ἀλλ᾽ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετ᾽ ἠϋγένειος,αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς‧γίγνετο δ’ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον.A
ἀλλ᾽ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετ᾽ ἠϋγένειος,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς‧
γίγνετο δ’ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον.A
Odyssey,IV.456-8.
The Texthere given is from Johnson’sMuseum, communicated by Burns. Scott’s version (1802),The Young Tamlane, contained certain verses, ‘obtained from a gentleman residing near Langholm, which are said to be very ancient, though the language is somewhat of a modern cast.’ —‘Of a grossly modern invention,’ says Child, ‘and as unlike popular verse as anything can be.’ Here is a specimen:—
‘They sing, inspired with love and joy,Like skylarks in the air;Of solid sense, or thought that’s grave,You’ll find no traces there.’
‘They sing, inspired with love and joy,
Like skylarks in the air;
Of solid sense, or thought that’s grave,
You’ll find no traces there.’
A copy in the GlenriddellMSS.corresponds very closely with the one here printed, doubtless owing to Burns’s friendship with Riddell. Both probably were derived from one common source.
The Story .—Although the ballad as it stands is purely Scottish, its main feature, the retransformation of Tam Lin, is found in popular mythology even before Homer’s time.
A Cretan ballad, taken down about 1820-30, relates that a young peasant, falling in love with a nereid, was advised by an old woman to seize his beloved by the hair just before cock-crow, and hold her fast, whatever transformation she might undergo. Hedid so; the nymph became in turn a dog, a snake, a camel, and fire. In spite of all, he retained his hold; and at the next crowing of the cock she regained her beauty, and accompanied him home. After a year, in which she spoke no word, she bore a son. The peasant again applied to the old woman for a cure, and was advised to tell his wife that if she would not speak, he would throw the baby into the oven. On his carrying out the old woman’s suggestion the nereid cried out, ‘Let go my child, dog!’tore her baby from him, and vanished.
This tale was current among the Cretan peasantry in 1820. Two thousand years before, Apollodorus had told much the same story of Peleus and Thetis (Bibliotheca, iii. 13). The chief difference is that it was Thetis who placed her son on the fire, to make him immortal, and Peleus who cried out.The Tayl of the yong Tamleneis mentioned in theComplaint of Scotland(1549).
Carterhaugh is about a mile from Selkirk, at the confluence of the Ettrick and the Yarrow.
The significance of 34.3, ‘Then throw me into well water,’ is lost in the present version, by the position of the lineafterthe ‘burning gleed,’ as it seems the reciter regarded the well-water merely as a means of extinguishing the gleed. But the immersion in water has a meaning far deeper and more interesting than that. It is a widespread and ancient belief in folklore that immersion in water (or sometimes milk) is indispensable to the recovery of human shape, after existence in a supernatural shape, orvice versâ. The version in the GlenriddellMSS.rightly gives it as thelastdirection to Janet, to be adopted when the transformations are at an end:—
‘First dip me in a stand o’ milk,And then a stand o’ water.’
‘First dip me in a stand o’ milk,
And then a stand o’ water.’
For the beginning ofTam Lin, compare the meeting of Akin and Lady Margaret in Elmond-wood inYoung Akin.
A.all’ ê toi prôtista leôn genet’ êugeneios,autar epeita drakôn kai pardalis êde megas sus;gigneto d’ hugron hudôr kai dendreon hupsipetêlon.
A.
all’ ê toi prôtista leôn genet’ êugeneios,
autar epeita drakôn kai pardalis êde megas sus;
gigneto d’ hugron hudôr kai dendreon hupsipetêlon.
1.O Iforbid you, maidens a’,That wear gowd on your hair,To come or gae by Carterhaugh,For young Tam Lin is there.2.2.2‘wad,’ forfeit.There’s nane that gaes by CarterhaughBut they leave him a wad,Either their rings, or green mantles,Or else their maidenhead.3.3.4‘bree,’ brow.Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has broded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she’s awa’ to Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.4.When she came to CarterhaughTam Lin was at the well,And there she fand his steed standing,But away was himsel’.5.She had na pu’d a double rose,A rose but only twa,Till up then started young Tam Lin,Says, ‘Lady, thou’s pu’ nae mae.6.‘Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet,And why breaks thou the wand?Or why comes thou to CarterhaughWithoutten my command?’7.‘Carterhaugh, it is my ain,My daddie gave it me;I’ll come and gang by Carterhaugh,And ask nae leave at thee.’.....8.8.3‘snooded,’ tied with a fillet.Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she is to her father’s ha’,As fast as she can hie.9.Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the ba’,And out then cam’ the fair Janet,Ance the flower amang them a’.10.10.4‘glass’: perhaps a mistake for ‘grass.’Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the chess,And out then cam’ the fair Janet,As green as onie glass.11.Out then spak an auld grey knight,Lay o’er the castle wa’,And says, ‘Alas, fair Janet, for theeBut we’ll be blamed a’.’12.‘Haud your tongue, ye auld fac’d knight,Some ill death may ye die!Father my bairn on whom I will,I’ll father nane on thee.’13.Out then spak her father dear,And he spak meek and mild;‘And ever alas, sweet Janet,’ he says,‘I think thou gaes wi’ child.’14.‘If that I gae wi’ child, father,Mysel’ maun bear the blame;There’s ne’er a laird about your ha’Shall get the bairn’s name.15.‘If my love were an earthly knight,As he’s an elfin grey,I wadna gie my ain true-loveFor nae lord that ye hae.16.‘The steed that my true-love rides onIs lighter than the wind;Wi’ siller he is shod before,Wi’ burning gowd behind.’17.Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she’s awa’ to Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.18.When she cam’ to Carterhaugh,Tam Lin was at the well,And there she fand his steed standing,But away was himsel’.19.She had na pu’d a double rose,A rose but only twa,Till up then started young Tam Lin,Says, ‘Lady, thou pu’s nae mae.20.