The Lovers' Riddle

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Captain Wedderburn's Courtship.

The Lovers' Riddle.

A nobleman's fair daughter rode down a narrow lane,
She met with Mr. Woodburn a keeper of the game,
He said unto his servant, if it were not for the law,
I'd have that maid within my bed, and she'd lie next the wall.

Go away young man she says and do not trouble me,
Before I lie one night with you, you must get me dishes three,
Three dishes you must get for me, suppose I eat them all,
Before I lie one night with you, at either stock or wall.

It's for my breakfast you must get a bird without a bone,
And for my dinner you must get a cherry without a stone,
And for my supper you must get a bird without a gall,
Before I lie one night with you, at either stock or wall.

When the bird is in the egg, it really has no bone,
When the cherry is in the blossom it really has no stone,
The dove she is a gentle bird, she flies without a gall
So you and I in bed must lie, and you lie next the wall.

Then go away young man she says and do not me perplex,
Before I lie one night with you, you must answer me questions six—
Six questions you must answer me, when I set forth them all,
Before I lie one night with you, at either stock or wall.

What's rounder than a ring, what is higher than a tree,
Or what is worse than woman-kind, what's deeper than the sea,
What bird sings best, what tree buds first, or where the dew first falls,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.

The globe is rounder than a ring, heaven is higher than a tree
The d—l's worse than woman-kind, hell's deeper than the sea,
What bird sings best, what tree buds first, or, where the dew first falls,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.

You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew,
You must get for me a mantle that weft never went through
A sparrow's horn a Priest unborn, to join us both in one,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.

My father has some winter fruit that in December grew,
My mother has a mantle that weft never went through;
A sparrow's horn is easily got there is one in every claw,
Melchiesidech was a Priest unborn, so you lie next the wall.

Now to conclude and make an end unto my funny theme;
This couple they got married and happy does remain,
Because she was so clever his heart she did enthrall,
He took her in his arms and rolled her from the wall.

Moore, Pirnter, Castle court.