and I'm assuming she learned this by 1920 and certainly it was known in the 1800s by her grandfather.
R. Matteson 2014]
II. Sung by Miss Zelta Norcross in Stowe, Vermont, as one of her grandfather's songs. Her grandfather was born in 1839 and always liaed in Waterbury, Vermont. H. H. F., Collector July 24, 1955.
Perry, Merry, Dictum, Domini
I have four brothers over the sea,
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
They each sent a present unto me.
Partum, quartum, perry, dicentum,
Perry, merry dictum, domini.
The first sent a chicken without any bones.
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
The second sent a cherry without any stones.
Partum, quartum, perry, dicentum,
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
The third sent a blanket without any thread.
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
The fourth sent a book which could not be read.
Partum, quartum, perry, dicentum,
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
When the chicken's in the egg it has no bones.
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
When the cherry's in the blossom, it has no stones.
Partum, quartum, perry, dicentum,
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
When the blanket's in the loom, it has no thread.
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.
When the book's in the press it cannot be read.
Partum, quartum, perry, dicentum,
Perry, merry, dictum, domini.