‘Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet,Amang the groves sae green,And a’ to kill the bonie babeThat we gat us between?’21.‘O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,’ she says,‘For’s sake that died on tree,If e’er ye was in holy chapel,Or christendom did see?’22.‘Roxbrugh he was my grandfather,Took me with him to bide,And ance it fell upon a dayThat wae did me betide.23.23.2‘snell,’ keen.‘And ance it fell upon a day,A cauld day and a snell,When we were frae the hunting come,That frae my horse I fell;The Queen o’ Fairies she caught me,In yon green hill to dwell.24.24.4‘tiend,’ tithe.‘And pleasant is the fairy land,But, an eerie tale to tell,Ay at the end of seven yearsWe pay a tiend to hell;I am sae fair and fu’ o’ flesh,I’m fear’d it be mysel’.25.‘But the night is Halloween, lady,The morn is Hallowday;Then win me, win me, an ye will,For weel I wat ye may.26.‘Just at the mirk and midnight hourThe fairy folk will ride,And they that wad their true-love win,At Miles Cross they maun bide.’27.‘But how shall I thee ken, Tam Lin,Or how my true-love know,Amang sae mony unco knightsThe like I never saw?’28.‘O first let pass the black, lady,And syne let pass the brown,But quickly run to the milk-white steed,Pu’ ye his rider down.29.‘For I’ll ride on the milk-white steed,And ay nearest the town;Because I was an earthly knightThey gie me that renown.30.‘My right hand will be glov’d, lady,My left hand will be bare,Cockt up shall my bonnet be,And kaim’d down shall my hair;And thae’s the takens I gie thee,Nae doubt I will be there.31.31.2‘esk,’ newt.‘They’ll turn me in your arms, lady,Into an esk and adder;But hold me fast, and fear me not,I am your bairn’s father.32.‘They’ll turn me to a bear sae grim,And then a lion bold;But hold me fast, and fear me not,As ye shall love your child.33.33.2‘gaud,’ bar.‘Again they’ll turn me in your armsTo a red het gaud of airn;But hold me fast, and fear me not,I’ll do to you nae harm.34.34.2‘gleed,’ a glowing coal.‘And last they’ll turn me in your armsInto the burning gleed;Then throw me into well water,O throw me in wi’ speed.35.‘And then I’ll be your ain true-love,I’ll turn a naked knight;Then cover me wi’ your green mantle,And cover me out o’ sight.’36.Gloomy, gloomy was the night,And eerie was the way,As fair Jenny in her green mantleTo Miles Cross she did gae.37.About the middle o’ the nightShe heard the bridles ring;This lady was as glad at thatAs any earthly thing.38.First she let the black pass by,And syne she let the brown;But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed,And pu’d the rider down.39.Sae weel she minded whae he did say,And young Tarn Lin did win;Syne cover’d him wi’ her green mantle,As blythe’s a bird in spring.40.Out then spak the Queen o’ Fairies,Out of a bush o’ broom:‘Them that has gotten young Tam LinHas gotten a stately groom.’41.Out then spak the Queen o’ Fairies,And an angry woman was she:‘Shame betide her ill-far’d face,And an ill death may she die,For she’s ta’en awa’ the bonniest knightIn a’ my companie.42.42.4‘tree,’ wood.‘But had I kend, Tam Lin,’ she says,‘What now this night I see,I wad hae ta’en out thy twa grey een,And put in twa een o’ tree.’
1.
O Iforbid you, maidens a’,
That wear gowd on your hair,
To come or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tam Lin is there.
2.
2.2‘wad,’ forfeit.
There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh
But they leave him a wad,
Either their rings, or green mantles,
Or else their maidenhead.
3.
3.4‘bree,’ brow.
Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has broded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree,
And she’s awa’ to Carterhaugh,
As fast as she can hie.
4.
When she came to Carterhaugh
Tam Lin was at the well,
And there she fand his steed standing,
But away was himsel’.
5.
She had na pu’d a double rose,
A rose but only twa,
Till up then started young Tam Lin,
Says, ‘Lady, thou’s pu’ nae mae.
6.
‘Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet,
And why breaks thou the wand?
Or why comes thou to Carterhaugh
Withoutten my command?’
7.
‘Carterhaugh, it is my ain,
My daddie gave it me;
I’ll come and gang by Carterhaugh,
And ask nae leave at thee.’
.....
8.
8.3‘snooded,’ tied with a fillet.
Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has snooded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree,
And she is to her father’s ha’,
As fast as she can hie.
9.
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ba’,
And out then cam’ the fair Janet,
Ance the flower amang them a’.
10.
10.4‘glass’: perhaps a mistake for ‘grass.’
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess,
And out then cam’ the fair Janet,
As green as onie glass.
11.
Out then spak an auld grey knight,
Lay o’er the castle wa’,
And says, ‘Alas, fair Janet, for thee
But we’ll be blamed a’.’
12.
‘Haud your tongue, ye auld fac’d knight,
Some ill death may ye die!
Father my bairn on whom I will,
I’ll father nane on thee.’
13.
Out then spak her father dear,
And he spak meek and mild;
‘And ever alas, sweet Janet,’ he says,
‘I think thou gaes wi’ child.’
14.
‘If that I gae wi’ child, father,
Mysel’ maun bear the blame;
There’s ne’er a laird about your ha’
Shall get the bairn’s name.
15.
‘If my love were an earthly knight,
As he’s an elfin grey,
I wadna gie my ain true-love
For nae lord that ye hae.
16.
‘The steed that my true-love rides on
Is lighter than the wind;
Wi’ siller he is shod before,
Wi’ burning gowd behind.’
17.
Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has snooded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree,
And she’s awa’ to Carterhaugh,
As fast as she can hie.
18.
When she cam’ to Carterhaugh,
Tam Lin was at the well,
And there she fand his steed standing,
But away was himsel’.
19.
She had na pu’d a double rose,
A rose but only twa,
Till up then started young Tam Lin,
Says, ‘Lady, thou pu’s nae mae.
20.
‘Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet,
Amang the groves sae green,
And a’ to kill the bonie babe
That we gat us between?’
21.
‘O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,’ she says,
‘For’s sake that died on tree,
If e’er ye was in holy chapel,
Or christendom did see?’
22.
‘Roxbrugh he was my grandfather,
Took me with him to bide,
And ance it fell upon a day
That wae did me betide.
23.
23.2‘snell,’ keen.
