Carmarthenshire- Anon (Wales) 1888 Arthur Mee
[From Notes and Queries - Page 112, 1888. Llanelli, the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast.
R. Matteson 2018]
Conundrum By Whewell (7th S. v. 36).— Surely the so-called conundrum long antedates Whewell. I think I can trace it to the beginning of the century, at all events. I only recollects fragment, which has a decidedly local tinge. The young woman says :—
If ever you go to Carmarthenshire,
Remember me to a young man who lives there,
That lately has been a true lovier of mine.
Tell him to buy me three acres of land
Betwixt the salt sea and the Bait sea sand,
And then he shall be a true lovier of mine.
More impossibilities follow in the shape of conditions, such as
Sow it all over with one barley corn,
And bring it all home upon a black snail,
And see that not one grain do trail,
And then he shall be a true lovier of mine.
The young man retorts :—
If ever you go to Glamorganshire,
Remember me to a young woman who lives there,
Who lately has been a true lovier of mine.
Tell her to buy me an Irish-cloth shirt,
And make it for me without no needle-work,
And then she shall be a true lovier of mine.
Arthur Mee. Llanelly. (Wales)