The Elfin Knight; Findlay's Manuscripts 1869; Child 2- Version M from Additions and Corrections.
[Below I've included the entry from "Notes and Queries." At the end there is a reference to the riddle in Wright's Ancient Songs and Carols, 1856, which is titled the Four Sisters" and is a version not of the Elfin Knight but "The Riddle Song" or in the US "I Gave my Love a Cherry." I consider it to be more closely related to Child # 46 Captain Wedderburn's Courtship.
R. Matteson 2011]
Child 2; The Elfin Knight
Version M- Additions and Corrections
Findlay's Manuscripts, I, 21, from the recitation of Jeany Meldrum, Framedrum, Forfarshire.
Similar to F-H: Notes and Queries, 4th Series, III, 605, 1869 communicated by W.F., (Findlay) Glasgow, from a manuscript collection.
Narrative
1 As I went up to the top o yon hill,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
I met a fair maid, an her name it was Nell.
An she langed to be a true lover o mine
2 'Ye'll get to me a cambric sark,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
An sew it all over without thread or needle [wark].
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
3 'Ye'll wash it doun in yonder well,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
Where water neer ran an dew never fell.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
4 'Ye'll bleach it doun by yonder green,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
Where grass never grew an wind never blew.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
5 'Ye'll dry it doun on yonder thorn,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
That never bore blossom sin Adam was born.'
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
6 'Four questions ye have asked at me,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
An as mony mair ye'll answer me.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
7 'Ye'll get to me an acre o land
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
Atween the saut water an the sea sand.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
8 'Ye'll plow it wi a ram's horn,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
An sow it all over wi one peppercorn.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
9 'Ye'll shear it wi a peacock's feather,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
An bind it all up wi the sting o an adder.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
10 'Ye'll stook it in yonder saut sea,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
An bring the dry sheaves a' back to me.
Before that ye be a true lover o mine
11 'An when ye've done and finished your wark,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
Ye'll come to me, an ye'se get your sark.'
An then shall ye be true lover o mine
--------------------------
Notes and Queries, 4th Series, III, 605, 1869
But perhaps the best specimen of the kind is "The Elfin Knight," a traditionary copy of which from my MS. collection, as it differs from those already printed, may be worth insertion: —
'As I went up to the top o' yon hill,
Every rose springs merry in't' time,*
I met a fair maid, an' her name it was Nell,
An' she lange"d to be a true lover o' mine.
'Ye'll get to me a cambric sark,
Every rose, &c.
An' sew it all over without thread or needle,
Before that ye be a true lover o' mine.
'Ye'll wash it doun in yonder well,
Where water ne'er ran an' dew never fell.
'Ye'll bleach it doun by yonder green,
Where grass never grew an' wind never blew.
'Ye'll dry it doun on yonder thorn,
That never bore blossom sin' Adam was born.'
'Four questions ye have asked at me,
An' as mony mair ye'll answer me:
'Yell get to me an acre o' land
Atween the saut water an' the sea sand.
'Ye'll plow it wi' a ram's horn,
An' sow it all over wi' one peppercorn.
'Ye'll shear it wi' a peacock's feather,
An' bind it all up wi' the sting o' an adder.
'Ye'll stook it in yonder saut sea,
An' bring the dry sheaves a' back to me.
'An' when ye've done and finished your wark,
Every rose, Ac.
Ye'll come to me an' yese get your sark,
An' then shall ye be true lover o' mine.'"
W. F. Glasgow.
[We have also to thank, among other correspondents, Mr. Axon, for a reference to a very early version of this riddle, in Wright's Ancient Songs and Carols, 1856 (p. 33); Elsie and Mr. Wadoh for pointing out a version in MacMillans Magazine (ii. 248); and Mr. Blood, J. M., and Hio Et Ubique for traditional versions. — Ed. "N. A Q."]
Footnote: * Perhaps this ought to be, as in Ritson's " Gammer Gurton's Garland ": —"Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme."