A Noble Riddle wisele 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 are man and wife,
And she with him doth lead a pleasant life.
The tune is Lay the bent to the bonny broom.
|
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 la.
|
There was a Knight of Noble worth,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
Which also lived in the North.
|
fa la, etc.
|
The Knight of courage stout and brave,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
A Wife he did desire to have.
|
fa la, etc.
|
He knocked at the Ladies Gate,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
One evening when it was very late,
|
fa la, etc.
|
The youngest sister she let him in,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
And pind the doore with a silver pin
|
fa la, etc.
|
The second sister she made his bed,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
And laid soft Pillows under his head,
|
fa la, etc,
|
The youngest Daughter that same night
|
lay the bent. etc.
|
She went to bed with this young Knight
|
fa la, etc.
|
And in the morning when it was day.
|
lay the bent etc.
|
These words unto him she did say
|
fa la, etc.
|
Now you have had your will quoth she
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
I pray sir Knight will you marry me?
|
fa la. etc.
|
The young brave knight to her replyd,
|
lay the bent. etc,
|
Thy suit fair Maid shall not be denyd.
|
fa la. etc.
|
IF thou canst answer me questions three,
|
lay the bent to the bonny broom,
|
This vary day will I marry thee,
|
fa la, etc.
|
Kind sir in love O then quoth she
|
lay the bent. etc.
|
Tell me what your questions be,
|
fa la. etc.
|
O what is longer then the way?
|
lay the bent. etc.
|
Or what is deeper then the Sea?
|
fa la. etc.
|
O what is louder then a Horn?
|
lay the bent. etc.
|
Or what is sharper then a Thorn?
|
fa la. etc.
|
Or what is greener then the Grasse?
|
lay the bent. etc.
|
Or what is worse then women was?
|
fa la. etc,
|
Here followeth the Damsels answers,
|
to the Knights three questions.
|
O Love is longer then the way,
|
lay the bent, etc,
|
And Hell is deeper then the Sea,
|
fa la etc,
|
And thunders louder than a horn,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
And hungers sharper than a thorn,
|
fa la, etc.
|
And poyson is greener then the grass,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
And the Divel is worse then woman was,
|
fa la, etc.
|
When she these questions answered had.
|
Lay the bent, etc.
|
The Knight became exceeding glad,
|
fa la. etc.
|
And having throughly tryd her wit,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
He much commended her for it,
|
fa la, etc,
|
And after as tis verifyd,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
He made of her his lovely Bride,
|
fa la, etc.
|
So now fair Maidens all adieu,
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
This Song I dedicate to you,
|
fa lay, etc.
|
I wish that you may constant prove.
|
lay the bent, etc.
|
Unto the man that you doe
|
fa la, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|