THE NOBLE RIDDLE
“If thou canst answer me questions three,This very day will I marry thee.”“Kind sir, in love, O then,” quoth she,“Tell me what your three questions be.”“O what is longer than the way,Or what is deeper than the sea?“Or what is louder than the horn,Or what is sharper than a thorn?“Or what is greener than the grass,Or what is worse than a woman was?”“O love is longer than the way,And hell is deeper than the sea.“And thunder is louder than the horn,And hunger is sharper than a thorn.“And poyson is greener than the grass,And the Devil is worse than woman was.”When she these questions answered had,The knight became exceeding glad.And having truly try’d her wit,He much commended her for it.And after, as it is verifi’d,He made of her his lovely bride.So now, fair maidens all, adieu,This song I dedicate to you.I wish that you may constant proveVnto the man that you do love.
“If thou canst answer me questions three,This very day will I marry thee.”“Kind sir, in love, O then,” quoth she,“Tell me what your three questions be.”“O what is longer than the way,Or what is deeper than the sea?“Or what is louder than the horn,Or what is sharper than a thorn?“Or what is greener than the grass,Or what is worse than a woman was?”“O love is longer than the way,And hell is deeper than the sea.“And thunder is louder than the horn,And hunger is sharper than a thorn.“And poyson is greener than the grass,And the Devil is worse than woman was.”When she these questions answered had,The knight became exceeding glad.And having truly try’d her wit,He much commended her for it.And after, as it is verifi’d,He made of her his lovely bride.So now, fair maidens all, adieu,This song I dedicate to you.I wish that you may constant proveVnto the man that you do love.
“If thou canst answer me questions three,This very day will I marry thee.”
“If thou canst answer me questions three,
This very day will I marry thee.”
“Kind sir, in love, O then,” quoth she,“Tell me what your three questions be.”
“Kind sir, in love, O then,” quoth she,
“Tell me what your three questions be.”
“O what is longer than the way,Or what is deeper than the sea?
“O what is longer than the way,
Or what is deeper than the sea?
“Or what is louder than the horn,Or what is sharper than a thorn?
“Or what is louder than the horn,
Or what is sharper than a thorn?
“Or what is greener than the grass,Or what is worse than a woman was?”
“Or what is greener than the grass,
Or what is worse than a woman was?”
“O love is longer than the way,And hell is deeper than the sea.
“O love is longer than the way,
And hell is deeper than the sea.
“And thunder is louder than the horn,And hunger is sharper than a thorn.
“And thunder is louder than the horn,
And hunger is sharper than a thorn.
“And poyson is greener than the grass,And the Devil is worse than woman was.”
“And poyson is greener than the grass,
And the Devil is worse than woman was.”
When she these questions answered had,The knight became exceeding glad.
When she these questions answered had,
The knight became exceeding glad.
And having truly try’d her wit,He much commended her for it.
And having truly try’d her wit,
He much commended her for it.
And after, as it is verifi’d,He made of her his lovely bride.
And after, as it is verifi’d,
He made of her his lovely bride.
So now, fair maidens all, adieu,This song I dedicate to you.
So now, fair maidens all, adieu,
This song I dedicate to you.
I wish that you may constant proveVnto the man that you do love.
I wish that you may constant prove
Vnto the man that you do love.