Review Exercise - Vowels⁽¹⁾
 

As I was going to St. Ives1 As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives, Each wife had seven sacks, Each sack had seven cats, Each cat had seven kits2, Kits, cats, sack, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble There are witches standing around a boiling pot. Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron7 bubble . . . For a charm8 of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth9 boil and bubble.

 

Arabic Proverb He who knows, and knows he knows, He is wise - follow him. He who knows, and knows not he knows, He is asleep - wake him. He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, He is a fool - shun10 him. He who knows not, and knows he knows not, He is a child - teach him.

The Night Owl The owl looked down with great round eyes At the low clouds and the dark skies, "A good night for scouting3," says he, "With never a sound I'll go prowling around4. A mouse or two may be found on the ground Or a fat little bird in a tree." So down he flew from the old church tower, The mouse and the birdie crouch5 and cower6, Back he flies in half an hour, "A very good supper," says he.

¹St. Ives: a town in England.
²kit: and old word for "kitten."
³scouting: exploring.
⁴prowling around: searching here and there.
⁵crouch: bend down.
⁶cower: crouch in fear.
⁷cauldron: large cooking pot.
⁸charm: magic power.
⁹hell-broth: a liquid from hell, evil.
¹⁰shun: turn away from.

1. ¹adapted from Pronouncing American English, Orion (Newbury House), pp. 99, 107, 135, 156.