Tweedledum and Tweedledee

The first known mention of Tweedledum and Tweedledee is found in an epigram (1727) by John Byrom. It targets the rivalry of two composers &mdash; Georg Friedrich Händel and Giovanni Battista Bononcini &mdash; in the London of the 1720s.

The pair appears again in a nursery rhyme (printed around 1805) which may (or may not) have been old enough to be known to Byrom.

This rhyme is now worldwide well-known because Lewis Carroll included it in his second Alice book Through the Looking-Glass (1871) (Chapter IV. Tweedledum and Tweedldee).

The epigram (1927)
An Epigram on the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini

Some say, compared to Bononcini That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny; Others aver that he to Handel Is scarceley fit to hold a candle; Strange all this difference should be 'Twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee.

The nursery rhyme
Tweedledum and Tweedledee Agreed to have a battle For Tweedledum said Tweedledee Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow, As black as a tar-barrel; Which frightened both the heroes so, They quite forgot their quarrel.