‘And ance it fell upon a day,
A cauld day and a snell,
When we were frae the hunting come,
That frae my horse I fell;
The Queen o’ Fairies she caught me,
In yon green hill to dwell.
24.
24.4‘tiend,’ tithe.
‘And pleasant is the fairy land,
But, an eerie tale to tell,
Ay at the end of seven years
We pay a tiend to hell;
I am sae fair and fu’ o’ flesh,
I’m fear’d it be mysel’.
25.
‘But the night is Halloween, lady,
The morn is Hallowday;
Then win me, win me, an ye will,
For weel I wat ye may.
26.
‘Just at the mirk and midnight hour
The fairy folk will ride,
And they that wad their true-love win,
At Miles Cross they maun bide.’
27.
‘But how shall I thee ken, Tam Lin,
Or how my true-love know,
Amang sae mony unco knights
The like I never saw?’
28.
‘O first let pass the black, lady,
And syne let pass the brown,
But quickly run to the milk-white steed,
Pu’ ye his rider down.
29.
‘For I’ll ride on the milk-white steed,
And ay nearest the town;
Because I was an earthly knight
They gie me that renown.
30.
‘My right hand will be glov’d, lady,
My left hand will be bare,
Cockt up shall my bonnet be,
And kaim’d down shall my hair;
And thae’s the takens I gie thee,
Nae doubt I will be there.
31.
31.2‘esk,’ newt.
‘They’ll turn me in your arms, lady,
Into an esk and adder;
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
I am your bairn’s father.
32.
‘They’ll turn me to a bear sae grim,
And then a lion bold;
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
As ye shall love your child.
33.
33.2‘gaud,’ bar.
‘Again they’ll turn me in your arms
To a red het gaud of airn;
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
I’ll do to you nae harm.
34.
34.2‘gleed,’ a glowing coal.
‘And last they’ll turn me in your arms
Into the burning gleed;
Then throw me into well water,
O throw me in wi’ speed.
35.
‘And then I’ll be your ain true-love,
I’ll turn a naked knight;
Then cover me wi’ your green mantle,
And cover me out o’ sight.’
36.
Gloomy, gloomy was the night,
And eerie was the way,
As fair Jenny in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did gae.
37.
About the middle o’ the night
She heard the bridles ring;
This lady was as glad at that
As any earthly thing.
38.
First she let the black pass by,
And syne she let the brown;
But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed,
And pu’d the rider down.
39.
Sae weel she minded whae he did say,
And young Tarn Lin did win;
Syne cover’d him wi’ her green mantle,
As blythe’s a bird in spring.
40.
Out then spak the Queen o’ Fairies,
Out of a bush o’ broom:
‘Them that has gotten young Tam Lin
Has gotten a stately groom.’
41.
Out then spak the Queen o’ Fairies,
And an angry woman was she:
‘Shame betide her ill-far’d face,
And an ill death may she die,
For she’s ta’en awa’ the bonniest knight
In a’ my companie.
42.
42.4‘tree,’ wood.
‘But had I kend, Tam Lin,’ she says,
‘What now this night I see,
I wad hae ta’en out thy twa grey een,
And put in twa een o’ tree.’
Thesetwo ballads must be considered together, as the last six verses (18-23) ofThe Clerk’s Twa Sons, as here given, are a variant ofThe Wife of Usher’s Well.
Texts.—The Clerk’s Twa Sonsis taken from Kinloch’sMSS., in the handwriting of James Chambers, as it was sung to his grandmother by an old woman.
The Wife of Usher’s Wellis from Scott’sMinstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and however incomplete, may well stand alone.
The Storyhas a fairly close parallel in the well-known German ballad, ‘Das Schloss in Oesterreich’; and a ballad found both in Spain and Italy has resemblances to each. But in these two ballads, especially inThe Wife of Usher’s Well, the interest lies rather in the impressiveness of the verses than in the story.
1.1.4‘lair,’ lesson. Cp. 16.1.O Iwill sing to you a sang,But oh my heart is sair!The clerk’s twa sons in OwsenfordHas to learn some unco lair.2.They hadna been in fair ParishA twelvemonth an’ a day,Till the clerk’s twa sons o’ OwsenfordWi’ the mayor’s twa daughters lay.3.O word’s gaen to the mighty mayor,As he sail’d on the sea,That the clerk’s twa sons o’ OwsenfordWi’ his twa daughters lay.4.‘If they hae lain wi’ my twa daughters,Meg and Marjorie,The morn, or I taste meat or drink,They shall be hangit hie.’5.O word’s gaen to the clerk himself,As he sat drinkin’ wine,That his twa sons in fair ParishWere bound in prison strong.6.Then up and spak the clerk’s ladye,And she spak pow’rfully:‘O tak with ye a purse of gold,Or take with ye three,And if ye canna get William,Bring Andrew hame to me.’7.7.1etc. ‘owsen,’ oxen.‘O lye ye here for owsen, dear sons,Or lie ye here for kye?Or what is it that ye lie for,Sae sair bound as ye lie?’8.‘We lie not here for owsen, dear father,Nor yet lie here for kye;But it’s for a little o’ dear-bought loveSae sair bound as we lye.’9.O he’s gane to the mighty mayorAnd he spake powerfully:‘Will ye grant me my twa sons’ lives,Either for gold or fee?Or will ye be sae gude a manAs grant them baith to me?’10.‘I’ll no’ grant ye yere twa sons’ lives,Neither for gold or fee,Nor will I be sae gude a manAs gie them back to thee;Before the morn at twelve o’clockYe’ll see them hangit hie.’11.Up and spak his twa daughters,And they spak pow’rfully:‘Will ye grant us our twa loves’ lives,Either for gold or fee?Or will ye be sae gude a manAs grant them baith to me?’12.‘I ‘ll no’ grant ye yere twa loves’ lives,Neither for gold or fee,Nor will I be sae gude a manAs grant their lives to thee;Before the morn at twelve o’clockYe’ll see them hangit hie.’13.O he’s ta’en out these proper youths,And hang’d them on a tree,And he’s bidden the clerk o’ OwsenfordGang hame to his ladie.14.His lady sits on yon castle-wa’,Beholding dale and doun,An’ there she saw her ain gude lordCome walkin’ to the toun.15.‘Ye’re welcome, welcome, my ain gude lord,Ye’re welcome hame to me;But where away are my twa sons?Ye should hae brought them wi’ ye.’16.‘It’s I’ve putten them to a deeper lair,An’ to a higher schule;Yere ain twa sons ’ill no’ be hereTill the hallow days o’ Yule.’17.17.2‘dool,’ grief.‘O sorrow, sorrow, come mak’ my bed,An’ dool come lay me doon!For I’ll neither eat nor drink,Nor set a fit on ground.’18.18 Here beginsThe Wife of Usher’s Wellin a variant.The hallow days of Yule are come,The nights are lang and dark;An’ in an’ cam’ her ain twa sons,Wi’ their hats made o’ the bark.19.‘O eat an’ drink, my merry men a’,The better shall ye fare,For my twa sons the[y] are come hameTo me for evermair.’20.20.3‘happit,’ wrapped.She has gaen an’ made their bed,An’ she’s made it saft an’ fine,An’ she’s happit them wi’ her gay mantel,Because they were her ain.21.21.1‘Linkem,’ perhaps a stock ballad-locality, like ‘Lin,’ etc. See First Series, Introduction, p. 1.O the young cock crew i’ the merry Linkem,An’ the wild fowl chirp’d for day;The aulder to the younger did say,‘Dear brother, we maun away.’22.‘Lie still, lie still, a little wee while,Lie still but if we may;For gin my mother miss us away,She’ll gae mad or it be day.’23.O it’s they’ve ta’en up their mother’s mantel,And they’ve hang’d it on the pin:‘O lang may ye hing, my mother’s mantel,Or ye hap us again!’
