Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 2
The Elfin Knight
Version G

Gammer Gurton's Garland, p. 3, ed. 1810.

Narrative

1   'Can you make me a cambrick shirt,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without any seam or needle work?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
2   'Can you wash it in yonder well,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Where never sprung water nor rain ever fell?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
3   'Can you dry it on yonder thorn,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
4   'Now you have askd me questions three,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
I hope you'll answer as many for me.
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
5   'Can you find me an acre of land
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea sand?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
6   'Can you plow it with a ram's horn,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And sow it all over with one pepper corn?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
7   'Can you reap it with a sickle of leather,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And bind it up with a peacock's feather?
      And you shall be a true lover of mine
8   'When you have done, and finishd your work,
      Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then come to me for your cambrick shirt.'
      And you shall be a true lover of mine

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 09:58:04.
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