The Fenland MaidenThere was a Thetford merchant man
Inherited his father's lands,
He'd the finest clothes and the finest mare,
And the finest three rings to be found found anywhere.
He once set out to Lincolnshire,
When with the fenlands drawing near,
He spied a maid with the darkest hair,
And slender form beyond compare.
He went and asked her for her name,
She smiled, and asked him just the same,
But tarry he could not that day,
And so he swiftly rode away.
He soon returned to that fenland lea
But no maid was there for him to see
There was just a boy in cap of green
Slender, light footed, and lean.
"I see you seek a maiden, sir,
Lost in the forest's leaf and burr"
"Good sir, find she for who I pine,
And you shall have my clothes so fine."
"I can find the maid for you,
But will you love her if I do?"
"Find for me the lass I need,
And you shall ride my coal-black steed."
"Oh you must love this maid quite well,
To give your horse up, I can tell"
"If you can find the maid for me,
I'll give you my fine rings, all three."
The boy then doffed his cap of green,
There were the darkest locks to be seen,
As then the revelation came
That boy and maid were both the same.
"Sir, you owe me your finery,
And coal-black mare, and rings all three,
But have them back as my dowry
When I am wedded soon to thee."
2022-3 update: this has been written up into a song by the folk duo
Two's Company, which you can find a recording of here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JHKAmADvv0