When I stroked his cold dry skin,
His black tongue flickered out and in.

Flicker your black tongue three times three
If my true love is safe at sea.

I stroked him thrice and thrice, and then
I stroked his cold skin twice again:

And each time out the quick tongue came,
And flickered like a wee black flame.

At three times three, my fingers shook:
I shut my eyes, afraid to look;

And when I opened them the snake
Had vanished in the withered brake.