1.
1.4‘lair,’ lesson. Cp. 16.1.
O Iwill sing to you a sang,
But oh my heart is sair!
The clerk’s twa sons in Owsenford
Has to learn some unco lair.
2.
They hadna been in fair Parish
A twelvemonth an’ a day,
Till the clerk’s twa sons o’ Owsenford
Wi’ the mayor’s twa daughters lay.
3.
O word’s gaen to the mighty mayor,
As he sail’d on the sea,
That the clerk’s twa sons o’ Owsenford
Wi’ his twa daughters lay.
4.
‘If they hae lain wi’ my twa daughters,
Meg and Marjorie,
The morn, or I taste meat or drink,
They shall be hangit hie.’
5.
O word’s gaen to the clerk himself,
As he sat drinkin’ wine,
That his twa sons in fair Parish
Were bound in prison strong.
6.
Then up and spak the clerk’s ladye,
And she spak pow’rfully:
‘O tak with ye a purse of gold,
Or take with ye three,
And if ye canna get William,
Bring Andrew hame to me.’
7.
7.1etc. ‘owsen,’ oxen.
‘O lye ye here for owsen, dear sons,
Or lie ye here for kye?
Or what is it that ye lie for,
Sae sair bound as ye lie?’
8.
‘We lie not here for owsen, dear father,
Nor yet lie here for kye;
But it’s for a little o’ dear-bought love
Sae sair bound as we lye.’
9.
O he’s gane to the mighty mayor
And he spake powerfully:
‘Will ye grant me my twa sons’ lives,
Either for gold or fee?
Or will ye be sae gude a man
As grant them baith to me?’
10.
‘I’ll no’ grant ye yere twa sons’ lives,
Neither for gold or fee,
Nor will I be sae gude a man
As gie them back to thee;
Before the morn at twelve o’clock
Ye’ll see them hangit hie.’
11.
Up and spak his twa daughters,
And they spak pow’rfully:
‘Will ye grant us our twa loves’ lives,
Either for gold or fee?
Or will ye be sae gude a man
As grant them baith to me?’
12.
‘I ‘ll no’ grant ye yere twa loves’ lives,
Neither for gold or fee,
Nor will I be sae gude a man
As grant their lives to thee;
Before the morn at twelve o’clock
Ye’ll see them hangit hie.’
13.
O he’s ta’en out these proper youths,
And hang’d them on a tree,
And he’s bidden the clerk o’ Owsenford
Gang hame to his ladie.
14.
His lady sits on yon castle-wa’,
Beholding dale and doun,
An’ there she saw her ain gude lord
Come walkin’ to the toun.
15.
‘Ye’re welcome, welcome, my ain gude lord,
Ye’re welcome hame to me;
But where away are my twa sons?
Ye should hae brought them wi’ ye.’
16.
‘It’s I’ve putten them to a deeper lair,
An’ to a higher schule;
Yere ain twa sons ’ill no’ be here
Till the hallow days o’ Yule.’
17.
17.2‘dool,’ grief.
‘O sorrow, sorrow, come mak’ my bed,
An’ dool come lay me doon!
For I’ll neither eat nor drink,
Nor set a fit on ground.’
18.
18 Here beginsThe Wife of Usher’s Wellin a variant.
The hallow days of Yule are come,
The nights are lang and dark;
An’ in an’ cam’ her ain twa sons,
Wi’ their hats made o’ the bark.
19.
‘O eat an’ drink, my merry men a’,
The better shall ye fare,
For my twa sons the[y] are come hame
To me for evermair.’
20.
20.3‘happit,’ wrapped.
She has gaen an’ made their bed,
An’ she’s made it saft an’ fine,
An’ she’s happit them wi’ her gay mantel,
Because they were her ain.
21.
21.1‘Linkem,’ perhaps a stock ballad-locality, like ‘Lin,’ etc. See First Series, Introduction, p. 1.
O the young cock crew i’ the merry Linkem,
An’ the wild fowl chirp’d for day;
The aulder to the younger did say,
‘Dear brother, we maun away.’
22.
‘Lie still, lie still, a little wee while,
Lie still but if we may;
For gin my mother miss us away,
She’ll gae mad or it be day.’
23.
O it’s they’ve ta’en up their mother’s mantel,
And they’ve hang’d it on the pin:
‘O lang may ye hing, my mother’s mantel,
Or ye hap us again!’
