The most common modern version of the rhyme is:[1]
Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean. And so between them both, you see, They licked the platter clean.
Originsedit
The name "Jack Sprat" was used of people of small stature in the 16th century.[1] This rhyme became an English proverb from at least the mid-17th century.[1] It appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings in 1639 in the form:[1]
Jack will eat not fat, and Jull doth love no leane. Yet betwixt them both they lick the dishes cleane.
Like many nursery rhymes, "Jack Sprat" may have originated as a satire on a public figure. History writer Linda Alchin suggests that Jack was King Charles I, who was left "lean" when parliament denied him taxation, but with his queen Henrietta Maria he was free to "lick the platter clean" after he dissolved parliament—Charles was a notably short man.[2][3] An alternative explanation comes from the popular Robin Hood legend, applying it to the disliked King John and his greedy queen Isabella.[2]
The saying entered the canon of English nursery rhymes when it was printed in Mother Goose's Melody around 1765, but it may have been adopted for use with children much earlier.[1]
Notesedit
^ abcdeOpie, I.; Opie, P. (1997) [1951]. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 238.
^ abAlchin, Linda (2004). Secret History of Nursery Rhymes. Linda Alchin. p. 55. ISBN9780956748621.
^Stroud, Angus (1999). "The Accession of Charles 1". Stuart England. Routledge. ISBN978-0415206525.
December 15, 2023
jack, sprat, this, article, about, nursery, rhyme, character, works, jasper, fforde, fictional, detective, other, uses, disambiguation, english, language, nursery, rhyme, roud, folk, song, index, number, 19479, wife, frederick, richardsonnursery, rhymepublishe. This article is about the nursery rhyme For the character in the works of Jasper Fforde see Jack Spratt fictional detective For other uses see Jack Sprat disambiguation Jack Sprat or Jack Spratt is an English language nursery rhyme It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19479 Jack Sprat Jack Sprat and his wife by Frederick RichardsonNursery rhymePublished1639Songwriter s Appeared in John Clarke s collection of sayingsRhyme editThe most common modern version of the rhyme is 1 Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so between them both you see They licked the platter clean Origins editThe name Jack Sprat was used of people of small stature in the 16th century 1 This rhyme became an English proverb from at least the mid 17th century 1 It appeared in John Clarke s collection of sayings in 1639 in the form 1 Jack will eat not fat and Jull doth love no leane Yet betwixt them both they lick the dishes cleane Like many nursery rhymes Jack Sprat may have originated as a satire on a public figure History writer Linda Alchin suggests that Jack was King Charles I who was left lean when parliament denied him taxation but with his queen Henrietta Maria he was free to lick the platter clean after he dissolved parliament Charles was a notably short man 2 3 An alternative explanation comes from the popular Robin Hood legend applying it to the disliked King John and his greedy queen Isabella 2 The saying entered the canon of English nursery rhymes when it was printed in Mother Goose s Melody around 1765 but it may have been adopted for use with children much earlier 1 Notes edit a b c d e Opie I Opie P 1997 1951 The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes 2nd ed Oxford University Press p 238 a b Alchin Linda 2004 Secret History of Nursery Rhymes Linda Alchin p 55 ISBN 9780956748621 Stroud Angus 1999 The Accession of Charles 1 Stuart England Routledge ISBN 978 0415206525 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jack Sprat amp oldid 1169926985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
