a traditional English song, dating at least to 1450. It is Child Ballad 1 and Roud 161, and exists in several variants.[1] The first known tune was attached to it in 1719. The title "Riddles Wisely Expounded" was given by Francis James Child and seems derived from the seventeenth century broadside version "A Noble Riddle Wisely Expounded".
Inter diabolus et virgo, "between the devil and the maiden" (c. 1450) In the earliest surviving version of the song,[5] the "foul fiend" proposes to abduct a maiden unless she can answer a series of riddles. The woman prays to Jesus for wisdom, and answers the riddles correctly.
There were three sisters in the north Lay the bend to the bonny broom And they lived in their mother's house And you'll beguile a lady soon There came a man one evening late Lay the bend to the bonny broom He came knocking at the gate And you'll beguile a lady soon
The eldest sister let him Lay the bend to the bonny broom And locked the door with a silver pin And you'll beguile a lady soon The second sister made his bed Lay the bend to the bonny broom And laid soft pillows 'neath his head And you'll beguile a lady soon The youngest sister, fair and bright Lay the bend to the bonny broom She lay beside him all through the night And you'll beguile a lady soon
And in the morning, come the day Lay the bend to the bonny broom She said "Young man, will you marry me?" And you'll beguile a lady soon He said "Yes, I'll marry thee Lay the bend to the bonny broom If you can answer this for me: And you'll beguile a lady soon What is greener than the grass? Lay the bend to the bonny broom And what is smoother than a glass? And you'll beguile a lady soon What is louder than a horn? Lay the bend to the bonny broom And what is sharper than a thorn? And you'll beguile a lady soon What is deeper than the sea? Lay the bend to the bonny broom And what is longer than the way?" And you'll beguile a lady soon
"Envy's greener than the grass Lay the bend to the bonny broom Flattery's smoother than the glass And you'll beguile a lady soon Rumour's louder than the horn Lay the bend to the bonny broom Slander's sharper than the thorn And you'll beguile a lady soon Regret is deeper than the sea Lay the bend to the bonny broom But love is longer than the way" And you'll beguile a lady soon
The elder sister rang the bell Lay the bend to the bonny broom She rang it from the highest hill And you'll beguile a lady soon The second sister made the gown Lay the bend to the bonny broom She sewed it of a silk so fine And you'll beguile a lady soon The younger sister true and wise Lay the bend to the bonny broom They made of her a lovely bride And you'll beguile a lady soon
And now fair maids are bid adieu Lay the bend to the bonny broom These parting words I'll leave with you And you'll beguile a lady soon May you always constant prove Lay the bend to the bonny broom Unto the one that you do love And you'll beguile a lady soon