1.Therelived a wife at Usher’s Well,And a wealthy wife was she;She had three stout and stalwart sons,And sent them o’er the sea.2.2.3‘carline,’ old woman.They hadna been a week from her,A week but barely ane,When word came to the carline wifeThat her three sons were gane.3.They hadna been a week from her,A week but barely three,When word came to the carlin wife,That her sons she’d never see.4.‘I wish the wind may never cease,Nor fishes in the flood,Till my three sons come hame to me,In earthly flesh and blood.’5.5.4‘birk,’ birch.It fell about the Martinmass,When nights are lang and mirk,The carlin wife’s three sons came hame,And their hats were o’ the birk.6.6.1‘syke,’ marsh.6.2‘sheugh,’ ditch.It neither grew in syke nor ditch,Nor yet in ony sheugh;But at the gates o’ ParadiseThat birk grew fair eneugh......7.‘Blow up the fire, my maidens,Bring water from the well;For a’ my house shall feast this night,Since my three sons are well.’8.And she has made to them a bed,She’s made it large and wide,And she’s ta’en her mantle her about,Sat down at the bedside......9.Up then crew the red, red cock,And up and crew the gray;The eldest to the youngest said,‘’Tis time we were away.’10.The cock he hadna craw’d but once,And clapp’d his wings at a’,Whan the youngest to the eldest said,‘Brother, we must awa’.11.11.2‘channerin’,’ fretting.‘The cock doth craw, the day doth daw,The channerin’ worm doth chide;Gin we be mist out o’ our place,A sair pain we maun bide.12.‘Fare-ye-weel, my mother dear!Fareweel to barn and byre!And fare-ye-weel, the bonny lassThat kindles my mother’s fire!’.....
1.
Therelived a wife at Usher’s Well,
And a wealthy wife was she;
She had three stout and stalwart sons,
And sent them o’er the sea.
2.
2.3‘carline,’ old woman.
They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely ane,
When word came to the carline wife
That her three sons were gane.
3.
They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely three,
When word came to the carlin wife,
That her sons she’d never see.
4.
‘I wish the wind may never cease,
Nor fishes in the flood,
Till my three sons come hame to me,
In earthly flesh and blood.’
5.
5.4‘birk,’ birch.
It fell about the Martinmass,
When nights are lang and mirk,
The carlin wife’s three sons came hame,
And their hats were o’ the birk.
6.
6.1‘syke,’ marsh.
6.2‘sheugh,’ ditch.
It neither grew in syke nor ditch,
Nor yet in ony sheugh;
But at the gates o’ Paradise
That birk grew fair eneugh.
.....
7.
‘Blow up the fire, my maidens,
Bring water from the well;
For a’ my house shall feast this night,
Since my three sons are well.’
8.
And she has made to them a bed,
She’s made it large and wide,
And she’s ta’en her mantle her about,
Sat down at the bedside.
.....
9.
Up then crew the red, red cock,
And up and crew the gray;
The eldest to the youngest said,
‘’Tis time we were away.’
10.
The cock he hadna craw’d but once,
And clapp’d his wings at a’,
Whan the youngest to the eldest said,
‘Brother, we must awa’.
11.
11.2‘channerin’,’ fretting.
‘The cock doth craw, the day doth daw,
The channerin’ worm doth chide;
Gin we be mist out o’ our place,
A sair pain we maun bide.
12.
‘Fare-ye-weel, my mother dear!
Fareweel to barn and byre!
And fare-ye-weel, the bonny lass
That kindles my mother’s fire!’
.....
The Textwas communicated to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland by Captain F. W. L. Thomas, who took it down from the dictation of an old woman of Shetland.
The Storyis concerned with the Finn-myth. The Finns live in the depths of the sea. ‘Their transfiguration into seals seems to be more a kind of deception they practise. For the males are described as most daring boatmen, with powerful sweep of the oar, who chase foreign vessels on the sea.... By means of a “skin” which they possess, the men and the women among them are able to change themselves into seals. But on shore, after having taken off the wrappage, they are, and behave like, real human beings.... Many a Finn woman has got into the power of a Shetlander, and borne children to him; but if the Finn woman succeeded in re-obtaining her sea-skin, or seal-skin, she escaped across the water’ (Karl Blind in theContemporary Review, September 1881, pp. 399-400). The same writer, in quoting a verse of this ballad, says, ‘Shöol Skerry means Seal’s Isle.’ The whole article is of great interest.
‘G. S. L.,’ the author ofShetland Fireside Tales, or the Hermit of Trosswickness(1877), remarks: ‘The belief that witches and wizards came from the coast of Norway disguised as seals was entertained by many of the Shetland peasantry even so late as the beginning of the present century.’ He goes on toprove the supernatural character of seals by relating an exploit of his own, in which a gun pointed at a seal refused to go off.
Sule Skerrie is a lonely islet to the north-east of Cape Wrath, about as far therefrom as from the Shetland Isles.
Another version of this ballad, unknown to Child, is given in theAppendix.
1.1.1‘nourris,’ nurse, nursing-mother.Aneartly nourris sits and sings,And aye she sings, ‘Ba, lily wean!Little ken I my bairnis father,Far less the land that he staps in.’2.2.2‘grumly,’ muddy, dreggy. —Jamieson.Then ane arose at her bed-fit.An’ a grumly guest I’m sure was he:‘Here am I, thy bairnis father,Although that I be not comelie.3.3.2‘silkie,’ seal.‘I am a man, upo’ the lan’,An’ I am a silkie in the sea;And when I’m far and far frae lan’,My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie.’4.4.4‘aught,’ have.‘It was na weel,’ quo’ the maiden fair,‘It was na weel, indeed,’ quo’ she,‘That the Great Silkie of Sule SkerrieSuld hae come and aught a bairn to me.’5.Now he has ta’en a purse of goud,And he has pat it upo’ her knee,Sayin’, ‘Gie to me my little young son,An’ tak thee up thy nourris-fee.6.‘An’ it sall come to pass on a simmer’s day,When the sin shines het on evera stane,That I will tak my little young son,An’ teach him for to swim the faem.7.‘An’ thu sall marry a proud gunner,An’ a proud gunner I’m sure he’ll be,An’ the very first schot that ere he schoots,He’ll schoot baith my young son and me.’
