{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch001.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch001.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch001.htm","text":"1A.1 THERE was a lady of the North Country,\nRefrain: Lay the bent to the bonny broom\nAnd she had lovely daughters three.\nRefrain: Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re\n1A.2 There was knight of noble worth\nWhich also lived in the North.\n1A.3 The knight, of courage stout and brave,\nA wife he did desire to have.\n1A.4 He knocked at the ladie\u2019s gate\nOne evening when it was late.\n1A.5 The eldest sister let him in,\nAnd pin\u2019d the door with a silver pin.\n1A.6 The second sister she made his bed,\nAnd laid soft pillows under his head.\n1A.7 The youngest daughter that same night,\nShe went to bed to this young knight.\n1A.8 And in the morning, when it was day,\nThese words unto him she did say:\n1A.9 \u2018Now you have had your will,\u2019 quoth she,\n\u2018I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?\u2019\n1A.10 The young brave knight to her replyed,\n\u2018Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny\u2019d.\n1A.11 \u2018If thou canst answer me questions three,\nThis very day will I marry thee.\u2019\n1A.12 \u2018Kind sir, in love, O then,\u2019 quoth she,\n\u2018Tell me what your [three] questions be.\u2019\n1A.13 \u2018O what is longer than the way,\nOr what is deeper than the sea?\n1A.14 \u2018Or what is louder than the horn,\nOr what is sharper than a thorn?\n1A.15 \u2018Or what is greener than the grass,\nOr what is worse then a woman was?\u2019\n1A.16 \u2018O love is longer than the way,\nAnd hell is deeper than the sea.\n1A.17 \u2018And thunder is louder than the horn,\nAnd hunger is sharper than a thorn.\n1A.18 \u2018And poyson is greener than the grass,\nAnd the Devil is worse than woman was.\u2019\n1A.19 When she these questions answered had,\nThe knight became exceeding glad.\n1A.20 And having [truly] try\u2019d her wit,\nHe much commended her for it.\n1A.21 And after, as it is verifi\u2019d,\nHe made of her his lovely bride.\n1A.22 So now, fair maidens all, adieu,\nThis song I dedicate to you.\n1A.23 I wish that you may constant prove\nVnto the man that you do love.\n1B: Riddles Wisely Expounded\n1B.1 THERE were three sisters fair and bright,\nRefrain: Jennifer gentle and rosemaree\nAnd they three loved one valiant knight.\nRefrain: As the dew flies over the mulberry tree\n1B.2 The eldest sister let him in,\nAnd barred the door with a silver pin.\n1B.3 The second sister made his bed,\nAnd placed soft pillows under his head.\n1B.4 The youngest sister, fair and bright,\nWas resolved for to wed with this valiant knight.\n1B.5 \u2018And if you can answer questions three,\nO then, fair maid, I will marry with thee.\n1B.6 \u2018What is louder than an horn,\nAnd what is sharper than a thorn?\n1B.7 \u2018Thunder is louder than an horn,\nAnd hunger is sharper than a thorn.\u2019\n1B.8 \u2018What is broader than the way,\nAnd what is deeper than the sea?\u2019\n1B.9 \u2018Love is broader than the way,\nAnd hell is deeper than the sea.\u2019\n* * * * *\n1B.10 . . . . .\n\u2018And now, fair maid, I will marry with thee.\u2019\n1C: Riddles Wisely Expounded\n1C.1 THERE was a knicht riding frae the east,\nRefrain: Sing the Cather banks, the bonnie brume\nWha had been wooing at monie a place.\nRefrain: And ye may beguile a young thing sune\n1C.2 He came unto a widow\u2019s door,\nAnd speird whare her three dochters were.\n1C.3 The auldest ane\u2019s to a washing gane,\nThe second\u2019s to a baking gane.\n1C.4 The youngest ane\u2019s to a wedding gane,\nAnd it will be nicht or she be hame.\n1C.5 He sat him doun upon a stane,\nTill thir three lasses came tripping hame.