1
Many ages ago, it was common, I find
For dumb creatures to talk just as well as mankind:
Birds and Beasts met together t’arrange their affairs;
Nay! the Frogs of the day, must needs give themselves airs,
And apeing their betters, not pleas’d with their station,
talk’d of having a King to rule over their Nation.
2
In these curious days, it did raise no surprise
(though now t’would make ev’ry one open their eyes)
that three Bears, very sick of their woods and their den
should fancy a home ‘mongst the dwellings of men;
So not caring a fig for what anyone said,
they brought a large house already furnished
opening of “the story of the three bears”
Eleanor Mure
1831
(possibly the first printed version of ‘Goldilocks and the three bears’.)
NB - In this historical variant there is no Goldilocks - but an old lady neighbour - who breaks in after being refused entry. She doesn’t sleep in the beds - but hides in a wardrobe when the bears return - who upon her discovery throw her in the fire but she doesn’t burn and then drown her in water but she doesn’t drown!