1.
1.1‘nourris,’ nurse, nursing-mother.
Aneartly nourris sits and sings,
And aye she sings, ‘Ba, lily wean!
Little ken I my bairnis father,
Far less the land that he staps in.’
2.
2.2‘grumly,’ muddy, dreggy. —Jamieson.
Then ane arose at her bed-fit.
An’ a grumly guest I’m sure was he:
‘Here am I, thy bairnis father,
Although that I be not comelie.
3.
3.2‘silkie,’ seal.
‘I am a man, upo’ the lan’,
An’ I am a silkie in the sea;
And when I’m far and far frae lan’,
My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie.’
4.
4.4‘aught,’ have.
‘It was na weel,’ quo’ the maiden fair,
‘It was na weel, indeed,’ quo’ she,
‘That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
Suld hae come and aught a bairn to me.’
5.
Now he has ta’en a purse of goud,
And he has pat it upo’ her knee,
Sayin’, ‘Gie to me my little young son,
An’ tak thee up thy nourris-fee.
6.
‘An’ it sall come to pass on a simmer’s day,
When the sin shines het on evera stane,
That I will tak my little young son,
An’ teach him for to swim the faem.
7.
‘An’ thu sall marry a proud gunner,
An’ a proud gunner I’m sure he’ll be,
An’ the very first schot that ere he schoots,
He’ll schoot baith my young son and me.’
The Textis given in full from Herd’sMSS., where it concludes with a version ofSweet William’s Ghost; and the last three stanzas, 42-44, are from Scott’s later version of the ballad (1833) from recitation. Child divides the ballad as follows:—Clerk Sanders, 1-26 of the present version;Sweet William’s Ghost, 27-41. Scott made ‘one or two conjectural emendations in the arrangement of the stanzas.’
The Storyof this admirable ballad in its various forms is paralleled in one or two of its incidents by a similar collection of Scandinavian ballads. Jamieson introduced into his version certain questions and answers (of the prevaricating type found in a baser form inOur Goodman) which are professedly of Scandinavian origin.
1.1.2‘gravel’d green’; probably corrupt: perhaps a green with gravelled walks.1.4‘I wat’; cp. 11.2, 13.2, 15.4, etc.ClarkSanders and May MargretWalkt ower yon gravel’d green;And sad and heavy was the love,I wat, it fell this twa between.2.‘A bed, a bed,’ Clark Sanders said,‘A bed, a bed, for you and I:’‘Fye no, fye no,’ the lady said,‘Until the day we married be.3.‘For in it will come my seven brothers,And a’ their torches burning bright;They’ll say, We hae but ae sister,And here her lying wi’ a knight.’4.4.2‘gin,’ altered in theMS.to ‘pin.’ In either case, itpart of the door-latch.‘Ye’l take the sourde fray my scabbord,And lowly, lowly lift the gin,And you may say, your oth to save,You never let Clerk Sanders in.5.‘Yele take a napken in your hand,And ye’l ty up baith your een,An’ ye may say, your oth to save,That ye saw na Sandy sen late yestreen.6.6.2‘ben,’ within.‘Yele take me in your armes twa,Yele carrey me ben into your bed,And ye may say, your oth to save,In your bower-floor I never tread.’7.She has ta’en the sourde fray his scabbord.And lowly, lowly lifted the gin;She was to swear, her oth to save,She never let Clerk Sanders in.8.She has tain a napkin in her hand,And she ty’d up baith her een;She was to swear, her oth to save,She saw na him sene late yestreen.9.She has ta’en him in her armes twa,And carried him ben into her bed;She was to swear, her oth to save,He never in her bower-floor tread.10.In and came her seven brothers,And all their torches burning bright;Says thay, We hae but ae sister,And see there her lying wi’ a knight.11.Out and speaks the first of them,‘A wat they hay been lovers dear;’Out and speaks the next of them,‘They hay been in love this many a year.’12.12.2‘twain,’ separate.Out an’ speaks the third of them,‘It wear great sin this twa to twain;’Out an’ speaks the fourth of them,‘It wear a sin to kill a sleeping man.’13.Out an’ speaks the fifth of them,‘A wat they’ll near be twain’d by me;’Out an’ speaks the sixt of them,‘We’l tak our leave an’ gae our way.’14.Out an’ speaks the seventh of them,‘Altho’ there wear no a man but me,I’se bear the brand into my handShall quickly gar Clark Sanders die.’15.15 Cp.The Bonny Birdy, 15.1-4(First Series, p. 28).15.2‘striped,’ whetted. See First Series, Introduction, pp. xlix-l.Out he has ta’en a bright long brand,And he has striped it throw the straw,And throw and throw Clarke Sanders’ bodyA wat he has gard cold iron gae.16.16.3‘well and wellsom,’ probably a corruption of ‘wae and waesome,’ sad and woful.Sanders he started, an’ Margret she laptIntill his arms where she lay;And well and wellsom was the night,A wat it was between these twa.17.And they lay still, and sleeped sound,Untill the day began to daw;And kindly till him she did say,‘It is time, trew-love, ye wear awa’.’18.They lay still, and sleeped sound,Untill the sun began to shine;She lookt between her and the wa’,And dull and heavy was his een.19.She thought it had been a loathsome sweat,A wat it had fallen this twa between;But it was the blood of his fair body,A wat his life days wair na lang.20.20.2‘thoule,’ endure.‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sakeWhat other ladys would na thoule;When seven years is come and gone,There’s near a shoe go on my sole.21.‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sakeWhat other ladies would think mare;When seven years is come and gone,There’s nere a comb go in my hair.22.22.2‘lack,’ discredit.22.4‘dowy,’ mournful.‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sake,What other ladies would think lack;When seven years is come and gone,I’le wear nought but dowy black.’23.The bells gaed clinking throw the towne,To carry the dead corps to the clay;An’ sighing says her May Margret,‘A wat I bide a doulfou’ day.’24.In an’ come her father dear,Stout steping on the floor;..........25.