The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
RIDDLES WISELY EXPOUNDED—E
1
There was a lady in the West,Lay the bank with the bonny broom
She had three daughters of the best.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee
2
There came a stranger to the gate,And he three days and nights did wait.
3
The eldest daughter did ope the door,The second set him on the floor.
4
The third daughter she brought a chair,And placed it that he might sit there.
5
‘Now answer me these questions three,Or you shall surely go with me.
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‘Now answer me these questions six,Or you shall surely be Old Nick's.
7
‘Now answer me these questions nine,Or you shall surely all be mine.
8
‘What is greener than the grass?What is smoother than crystal glass?
9
‘What is louder than a horn?What is sharper than a thorn?
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‘What is brighter than the light?What is darker than the night?
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‘What is keener than an axe?What is softer than melting wax?
12
‘What is rounder than a ring?’‘To you we thus our answers bring.
13
‘Envy is greener than the grass,Flattery smoother than crystal glass.
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‘Rumour is louder than a horn,Hunger is sharper than a thorn.
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‘Truth is brighter than the light,Falsehood is darker than the night.
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‘Revenge is keener than an axe,Love is softer than melting wax.
17
‘The world is rounder than a ring,To you we thus our answers bring.
18
‘Thus you have our answers nine,And we never shall be thine.’
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||