{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/nes/nes19.htm","path":"neu/celt/nes/nes19.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/nes/nes19.htm","text":"\"Two brothers dear,\n Two sisters' sons are we,\n Our father's our grandfather,\n And whose sons are we?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Lot's.\"\nAs I leukit our my father's castle wa\u2019,\n I saw a bunch o\u2019 waans,\n An nae ane can coont them but God's ain han\u2019s?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The hair of the head.\"\n\"As I leukit our ma father's castle,\n I saw a bodie stanin;\n I took aff's head and drank's bleed,\n And left's body stanin?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A bottle.\"\n\"It's lang an its roon,\n An its as black's coal,\n Wi\u2019 a lang and a plump hole?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A bottle.\"\n\"An it's naither Peg, Meg, nor Margit\n Its my true love's name;\n An it's naither Peg, Meg, nor Margit,\n An thrice I've told her name?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Ann.\"\n\"As I went to Westminster school,\n I met a Westminster scholar,\n He pulled off his hat\n And drew off his gloves,\n And I have told you the name of the scholar?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Andrew.\"\n\"There wiz a king met a king\n In a narrow lane,\n Said the king to the king,\n 'Where hae ye been?'\n 'I hae been where ye hae been,\n Huntin at the roe.'\n 'Will ye lend me yir dog?'\n 'Yes, I will do so.\n Call upon him, call upon him.'\n 'What is his name?'\n 'I have told you twice,\n And I will tell you again?'\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Bean.\"\n\"Caul kail, aul\u2019 kail,\n Nine days' aul\u2019 kail,\n Boilt in a pot, fried in a pan,\n Spell ye that wi\u2019 four letters if ye can?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"That.\"\n\"Aberdeen and Aberdour,\n Spell that in letters four?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"That.\"\n\"There was a man raid through this toon--\n Gray Thistle was his name;\n His girth was gold, his bridle bold,\n And thrice I've told his name?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Was.\"\nThe minister an the schoolmaister\n An maister Andrew Lamb\n Geed oot t\u2019 view the gairden\n Fahr three pears hang;\n Ilky ane pu\u2019d a pear\n An still twa hang?\"\n\"The minister and the elder and lang John Lamb\n Geed a' till a pear tree\n Where three pears hang,\n And ilky ane pu'd a pear\n And still twa pears hang?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"John Lamb is both minister and elder.\"\n\"Three hail cakes,\n Three half cakes,\n Three quarters o\u2019 anither,\n Atween the piper and his wife\n And the fiddler and his mither.\n Divide without breaking the cakes?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The piper's wife is the fiddler's mother.\"\n\"Ten teeth withoot a tongue,\n It is gueede sport t\u2019 aul\u2019 an young;\n Take it oot o\u2019ts yallow fleece\n An kittle\u2019t on the belly piece?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A fiddle.\"\n\"As I went to the school alone\n I found a little pennerie;\n \u2019Twas painted oot, \u2019twas painted in,\n \u2019Twas painted our wi\u2019 poverty:\n \u2019T would kill a bull, I would kill a bear,\n \u2019T would kill a thousand men and mehr?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Hunger.\"\n\"Humpity Dumpity sat on a wall,\n Humpity Dumpity got a great fall,\n The king wi\u2019 a' his men\n Cudna lift Humpity Dumpity again?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"An egg.\"\n\"I think you live beneath a roof\n That is upheld by me;\n I think you seldom walk abroad,\n But my fair form you see;\n I close you in on every side,\n Your very dwelling pave,\n And probably I'll go with you\n At last into the grave?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Wood.\"\n\"There wiz a man bespoke a coat.\n When the maker it home did bring,\n The man who made it would not have it,\n The man who spoke for\u2019t cudna use it,\n And the man who wore it cudna tell\n Whether it suited him ill or well?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A coffin.\"\n\"It's as roon as a mill-wheel,\n An luggit like a cat;\n Though ye sud clatter a\u2019 day,\n Ye\u2019d never clatter that?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A tub.\"\n\"A countrie loon cam doon the toon\n Wi\u2019 three feet up and twa feet doon,\n Wi\u2019 the moo of the livin an the head o\u2019 the dead,\n Come tell me my riddle an I'll gee ye ma head?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A boy with a pot on his head.\"\n\"Three feet eemist, cauld an deed,\n Twa feet nethmest, flesh an bleed;\n The head o\u2019 the livin\n An the mou o\u2019 the deed?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A man with a metal pot on his head.\"\n\"Pee\u00a0pee pattie,\n Three feet an a timmer hattie?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A pot with a wooden cover.\"\n\"Father, mother, sister, brother,\n A\u2019 lies in ae bed,\n An diz na touch each other?