The English and Scottish Popular Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

Part I.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

A Noble Riddle Wisely Expounded; or, The Maid's Answer to the Knight's Three Questions

RIDDLES WISELY EXPOUNDED—A

[_]

a. Broadside in the Rawlinson collection, 4to, 566, fol. 193, Wood, E. 25, fol. 15. b. Pepys, iii, 19, No 17. c. Douce, ii, fol. 168 b. d. Pills to Purge Melancholy, iv, 130, ed. 1719.

1

There was a lady of the North Country,
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
And she had lovely daughters three.
Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re

2

There was a knight of noble worth
Which also lived in the North.

3

The knight, of courage stout and brave,
A wife he did desire to have.

4

He knocked at the ladie's gate
One evening when it was late.

5

The eldest sister let him in,
And pin'd the door with a silver pin.

6

The second sister she made his bed,
And laid soft pillows under his head.

7

The youngest daughter that same night,
She went to bed to this young knight.

8

And in the morning, when it was day,
These words unto him she did say:

9

‘Now you have had your will,’ quoth she,
‘I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?’

10

The young brave knight to her replyed,
‘Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny'd.

11

‘If thou canst answer me questions three,
This very day will I marry thee.’

12

‘Kind sir, in love, O then,’ quoth she,
‘Tell me what your [three] questions be.’

13

‘O what is longer than the way,
Or what is deeper than the sea?

14

‘Or what is louder than the horn,
Or what is sharper than a thorn?

15

‘Or what is greener than the grass,
Or what is worse then a woman was?’

16

‘O love is longer than the way,
And hell is deeper than the sea.

17

‘And thunder is louder than the horn,
And hunger is sharper than a thorn.

18

‘And poyson is greener than the grass,
And the Devil is worse than woman was.’

19

When she these questions answered had,
The knight became exceeding glad.

20

And having [truly] try'd her wit,
He much commended her for it.

21

And after, as it is verifi'd,
He made of her his lovely bride.

22

So now, fair maidens all, adieu,
This song I dedicate to you.

23

I wish that you may constant prove
Vnto the man that you do love.