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editor didn't know that John married two women named Isabella. Presumably they mean his younger, second French wife.
 
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{{short description|Nursery rhyme}}
{{short description|English nursery rhyme}}
{{about|the nursery rhyme|the character in the works of Jasper Fforde|Jack Spratt (fictional detective)|other uses}}
{{about|the nursery rhyme|the character in the works of Jasper Fforde|Jack Spratt (fictional detective)|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Jack Sprat
| name = Jack Sprat
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| written =
| written =
| published = 1639
| published = 1639
| writer =appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings
| writer = Appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings
| composer =
| composer =
| lyricist =
| lyricist =
}}
}}
'''"Jack Sprat"''' (or '''"Jack Spratt"''') is an [[English language]] [[nursery rhyme]]. It has a [[Roud Folk Song Index]] number of 19479.
"'''Jack Sprat'''" (or "'''Jack Spratt'''") is an [[English language]] [[nursery rhyme]]. It has a [[Roud Folk Song Index]] number of 19479.


==Rhyme==
==Rhyme==
The most common modern version of the rhyme is:<ref name=Opie1997>{{cite book | last1 = Opie | first1 = I. | last2 = Opie | first2 = P. | title = The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes | publisher = Oxford University Press | origyear = 1951 | edition = 2nd | year = 1997 | page = 238 | author-link1 = Iona Opie | author-link2 = Peter Opie }}</ref>
The most common modern version of the rhyme is:<ref name=Opie1997>{{cite book | last1 = Opie | first1 = I. | last2 = Opie | first2 = P. | title = The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes | publisher = Oxford University Press | orig-year = 1951 | edition = 2nd | year = 1997 | page = 238 | author-link1 = Iona Opie | author-link2 = Peter Opie }}</ref>


{{poemquote|
{{poemquote|
Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
His wife could eat no lean.
And so between them both, you see,
But, together both,
They licked the platter clean.
They licked the platter clean.
}}
}}


==Origins==
==Origins==
The name Jack Sprat was used of people of small stature in the sixteenth century.<ref name=Opie1997/> This rhyme was an English [[proverb]] from at least the mid-seventeenth century.<ref name=Opie1997/> It appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings in 1639 in the form:<ref name=Opie1997/>
The name "Jack Sprat" was used of people of small stature in the 16th century.<ref name=Opie1997/> This rhyme became an English [[proverb]] from at least the mid-17th century.<ref name=Opie1997/> It appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings in 1639 in the form:<ref name=Opie1997/>


⚫
As with many nursery rhymes, ''Jack Sprat'' may have originated as a satire on a public figure: history writer Linda Alchin suggests that Jack was [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]], who was left "lean" when parliament denied him taxation, but with his queen [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]] he was free to "lick the platter clean" after he dissolved parliament—Charles was a notably short man.<ref name="Alchin">{{cite book |last1=Alchin |first1=Linda |title=Secret History of Nursery Rhymes |date=2004 |isbn=9780956748621 |page=55}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Stroud |first1=Angus |title=Stuart England |date=1999 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415206525 |chapter=The Accession of Charles 1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/stuartengland0000stro }}</ref> An alternative explanation comes from the popular [[Robin Hood]] legend, applying it to the disliked [[John, King of England|King John]] and his greedy queen [[Isabella of Angouleme|Isabella]].<ref name="Alchin"/>
{{poemquote|
{{poemquote|
Jack will eat not fat, and Jull doth love no leane.
Jack will eat not fat, and Jull doth love no leane.
Yet betwixt them both they lick the dishes cleane.
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 [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]], who was left "lean" when parliament denied him taxation, but with his queen [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]] he was free to "lick the platter clean" after he dissolved parliament—Charles was a notably short man.<ref name="Alchin">{{cite book |last1=Alchin |first1=Linda |title=Secret History of Nursery Rhymes |date=2004 |isbn=9780956748621 |page=55|publisher=Linda Alchin }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Stroud |first1=Angus |title=Stuart England |date=1999 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415206525 |chapter=The Accession of Charles 1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/stuartengland0000stro }}</ref> An alternative explanation comes from the popular [[Robin Hood]] legend, applying it to the disliked [[John, King of England|King John]] and his greedy queen [[Isabella of Angouleme|Isabella]].<ref name="Alchin"/>

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.<ref name=Opie1997/>
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.<ref name=Opie1997/>


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[[Category:Songs about fictional male characters]]
[[Category:Songs about fictional male characters]]
[[Category:English nursery rhymes]]
[[Category:English nursery rhymes]]
[[Category:Roud Folk Song Index songs]]

Latest revision as of 21:46, 2 May 2024

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"
Jack Sprat and his wife by Frederick Richardson
Nursery rhyme
Published1639
Songwriter(s)Appeared in John Clarke's collection of sayings

"Jack Sprat" (or "Jack Spratt") is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19479.

Rhyme

[edit]

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.

Origins

[edit]

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]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Opie, I.; Opie, P. (1997) [1951]. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 238.
  2. ^ a b Alchin, Linda (2004). Secret History of Nursery Rhymes. Linda Alchin. p. 55. ISBN 9780956748621.
  3. ^ Stroud, Angus (1999). "The Accession of Charles 1". Stuart England. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415206525.
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