‘Hold your toung, my doughter dear,Let a’ your mourning a-bee;I’le carry the dead corps to the clay,An’ I’le come back an’ comfort thee.’26.‘Comfort well your seven sons;For comforted will I never bee;For it was neither lord nor louneThat was in bower last night wi’ mee.’27.Whan bells war rung, an’ mass was sung,A wat a’ man to bed were gone,Clark Sanders came to Margret’s window,With mony a sad sigh and groan.28.‘Are ye sleeping, Margret?’ he says,‘Or are ye waking presentlie?Give me my faith and trouthe again,A wat, trew-love, I gied to thee.’29.‘Your faith and trouth ye’s never get,Nor our trew love shall never twain,Till ye come with me in my bower,And kiss me both cheek and chin.’30.30.3,4Cp.The Unquiet Grave, 5.3,4.‘My mouth it is full cold, Margret,It has the smell now of the ground;And if I kiss thy comely mouth,Thy life days will not be long.31.31.1‘mid-larf,’ probably corrupt: changed by Scott to ‘midnight.’ The meaning is unknown.‘Cocks are crowing a merry mid-larf,I wat the wild fule boded day;Gie me my faith and trouthe again.And let me fare me on my way.’32.‘Thy faith and trouth thou shall na get,And our trew love shall never twin,Till ye tell me what comes of womenA wat that dy’s in strong traveling?’33.‘Their beds are made in the heavens high,Down at the foot of our good Lord’s knee,Well set about wi’ gillyflowers:A wat sweet company for to see.34.‘O, cocks are crowing a merry mid-larf,A wat the wilde foule boded day;The salms of Heaven will be sung,And ere now I’le be misst away.’35.35.3‘shot-window,’ a window which opens and shuts. See First Series, Introduction, p. 1.Up she has tain a bright long wand,And she has straked her trouth thereon;She has given [it] him out at the shot-window,Wi’ many a sad sigh and heavy groan.36.‘I thank you, Margret; I thank you, Margret,And I thank you heartilie;Gin ever the dead come for the quick,Be sure, Margret, I’ll come again for thee.’37.It’s hose an’ shoon an’ gound alane,She clame the wall and follow’d him,Until she came to a green forest,On this she lost the sight of him.38.‘Is there any room at your head, Sanders?Is there any room at your feet?Or any room at your twa sides,Whare fain, fain woud I sleep?’39.‘Thair is na room at my head, Margret,Thair is na room at my feet;There is room at my twa sides,For ladys for to sleep.40.40.1‘meal,’ mould, earth.‘Cold meal is my covering owre,But an’ my winding sheet;My bed it is full low, I say,Down among the hongerey worms I sleep.41.‘Cold meal is my covering owre,But an’ my winding sheet;The dew it falls na sooner downThen ay it is full weet.42.‘But plait a wand o’ bonny birk,And lay it on my breast;And shed a tear upon my grave,And wish my saul gude rest.43.‘And fair Margret, and rare Margret,And Margret o’ veritie,Gin e’er ye love another man,Ne’er love him as ye did me.’44.Then up and crew the milk-white cock,And up and crew the grey;The lover vanish’d in the air,And she gaed weeping away.
1.
1.2‘gravel’d green’; probably corrupt: perhaps a green with gravelled walks.
1.4‘I wat’; cp. 11.2, 13.2, 15.4, etc.
ClarkSanders and May Margret
Walkt ower yon gravel’d green;
And sad and heavy was the love,
I wat, it fell this twa between.
2.
‘A bed, a bed,’ Clark Sanders said,
‘A bed, a bed, for you and I:’
‘Fye no, fye no,’ the lady said,
‘Until the day we married be.
3.
‘For in it will come my seven brothers,
And a’ their torches burning bright;
They’ll say, We hae but ae sister,
And here her lying wi’ a knight.’
4.
4.2‘gin,’ altered in theMS.to ‘pin.’ In either case, itpart of the door-latch.
‘Ye’l take the sourde fray my scabbord,
And lowly, lowly lift the gin,
And you may say, your oth to save,
You never let Clerk Sanders in.
5.
‘Yele take a napken in your hand,
And ye’l ty up baith your een,
An’ ye may say, your oth to save,
That ye saw na Sandy sen late yestreen.
6.
6.2‘ben,’ within.
‘Yele take me in your armes twa,
Yele carrey me ben into your bed,
And ye may say, your oth to save,
In your bower-floor I never tread.’
7.
She has ta’en the sourde fray his scabbord.
And lowly, lowly lifted the gin;
She was to swear, her oth to save,
She never let Clerk Sanders in.
8.
She has tain a napkin in her hand,
And she ty’d up baith her een;
She was to swear, her oth to save,
She saw na him sene late yestreen.
9.
She has ta’en him in her armes twa,
And carried him ben into her bed;
She was to swear, her oth to save,
He never in her bower-floor tread.
10.
In and came her seven brothers,
And all their torches burning bright;
Says thay, We hae but ae sister,
And see there her lying wi’ a knight.
11.
Out and speaks the first of them,
‘A wat they hay been lovers dear;’
Out and speaks the next of them,
‘They hay been in love this many a year.’
12.
12.2‘twain,’ separate.
Out an’ speaks the third of them,
‘It wear great sin this twa to twain;’
Out an’ speaks the fourth of them,
‘It wear a sin to kill a sleeping man.’
13.
Out an’ speaks the fifth of them,
‘A wat they’ll near be twain’d by me;’
Out an’ speaks the sixt of them,
‘We’l tak our leave an’ gae our way.’
14.
Out an’ speaks the seventh of them,
‘Altho’ there wear no a man but me,
I’se bear the brand into my hand
Shall quickly gar Clark Sanders die.’
15.
15 Cp.The Bonny Birdy, 15.1-4(First Series, p. 28).
15.2‘striped,’ whetted. See First Series, Introduction, pp. xlix-l.
Out he has ta’en a bright long brand,
And he has striped it throw the straw,
And throw and throw Clarke Sanders’ body
A wat he has gard cold iron gae.
16.
16.3‘well and wellsom,’ probably a corruption of ‘wae and waesome,’ sad and woful.
Sanders he started, an’ Margret she lapt
Intill his arms where she lay;
And well and wellsom was the night,
A wat it was between these twa.
17.
And they lay still, and sleeped sound,
Untill the day began to daw;
And kindly till him she did say,
‘It is time, trew-love, ye wear awa’.’
