THE GIPSY’S BRIDE
There lived a gentle maiden all by the water wan;
She was the fairest maiden that e’er the sun shone on.
(Oh, oh, ha! all by the water wan!
She was the fairest maiden that e’er the sun shone on.)
To her there came a-wooing five princes fair and tall;
Yet they were not so beauteous but she denied ’em all.
To her there came a-wooing five counts so fair and tall;
Yet they were not so beauteous but she denied ’em all.
To her there came a-wooing five franklins fair and tall;
Yet they were not so beauteous but she denied ’em all.
There came a cunning gipsy a-roaming to the town,
They gave him gold and guerdon to bring her pride adown.
“Now lend to me a saddle, a mantle, and a beast,
And I’ll ride a-wooing, as proud as any priest!”
He rode, the cunning gipsy, unto the castle fair;
There she stood, the maiden, a-combing of her hair.
“Good-morrow, my lady, so fair, and so fine!
Say, wilt thou come to be true-love o’ mine?”
“Away with thee, thou gipsy! I scorn thy words so free!
Counts and mighty princes have come a-wooing me!”