Francis James Child

“ And I maun hae to my supper a cherry without a stane;
And I maun hae to my supper a bird without a gaw,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa.’
‘Whan the chicken’s in the shell, I am sure it has na bane;
And whan the cherry’s in the bloom, I wat it has na stane;
The dove she is a genty bird, she flees without a gaw;
Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll be at the wa.’
‘O haud awa frae me, kind sir, I pray ye give me owre,
For I’ll na lie in your bed, till I get presents four ”

“ He answered then so readily: Heaven’s higher than the trees;
The devil’s worse than woman’s voice; hell’s deeper than the seas;
. . . . . .
. . . . .
‘One question still you must answer me, or you I laugh to scorn ”