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Shawords

Quote#Nature

On a tree by a river a little tomtit

Quote byW. S. Gilbert · 1836–1911

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919), The Suicide's Grave (from The Mikado)..

English (original)

On a tree by a river a little tomtit Sang "Willow, titwillow, titwillow" And I said to him, "Dicky-bird, why do you sit Singing ‘Willow, titwillow, titwillow?'. "Is it weakness of intellect, birdie?" I cried, "Or a rather tough worm in your little inside?" With a shake of his poor little head he replied, "Oh, Willow, titwillow, titwillow!"

— W. S. Gilbert

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