This riddle comes from a book entitled "The American Tutor's Assistant", dated 1791.

When first the marriage knot was ty’d
Between my wife and me,
My age was to that of my bride
As three times three to three
But now when ten and half ten years,
We man and wife have been,
Her age to mine exactly bears,
As eight is to sixteen;
Now tell, I pray, from what I’ve said,
What were our ages when we wed?

When first the marriage knot was tied,
Don't know why, but the gape was wide;
And the bride for marraige, was so very keen,
As the Groom was Forty-five, and she just Fifteen.

But now when Fifteen years have gone,
I wonder if they'll reach their jubliee Gold;
For she at Thirty is still very Young,
Though Him at Sixty is so very Old.

Posted by Syzygy on 2004-12-02 13:54:18