18.
They lay still, and sleeped sound,
Untill the sun began to shine;
She lookt between her and the wa’,
And dull and heavy was his een.
19.
She thought it had been a loathsome sweat,
A wat it had fallen this twa between;
But it was the blood of his fair body,
A wat his life days wair na lang.
20.
20.2‘thoule,’ endure.
‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sake
What other ladys would na thoule;
When seven years is come and gone,
There’s near a shoe go on my sole.
21.
‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sake
What other ladies would think mare;
When seven years is come and gone,
There’s nere a comb go in my hair.
22.
22.2‘lack,’ discredit.
22.4‘dowy,’ mournful.
‘O Sanders, I’le do for your sake,
What other ladies would think lack;
When seven years is come and gone,
I’le wear nought but dowy black.’
23.
The bells gaed clinking throw the towne,
To carry the dead corps to the clay;
An’ sighing says her May Margret,
‘A wat I bide a doulfou’ day.’
24.
In an’ come her father dear,
Stout steping on the floor;
.....
.....
25.
‘Hold your toung, my doughter dear,
Let a’ your mourning a-bee;
I’le carry the dead corps to the clay,
An’ I’le come back an’ comfort thee.’
26.
‘Comfort well your seven sons;
For comforted will I never bee;
For it was neither lord nor loune
That was in bower last night wi’ mee.’
27.
Whan bells war rung, an’ mass was sung,
A wat a’ man to bed were gone,
Clark Sanders came to Margret’s window,
With mony a sad sigh and groan.
28.
‘Are ye sleeping, Margret?’ he says,
‘Or are ye waking presentlie?
Give me my faith and trouthe again,
A wat, trew-love, I gied to thee.’
29.
‘Your faith and trouth ye’s never get,
Nor our trew love shall never twain,
Till ye come with me in my bower,
And kiss me both cheek and chin.’
30.
30.3,4Cp.The Unquiet Grave, 5.3,4.
‘My mouth it is full cold, Margret,
It has the smell now of the ground;
And if I kiss thy comely mouth,
Thy life days will not be long.
31.
31.1‘mid-larf,’ probably corrupt: changed by Scott to ‘midnight.’ The meaning is unknown.
‘Cocks are crowing a merry mid-larf,
I wat the wild fule boded day;
Gie me my faith and trouthe again.
And let me fare me on my way.’
32.
‘Thy faith and trouth thou shall na get,
And our trew love shall never twin,
Till ye tell me what comes of women
A wat that dy’s in strong traveling?’
33.
‘Their beds are made in the heavens high,
Down at the foot of our good Lord’s knee,
Well set about wi’ gillyflowers:
A wat sweet company for to see.
34.
‘O, cocks are crowing a merry mid-larf,
A wat the wilde foule boded day;
The salms of Heaven will be sung,
And ere now I’le be misst away.’
35.
35.3‘shot-window,’ a window which opens and shuts. See First Series, Introduction, p. 1.
Up she has tain a bright long wand,
And she has straked her trouth thereon;
She has given [it] him out at the shot-window,
Wi’ many a sad sigh and heavy groan.
36.
‘I thank you, Margret; I thank you, Margret,
And I thank you heartilie;
Gin ever the dead come for the quick,
Be sure, Margret, I’ll come again for thee.’
37.
It’s hose an’ shoon an’ gound alane,
She clame the wall and follow’d him,
Until she came to a green forest,
On this she lost the sight of him.
38.
‘Is there any room at your head, Sanders?
Is there any room at your feet?
Or any room at your twa sides,
Whare fain, fain woud I sleep?’
39.
‘Thair is na room at my head, Margret,
Thair is na room at my feet;
There is room at my twa sides,
For ladys for to sleep.
40.
40.1‘meal,’ mould, earth.
‘Cold meal is my covering owre,
But an’ my winding sheet;
My bed it is full low, I say,
Down among the hongerey worms I sleep.
41.
‘Cold meal is my covering owre,
But an’ my winding sheet;
The dew it falls na sooner down
Then ay it is full weet.
42.
‘But plait a wand o’ bonny birk,
And lay it on my breast;
And shed a tear upon my grave,
And wish my saul gude rest.
43.
‘And fair Margret, and rare Margret,
And Margret o’ veritie,
Gin e’er ye love another man,
Ne’er love him as ye did me.’
44.
Then up and crew the milk-white cock,
And up and crew the grey;
The lover vanish’d in the air,
And she gaed weeping away.
The Textis given from two copies in Herd’sMSS.as collated by Child, with the exception of two lines, 9.3,4, which are taken from a third and shorter copy in Herd’sMSS., printed by him in theScottish Songs. Scott’s ballad,Earl Richard, is described by him as made up from the above-mentioned copies of Herd, with some trivial alterations adopted from tradition—a totally inadequate account of wholesale alterations. Scott also gives a similar ballad inLord William.
The Story .—Young Hunting, a king’s son, tells a former mistress that he has a new sweetheart whom he loves thrice as well. The lady conceals her anger, plies him with wine, and slays him in his drunken sleep. Her deed unluckily is overseen by a bonny bird, whom she attempts to coax into captivity, but fails. She dresses Young Hunting for riding, and throws him into the Clyde. The king his father asks for him. She swears by corn (see First Series,Glasgerion, p. 1) that she has not seen him since yesterday at noon. The king’s divers search for him in vain, until the bonny bird reminds them of the method of finding a drowned corpse by the means of candles. The lady still denies her guilt, and accuses her maid ‘Catheren,’ but the bonfire refuses to consume the innocent Catheren. When the real culprit is put in, she burns like hoky-gren.
The discovery of a drowned body by candles is a recognised piece of folklore. Usually the candle is stuck in a loaf of bread or on a cork, and set afloat inthe river; sometimes a hole is cut in a loaf of bread and mercury poured in to weight it; even a chip of wood is used. The superstition still survives. The most rational explanation offered is that as eddies in rapid streams form deep pools, in which a body might easily be caught, so a floating substance indicates the place by being caught in the centre of the eddy.
The failure of the fire to burn an innocent maid is also, of course, a well-known incident.