Many people associate nursery rhymes with reading happy stories to children, or remember being children themselves and chanting them while they play.
許多人把童謠和讀歡樂的故事給孩子聽聯(lián)系在一起，或者想起自己的孩提時代，一邊吟誦一邊玩。

However, the popular explanations for the origins of several English nursery rhymes shows that they may be more complex.
然而，普遍解釋說不少英語童謠起源可能更復(fù)雜。

1. Baa Baa Black Sheep: Feudal Taxes
1.《黑綿羊咩咩叫:封建稅收》

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
黑綿羊咩咩叫，你有沒有羊毛?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
有有有，先生，我有整整三袋毛!

One for the master, one for the dame
一袋送給男主人，一袋送給女主人

But none for the little boy who cries down the lane.
一袋也不送給巷子里住著的小男孩兒

-OR
-或

And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. (Changes to be more suitable for children.

一袋送給巷子里住著的小男孩兒（這么改更適合孩子）

Baa Baa Black Sheep was first published in 1744. However, most scholars claim that this rhyme is based on the reality of life in feudal times in England in general.

《黑綿羊咩咩叫》最初1744年發(fā)表。然而，多數(shù)學(xué)者聲稱這首童謠是根據(jù)英格蘭封建時代普遍的現(xiàn)實生活而寫。

2. Mary Mary Quite Contrary: A Cruel or Tragic Queen
2.《瑪麗，截然相反的瑪麗:殘酷悲慘的女王》

Mary Mary quite contrary,
瑪麗，截然不同的瑪麗，

How does your garden grow?
你的花園怎樣了？

With silver bells and cockle shells
銀色的鈴鐺和貝殼，

And pretty maids all in a row
漂亮女傭排成行。

According to some researchers Mary Mary, published in 1744, refers to "Bloody Mary," Mary Tudor. Mary Tudor was a strict Catholic and during her reign from 1553-1558 her garden (a graveyard) grew as many protestants were executed for not converting to Catholicism.
研究者稱1744年出版的瑪麗瑪麗指的是“血腥瑪麗”----瑪麗·都鐸?，旣悺ざ艰I是嚴格的天主教徒,在其1553年至1558年統(tǒng)治年間，她的花園（墓地）不斷擴張，因為許多清教徒由于不愿皈依天主教被處決。

3. Goosey, Goosey, Gander: Religious Persecution/an Obligation to Pray
3.《鵝，鵝，鵝：宗教迫害/祈禱的義務(wù)》

Goosey, goosey, gander,
鵝，鵝，鵝

Whither dost thou wander?
你去哪里晃？

Upstairs and downstairs
樓上，樓下

And in my lady's chamber.
在我女主人的房間里

There I met an old man
后來我遇到了一個老人

Who wouldn't say his prayers;
他不愿說他祈語;

I took him by the left leg,
我抓了他的左腿

And threw him down the stairs
把他扔進了樓道

First published in 1784, Goosey, Goosey, Gander also refers to the Catholic persecution in the 16th century.
最初1784年發(fā)表，《鵝媽媽歌謠那點事》也指16世紀天主教迫害。

Another interpretation suggests that this rhyme may simply be a warning by its creator for listeners/readers to pray or they will receive unfortunate consequences.
另一種詮釋稱這一歌謠是作者警告聽眾/讀者去祈禱，否則會遭遇不幸。

4. Humpty Dumpty: A Heavy Person Or a Cannon
4.《矮胖子：胖胖的人、大炮》

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
矮胖子騎墻上

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
矮胖子摔了下來

All the King's horses, And all the King's men
所有君王的人馬

Couldn't put Humpty together again!
再也無法把矮胖子復(fù)原

Humpty Dumpty (published in 1799) also has two possible meanings. A "Humpty Dumpty" is claimed to be a nickname used in the fifteenth century for an overweight person.
《矮胖子》（發(fā)表于1799年）也有雙重意思?！鞍肿印睋?jù)稱是十五世紀用來稱呼體重過大的人士。

The second explanation for the rhyme states that Humpty was the nickname of a cannon used by the army of King Charles I to capture Colchester in the English Civil War.
第二個解釋稱《矮胖子》歌謠是大炮的昵稱，查爾斯一世英國內(nèi)戰(zhàn)期間軍隊逮捕科爾切斯特時所用。

5. Jack and Jill - Liquid Measures and Beheaded Royalty
5.《杰克和吉爾：酒令和被斬首的皇室》

Jack and Jill went up the hill,
杰克和吉爾上了山

To fetch a pail of water.
取回一桶水

Jack fell down,
杰克摔了下來

And broke his crown;
摔壞了皇冠

And Jill came tumbling after.
吉爾跟著滾了下來

Scholars have provided two main beliefs regarding the origins of Jack and Jill, which was published in 1765. The more devious version of the rhyme refers to the beheading of France's Louis XVI (Jack) and Marie Antoinette (Jill), with the French royalty gaining status "up the hill" first and later their execution as Jack breaks his crown and Jill tumbles after.
學(xué)者就 1765年發(fā)表的《杰克和吉爾》的起源提供了兩種主要觀點。較為冷僻的童謠版本指法國國王路易十六（杰克）和瑪麗·安托瓦內(nèi)特的斬首，法國皇室先“上山”，地位上升，后來被正法，因為杰克毀壞了皇冠，吉爾接著滾了下去。

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