Pray what is your intention, sir [repeat as above].
My intention is to marry, &c.
Which of us will you choose, sir, &c.
You"re all too black and too browsy, &c.
We"re good enough for you, sir, &c.
Through the kitchen and over the wall, Pick the fairest of us all.
The fairest is that I can see, pretty Miss --, come to me.
-East Kirkby, Lincolnshire (Miss K. Maughan).
VII. Here come three dukes a-riding, A-riding, a-riding; Here come three dukes a-riding, With a dusty, dusty, die!
What do you want with us, sirs? [repeat as above].
We"ve come to choose a wife, Miss, &c.
Which one of us will you have, sirs? &c.
You"re all too black and too browsy, You sit in the sun so drowsy; With a golden chain about your neck, You"re all too black and too browsy.
Quite good enough for you, sirs, &c.
We walk in our chamber, We sit in our hall, We choose the fairest of you all; The fairest one that we can see Is little -- --, come to me.
-Wakefield, Yorks. (Miss Fowler).
VIII. Here come three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding, Here come three dukes a-riding; A randy, dandy, very fine day!
And pray what is your will, sirs? &c. [as above].
We come for one of your daughters, &c.
Which one will you have, sir? &c.
They are all as black as a browsie, browsie, browsie, &c.
One can knit, and one can sew, One can make a lily-white bow; One can make a bed for a king, Please take one of my daughters in.
The fairest one that I can see Is [ ], come to me.
-Gainford, co. Durham (Miss A. Edleston).
IX. Here comes a poor duke a-riding, a-riding, Here comes a poor duke a-riding; With the ransom, tansom, tee!
Pray who will you have to marry, sir? &c.
You"re all so black and so dirty, &c.
We are quite as clean as you, sir, &c.
Through the kitchen, and through the hall, Pick the fairest one of all.
The fairest one that I can see Is --, The fairest one that I can see, With a ransom, tansom, tee!
-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
X. Here comes one duke a-riding, A-riding, a-riding; Here comes one duke a-riding, With a ransom, tansom, terrimus, hey!
What is your intention, sir? &c. [as above].
My intention is to marry, &c.
Marry one of us, sir? &c.
You"re all too black and dirty (or greasy), &c.
We"re good enough for you, sir, &c.
You"re all as stiff as pokers, &c.
We can bend as much as you, sir, &c.
Through the kitchen and through the hall, I choose the fairest of you all; The fairest one as I can see Is pretty -- --, come to me.
Now I"ve got my bonny la.s.s, Bonny la.s.s, bonny la.s.s; Now I"ve got my bonny la.s.s To help us with our dancing.
-Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).
XI. Here comes one duke a-riding, a-riding, a-riding; Here comes one duke a-riding On a ransom, dansom bay!
You"re all so black and dirty, &c.
Pray which of us will you choose, sir, &c.
Up in the kitchen, down in the hall, And choose the fairest one of all.
The fairest one that I can see Is pretty Miss --, so come to me.
-Bocking, Ess.e.x (_Folk-lore Record_, vol. iii., pt. ii., pp. 170-171).
XII. Here comes one duke a-riding, a-riding, a-riding, Here comes one duke a-riding, with a ransom, tansom, ta!
Pray which of us will you choose, sir? &c.
You"re all so black and so blousey, &c.