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.