For your fairest daughter,
My a dildin, my a daldin;
For your fairest daughter,
Lily bright and shine a’.
Then there she is for you,
My a dildin, my a daldin;
Then there she is for you,
Lily bright and shine a’.
—Ritson (Gammer Gurton’s Garland, 1783).
Northall says this game is played after the manner of the “[Three Dukes]” (Folk Rhymes, p. 383). Halliwell (Nursery Rhymes, p. 98) has a version, and Rimbault (Nursery Rhymes) gives both words and tune. It is also contained in The Merrie Heart (p. 47). See “[Jolly Hooper],” “[Jolly Rover].”
Here comes One Virgin
Here comes one Virgin on her knee,
On her knee, on her knee,
Here comes one Virgin on her knee,
Pray what will you give her?
When did you come?
I came by night and I came by day,
I came to steal poor Edie away.
She is too old, she is too young,
She hasn’t learnt her virgin tongue.
Let her be old or let her be young,
For her beauty she must come.