There Were Three Ladies- Uneda 1852 Child D From Notes and Queries, 1st S., vi, 53. b. 2d S.. v 171.
[I have several issues with Child 11 The Cruel Brother- Version D. First, it should be titled "There Were Three Ladies" as it was in the query published in Notes and Queries in 1852 (see the exact published text of the query below). Second, it's actually a version from Philadelphia even though the original source was her "paternal grandmother, who was a native of county Kerry in Ireland." This is a fragmented recollection (second person) of the ballad by someone in the United States. Thirdly, this is in my opinion, could be a distorted fragment of Child 10 (although this ballad is firmly in Child 11 with the opening line). Child assigns this fragment to No. 11, The Cruel Brother- Version D.
The response to this request on Notes and Queries (for additional verses) was for a version of Child 10. Because the knight courted the eldest with a gift (golden rings found in Child 10), and mentions the eldest, it's easy to see why it was confused with Child 10- Twa Sisters. The refrain is different from the Twa Sisters, but it's not the same as Child 11 either.]
Version D; Child 11 The Cruel Brother
Notes and Queries, 1st S., VI, 53, 2d S., v, 171. As sung by a lady who was a native of County Kerry, Ireland.
1 There were three ladies playing at ball,
Farin-dan-dan and farin-dan-dee
There came a white knight, and he wooed them all.
With adieu, sweet honey, wherever you be
2 He courted the eldest with golden rings,
Farin-dan-dan and farin-dan-dee
And the others with many fine things.
And adieu, sweet honey, wherever you be
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Notes and Queries: Volume 6 - Page 53; 1852
"There were three ladies," §-c. — My paternal grandmother, who was a native of county Kerry in Ireland, was in the habit of singing a song set to a sweet and plaintive air, which thus commenced:
"There were three ladies playing at ball,
Farin-dan-dan and farin-dan-dee;
There came a white knight, and he wooed them all,
With adieu, sweet honey, wherever you be.
He courted the eldest with golden rings,
Farin, &c. &c.
And the others with many fine things,
And adieu," &c. &c.
The rest has been forgotten. Can any of your readers furnish the remaining words?
Uneda. Philadelphia.