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 "O sir, you are hard to understand!

To whom does he offer his heart and hand?

Explain your meaning, we do command!"

"O yes! ding dong! you shall understand!

O yes! Sir Nicholas Hildebrand

Invites the ladies of this land

To feast with him in his castle strong

This very day at three. Ding dong!

O yes! O yes! O yes! ding dong!"

Then all the women went off to dress,

Mary, Margaret, Bridget, Bess,

Patty, and more than I can guess.

They powdered their hair with golden dust,

And bought new ribbons—they said they must—

But none of them painted, we will trust.

Long before the time arrives,

All the women that could be wives,

Are dressed within an inch of their lives.