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The bars of a grate.\"\n\"Chick, chick, cherry,\n A\u2019 the men in Kirry,\n Cudna clam chick, chick-cherry?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Smoke.\"\n\"As I geed t\u2019 ma father's fehst\n I saw a great notorious behst\n Wi\u2019 ten tails an forty feet,\n An aye the behst crape oot an eat?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A ten-ousen pleugh.\"\n\"Hairy oot, an hairy in,\n His the hair but wints the skin?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A hairy rope.\"\n\"As I leukit our ma father's castle wa'\n A saw the dead carryin the livin awa?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A ship.\"\n\"A riddle, a riddle, a rot tot\u00a0tot,\n I met a man wi\u2019 a red, red coat,\n A staff in han\u2019 an a stehn in\u2019s throat,\n Come, tell me my riddle an a\u2019ll gee you a groat?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A cherry.\"\n\"It's as fite\u2019s milk,\n It's as saft\u2019s silk,\n It hiz a beard like a buck,\n An a tail cocking up?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"An onion.\"\n\"Hobbity-bobbity sits on this side o\u2019 the burn,\n Hobbity-bobbity sits on that side o\u2019 the burn,\n An gehn ye touch hobbity-bobbity,\n Hobbity-bobbity \u2019ill bite you?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A nettle.\"\n\"Robbie-Stobbie on this side o\u2019 the dyke,\n Robbie-Stobbie on that side o\u2019 the dyke,\n An gehn ye touch Robbie-Stobbie,\n Robbie-Stobbie \u2019ill bite ye?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A nettle.\"\n\"Reddicy roddichy rins on the dyke,\n Keep awa\u2019 yir clockin hen,\n I carena for yir tyke?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A worm.\"\n\"Lang man legless\n Cam till my door staffless,\n Hand awa\u2019 yir cocks an hens,\n Yir dogs an cats I fehr na?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A worm.\"\n\"It sits high\n An cries sair,\n Hiz the head,\n Bit wints the hair?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The town clock.\"\n\"It's as roon\u2019s the meen\n An as clear\u2019s crystal,\n In ye dinna tell me ma riddle\n A\u2019ll shot ye wi\u2019 ma pistal?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A watch,\"\n\"There wiz a thing of four weeks old\n When Adam was no more,\n And ere that thing was five months old\n Adam was four score?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The moon.\"\n\"Fite bird featherless,\n Flew oot o\u2019 Paradise,\n An lichtit on yon castle wa\u2019,\n An Lord Lan\u2019less\n Took it up han\u2019less,\n An raid awa\u2019 horseless?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A snowflake.\"\n\"Bank-fou an brae-fou,\n Though ye gaither a\u2019 day,\n Ye winna gaither a stoup-fou?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Mist.\"\n\"Oot atween twa woods, and in atween twa waters?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A woman going to fetch water in two wooden pails.\"\n\"What is it that goes out black, and comes in white?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A black cow on a snowy day.\"\n\"Dee ye ken fuh Scatterty's cat winna eat salmon?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Because she canna get it.\"\n\"At what season of the year are there most holes in the ground?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"In autumn, when the crop is all cut.\"\nSpell withered girss wi\u2019 three letters?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Hay.\"\n\"What is neither in the house, nor out of the house, and still is about the house?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A window.\"\n\"What prophet was with Adam in Paradise and with Noah in the Ark?--He does not believe in the Resurrection, but he does not deny a word of the Christian faith.\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The cock.\"\n\"What is it that gangs wi\u2019ts hehd down?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"A nail in a horse's shoe.\"\nWhere did Noah strike the first nail of the ark?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"On the head.\"\n\"Faht twa black things is\u2019t it lies at your bedside an gapes for your behns?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Your shoes.\"\n\"Faht is\u2019t gangs our an our the water an never touches it?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Your shadow.\"\nWould ye raither lie on a bed o\u2019 bibbles or a bed of scarlet?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The bed of scarlet means hell.\"\n\"Faht's the difference between a black doo an a fitan?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Fitan is the whiting, the fish.\"\nHow many toad's tails wid it need to gang t\u2019 the meen?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Ane, gehn it be lang eneuch.\"\n\"Faht is\u2019t that grows wi\u2019 its head down?\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"An icicle.\"","title":"Folk-lore of the North-East of Scotland: Chapter XVI. Riddles","type":"page"}