Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up got Jack, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
He went to bed and bound his head
With vinegar and brown paper

One popular interpretation is that the rhyme represents two men Jack and Gill, as there is no historic evidence or reference to any girl!

When Western Europe split into two sectors namely The Holy Roman Empire and France, Cardinal Wolsey (Jack) and Bishop Tarbes (Gill) attempted for a negotiation and peace.

But they failed miserably in their mission. A full scale war erupted. This rhyme is thought to be a parody of their uphill task for peace and their subsequent failure.

Another story goes thus: Jack and Jill represent the King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette. Jack lost his crown denotes that the King was beheaded. Jill came tumbling after denoted that the Queen too shared the same fate and followed the King.

The actual beheading took place in The Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication of this rhyme was in 1795, fitting well with the historical dates and fates.

Visalakshi Ramani