\n1C.6 The auldest ane\u2019s to the bed making,\nAnd the second ane\u2019s to the sheet spreading.\n1C.7 The youngest ane was bauld and bricht,\nAnd she was to lye with this unco knicht.\n1C.8 \u2018Gin ye will answer me questions ten,\nThe morn ye sall be made my ain.\n1C.9 \u2018O what is heigher nor the tree?\nAnd what is deeper nor the sea?\n1C.10 \u2018Or what is heavier nor the lead?\nAnd what is better nor the breid?\n1C.11 \u2018O what is whiter nor the milk?\nOr what is safter nor the silk?\n1C.12 \u2018Or what is sharper nor a thorn?\nOr what is louder nor a horn?\n1C.13 \u2018Or what is greener nor the grass?\nOr what is waur nor a woman was?\u2019\n1C.14 \u2018O heaven is higher nor the tree,\nAnd hell is deeper nor the sea.\n1C.15 \u2018O sin is heavier nor the lead,\nThe blessing\u2019s better nor the bread.\n1C.16 \u2018The snaw is whiter nor the milk,\nAnd the down is safter nor the silk.\n1C.17 \u2018Hunger is sharper nor a thorn,\nAnd shame is louder nor a horn.\n1C.18 \u2018The pies are greener nor the grass,\nAnd Clootie\u2019s waur nor a woman was.\u2019\n1C.19 As sune as she the fiend did name,\nHe flew awa in a blazing flame.\n1D: Riddles Wisely Expounded\n1D.1 \u2018O WHAT is higher than the trees?\nRefrain: Gar lay the bent to the bonny broom\nAnd what is deeper than the seas?\nRefrain: And you may beguile a fair maid soon\n1D.2 \u2018O what is whiter than the milk?\nOr what is softer than the silk?\n1D.3 \u2018O what is sharper than the thorn?\nO what is louder than the horn?\n1D.4 \u2018O what is longer than the way?\nAnd what is colder than the clay?\n1D.5 \u2018O what is greener than the grass?\nAnd what is worse than woman was?\u2019\n1D.6 \u2018O heaven\u2019s higher than the trees,\nAnd hell is deeper than the seas.\n1D.7 \u2018And snow is whiter than the milk,\nAnd love is softer than the silk.\n1D.8 \u2018O hunger\u2019s sharper than the thorn,\nAnd thunder\u2019s louder than the horn.\n1D.9 \u2018O wind is longer than the way,\nAnd death is colder than the clay.\n1D.10 \u2018O poison\u2019s greener than the grass,\nAnd the Devil\u2019s worse than eer woman was.\u2019\n1[E]: Riddles Wisely Expounded\n1[E.1] There was a lady in the West,\nRefrain: Lay the bank with the bonny broom\n1[E.1] She had three daughters of the best.\nRefrain: Fa lang the dillo\nFa lang the dillo dillo dee\n1[E.2] There came a stranger to the gate,\nAnd he three days and nights did wait.\n1[E.3] The eldest daughter did ope the door,\nThe second set him on the floor.\n1[E.4] The third daughter she brought a chair,\nAnd placed it that he might sit there.\n1[E.5] \u2018Now answer me these questions three,\nOr you shall surely go with me.\n1[E.6] \u2018Now answer me these questions six,\nOr you shall surely be Old Nick\u2019s.\n1[E.7] \u2018Now answer me these questions nine,\nOr youe shall surely all be mine.\n1[E.8] \u2018What is greener than the grass?\nWhat is smoother than crystal glass?\n1[E.9] \u2018What is louder than a horn?\nWhat is sharper than a thorn?\n1[E.10] \u2018What is brighter than the light?\nWhat is darker than the night?\n1[E.11] \u2018What is keener than an axe?\nWhat is softer than melting wax?\n1[E.12] \u2018What is rounder than a ring?\u2019\n\u2018To you we thus our answers bring.\n1[E.13] \u2018Envy is greener than the grass,\nFlattery smoother than crystal glass.\n1[E.14] \u2018Rumour is louder than a horn,\nHunger is sharper than a thorn.\n1[E.15] \u2018Truth is brighter than the light,\nFalsehood is darker than the night.\n1[E.16] \u2018Revenge is keener than an axe,\nLove is softer than melting wax.\n1[E.17] \u2018The world is rounder than a ring,\nTo you we thus our answers bring.\n1[E.18] \u2018Thus you have our answers nine,\nAnd we never shall be thine.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 1. Riddles Wisely Expounded","type":"page"}