I Have A Young Sister
I have a young sister, far beyond the sea
Many be the dowries that she sente me
She sente me the cherry withouten any stone
And so she did the dove withouten any bone
She sente me the briar withouten any rind
She bade me love my leman withouten longing
How sholde any cherry be withouten stone
And how sholde any dove be withouten bone
How sholde any briar be withouten rind
How sholde I love my leman without longing
Whan the cherry was a flower then it hadde no stone
Whan the dove was an egg then hadde it no bone
When the briar was unbred then it hadde no rind
When the maiden hath that she loveth then she is withouten longing
~Anon (circa early 15th century England)~