Francis James Child — Riddles Wisely Expounded Child 1A

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 re There was a knight of noble worth Lay the bent to the bonny broom Which also lived in the North. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re The knight, of courage stout and brave, Lay the bent to the bonny broom A wife he did desire to have. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re He knocked at the ladie's gate Lay the bent to the bonny broom One evening when it was late. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re The eldest sister let him in, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And pin’d the door with a silver pin. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re The second sister she made his bed, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And laid soft pillows under his head. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re The youngest daughter that same night, Lay the bent to the bonny broom She went to bed to this young knight. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re And in the morning, when it was day, Lay the bent to the bonny broom These words unto him she did say: Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re 'Now you have had your will,' quoth she, Lay the bent to the bonny broom ’I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?' Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re The young brave knight to her replyed, Lay the bent to the bonny broom 'Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny'd. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re If thou canst answer me questions three, Lay the bent to the bonny broom This very day will I marry thee." Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "Kind sir, in love, O then," quoth she, Lay the bent to the bonny broom "Tell me what your [three] questions be." Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "O what is longer than the way, Lay the bent to the bonny broom Or what is deeper than the sea? Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "Or what is louder than the horn, Lay the bent to the bonny broom Or what is sharper than a thorn? Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "Or what is greener than the grass, Lay the bent to the bonny broom Or what is worse then a woman was?" Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "O love is longer than the way, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And hell is deeper than the sea. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "And thunder is louder than the horn, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And hunger is sharper than a thorn. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re "And poyson is greener than the grass, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And the Devil is worse than woman was." Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re When she these questions answered had, Lay the bent to the bonny broom The knight became exceeding glad. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re And having [truly] try'd her wit, Lay the bent to the bonny broom He much commended her for it. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re And after, as it is verifi'd, Lay the bent to the bonny broom He made of her his lovely bride. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re So now, fair maidens all, adieu, Lay the bent to the bonny broom This song I dedicate to you. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re I wish that you may constant prove Lay the bent to the bonny broom Vnto the man that you do love. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re