Riddles Wisely Expounded (Child 1)

There were three sisters in the north Lay the bend to the bonny broom And they lived in their mother's house And you'll beguile a lady soon There came a man one evening late Lay the bend... And he came knocking at the gate And you'll beguile... The eldest sister let him in And locked the door with a silver pin The second sister made his bed And laid soft pillows 'neath his head The youngest sister, fair and bright She lay beside him all through the night And in the morning, come the day She said, "Young man, will you marry me?" And he said, "Yes, I'll marry thee If you can answer this to me" "What is greener than the grass? And what is smoother than the glass?" "What is louder than a horn? And what is sharper than a thorn?" "What is deeper than the sea? And what is longer than the way?" "Envy's greener than the grass Flattery's smoother than the glass" "Rumor's louder than a horn Slander's sharper than a thorn" "Regret is deeper than the sea But love is longer than the way" The eldest sister rang the bell She rang it from the highest hill The second sister made the gown She sewed it of the silk so fine The youngest sister, true and wise They've made of her a lovely bride And now fair maids, I bid adieu These parting words I'll leave with you May you always constant prove Unto the one that you do love