The holy man went forth to war,
But not against the devil.
He led the maid within for shade,
And treated her most civil.
He gave her cakes, he gave her wine,
He set his best before her;
And then invited her to dine--
Thenceforth--with her adorer.
Her little head went round for joy;
She tried to kick the rafter:
So Kavin was a saint no more,
And happy ever after.
Once I met a soncy maid,
Soncy maid, soncy maid,
Once I met a soncy maid
In the Wayland willows.
All her hair was goldy brown,
Goldy brown, goldy brown,
In the sun a single braid
To her waist hung down.
Honey bees, honey bees,
You are roving fellows!
Idly went the doxy wind
In the Wayland willows.
There I caught her eye a-dance,
Through the catkins downy.
"Heigho, Brownie-pate," said I;
"Heigho," said my Brownie.
Then I kissed my soncy maid,
Soncy maid, soncy maid,
Kissed and kissed my soncy maid
In the Wayland willows.
Goldy eyes and goldy hair,
And little gypsy bosom,
Chin and lip and shoulder tip,
Blossom after blossom!