A NOBLE RIDDLE
Wisely Expounded:OR,
The Maids answer to the Knights three Questions.
She with her excellent wit and Civil carriage,
Won a young Knight to joyn with her in Marriage;
This gallant Couple now is Man and Wife,
And she with him doth lead a pleasant life.
Tune is, Lay the bent to the bonny broom.
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THere was a Lady of the North-Country
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lay the bent to the bonny broom,
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And she had lovely Daughters three,
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fa la la la, fa la la la ra re.
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There was a Knight of Noble worth,
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lay the bent, etc.
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Which also lived in the North,
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fa la, etc.
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The Knight of Courage stout and brave,
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lay the bent, etc.
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A wife he did desire to have,
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fa la, etc.
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He knocked at the Ladies Gate,
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lay the bent, etc.
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One Evening when it was late;
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fa la, etc.
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The youngest Sister let him in,
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lay the bent, etc.
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And pin'd the door with a Silver pin;
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fa la, etc.
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The second Sister she made his bed,
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lay the bent, etc.
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And laid soft Pillows under his head,
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fa la, etc.
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The youngest that same night,
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lay the bent, etc.
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She went to bed to this young Knight,
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fa la, etc.
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And in the Morning when it was day,
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lay the bent, etc.
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These words unto him she did say:
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fa la, etc.
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Now you have had your will (quoth she,
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lay the bent, etc.
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I pray sir Knight will you Marry me,
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fa la, etc.
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The young brave Knight to her reply'd,
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lay the bent, etc.
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Thy suit fair Maid shall not be deny'd,
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fa la, etc.
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IF thou canst answer me questions three,
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lay the bent, etc.
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This very day I will marry thee:
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fa la, etc.
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Kind Sir, in Love, O then quoth she,
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lay the bent, etc.
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Tell me what your three questions be,
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fa la, etc.
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O what is longer then the way?
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lay the bent etc.
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Or what his deeper then the Sea,
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fa la, etc.
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Or what is louder then the Horn?
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lay the bent, etc.
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Or what his sharper then a thorn?
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fa la, etc.
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Or what is greener then the Grass?
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lay the bent, etc.
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Or what is worse then a woman was:
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fa la, etc.
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Here followeth the Damsels Answer
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to the Knights three Questions.
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O Love is longer then the way,
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lay the bent, etc.
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And Hell is deeper then the Sea,
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fa la, etc.
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And thunder's louder than the horn,
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lay the bent, etc.
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And Hunger's sharper then a thorn,
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fa la, etc.
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And Poyson's greener then the grass,
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lay the bent, etc.
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And the Devils worse then the woman was,
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fa la, etc.
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When she these questions answered had,
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lay the bent, etc.
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The Knight became exceeding glad,
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fa la, etc.
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And having truly try'd her wit,
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lay the bent, etc.
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He much commended her for it,
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fa la, etc.
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And after, as 'tis verifi'd,
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lay the bent, & c.
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He made of her his lovely Bride:
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fa la, etc.
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So now fair Maidens all adieu,
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lay the bent, etc.
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This Song I dedicate to you:
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fa la, etc.
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I wish that you may constant prove
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lay the bent to the bonny broom
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Unto the man that you do love,
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fa la la la, fa la la la ra re.
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