The King's Daughter

WE WERE ten maidens in the green corn,
  Small red leaves in the mill-water:
Fairer maidens never were born,
  Apples of gold for the king’s daughter.

We were ten maidens by a well-head,
  Small white birds in the mill-water:
Sweeter maidens never were wed,
  Rings of red for the king’s daughter.

The first to spin, the second to sing,
  Seeds of wheat in the mill-water;
The third may was a goodly thing,
  White bread and brown for the king’s daughter.

The fourth to sew and the fifth to play,
  Fair green weed in the mill-water;
The sixth may was a goodly may,
  White wine and red for the king’s daughter.

The seventh to woo, the eighth to wed,
  Fair thin reeds in the mill-water;
The ninth had gold work on her head,
  Honey in the comb for the king’s daughter.

The ninth had gold work round her hair,
  Fallen flowers in the mill-water;
The tenth may was goodly and fair,
  Golden gloves for the king’s daughter.

We were ten maidens in a field green,
  Fallen fruit in the mill-water;
Fairer maidens never have been,
  Golden sleeves for the king’s daughter.

By there comes the king’s young son,
  A little wind in the mill-water;
“Out of ten maidens ye’ll grant me one,”
  A crown of red for the king’s daughter.

“Out of ten mays ye’ll give me the best,”
  A little rain in the mill-water;
A bed of yellow straw for all the rest,
  A bed of gold for the king’s daughter.

He’s ta’en out the goodliest,
  Rain that rains in the mill-water;
A comb of yellow shell for all the rest,
  A comb of gold for the king’s daughter.

He’s made her bed to the goodliest,
  Wind and hail in the mill-water;
A grass girdle for all the rest,
  A girdle of arms for the king’s daughter.

He’s set his heart to the goodliest,
  Snow that snows in the mill-water;
Nine little kisses for all the rest,
  An hundredfold for the king’s daughter.

He’s ta’en his leave at the goodliest,
  Broken boats in the mill-water;
Golden gifts for all the rest,
  Sorrow of heart for the king’s daughter.

“Ye’ll make a grave for my fair body,”
  Running rain in the mill-water;
“And ye’ll streek my brother at the side of me,”
  The pains of hell for the king’s daughter.