H.

Notes and Queries, 1st S.,VIII, 358. From Warwickshire, communicated by C. Clifton Barry.

1There was a lady lived on [a] lea,All alone, alone ODown by the greenwood side went she.Down the greenwood side O2She set her foot all on a thorn,There she had two babies born.3O she had nothing to lap them in,But a white appurn, and that was thin.

1There was a lady lived on [a] lea,All alone, alone ODown by the greenwood side went she.Down the greenwood side O

2She set her foot all on a thorn,There she had two babies born.

3O she had nothing to lap them in,But a white appurn, and that was thin.

Motherwell's MS., p. 402. From Agnes Laird, Kilbarchan, August 24, 1825.

1There was a lady brisk and smart,All in a lone and a lonie OAnd she goes with child to her father's clark.Down by the greenwood sidie O2Big, big oh she went away,And then she set her foot to a tree.3Big she set her foot to a stone,Till her three bonnie babes were borne.4She took the ribbons off her head,She tied the little babes hand and feet.5She howkit a hole before the sun,She's laid these three bonnie babes in.6She covered them over with marble stone,For dukes and lords to walk upon.7She lookit over her father's castle wa,She saw three bonnie boys playing at the ba.8The first o them was clad in red,To shew the innocence of their blood.9The neist o them was clad in green,To shew that death they had been in.10The next was naked to the skin,To shew they were murderd when they were born.11'O bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I wad dress you in the satins so fine.'12'O mother dear, when we were thine,Thou did not use us half so kind.'13'O bonnie babes, an ye be mine,Whare hae ye been a' this time?'14'We were at our father's house,Preparing a place for thee and us.'15'Whaten a place hae ye prepar'd for me?''Heaven's for us, but hell's for thee.16'O mother dear, but heaven's high;That is the place thou'll ne'er come nigh.17'O mother dear, but hell is deep;'T will cause thee bitterlie to weep.'

1There was a lady brisk and smart,All in a lone and a lonie OAnd she goes with child to her father's clark.Down by the greenwood sidie O

2Big, big oh she went away,And then she set her foot to a tree.

3Big she set her foot to a stone,Till her three bonnie babes were borne.

4She took the ribbons off her head,She tied the little babes hand and feet.

5She howkit a hole before the sun,She's laid these three bonnie babes in.

6She covered them over with marble stone,For dukes and lords to walk upon.

7She lookit over her father's castle wa,She saw three bonnie boys playing at the ba.

8The first o them was clad in red,To shew the innocence of their blood.

9The neist o them was clad in green,To shew that death they had been in.

10The next was naked to the skin,To shew they were murderd when they were born.

11'O bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I wad dress you in the satins so fine.'

12'O mother dear, when we were thine,Thou did not use us half so kind.'

13'O bonnie babes, an ye be mine,Whare hae ye been a' this time?'

14'We were at our father's house,Preparing a place for thee and us.'

15'Whaten a place hae ye prepar'd for me?''Heaven's for us, but hell's for thee.

16'O mother dear, but heaven's high;That is the place thou'll ne'er come nigh.

17'O mother dear, but hell is deep;'T will cause thee bitterlie to weep.'

a.Buchan's MS.,II, 111.b.Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland,II, 217.c.Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs,I, 106.

1The minister's daughter of New York,Hey wi the rose and the lindie, OHas faen in love wi her father's clerk.Alone by the green burn sidie, O2She courted him six years and a day,At length her belly did her betray.3She did her down to the greenwood gang,To spend awa a while o her time.4She lent her back unto a thorn,And she's got her twa bonny boys born.5She 's taen the ribbons frae her hair,Bound their bodyes fast and sair.6She 's put them aneath a marble stane,Thinking a maiden to gae hame.7Looking oer her castle wa,She spied her bonny boys at the ba.8'O bonny babies, if ye were mine,I woud feed you with the white bread and wine.9'I woud feed you wi the ferra cow's milk,And dress you in the finest silk.'10'O cruel mother, when we were thine,We saw none of your bread and wine.11'We saw none of your ferra cow's milk,Nor wore we of your finest silk.'12'O bonny babies, can ye tell me,What sort of death for you I must die?'13'Yes, cruel mother, we'll tell to thee,What sort of death for us you must die.14'Seven years a fowl in the woods,Seven years a fish in the floods.15'Seven years to be a church bell,Seven years a porter in hell.'16'Welcome, welcome, fowl in the wood[s],Welcome, welcome, fish in the flood[s].17'Welcome, welcome, to be a church bell,But heavens keep me out of hell.'

1The minister's daughter of New York,Hey wi the rose and the lindie, OHas faen in love wi her father's clerk.Alone by the green burn sidie, O

2She courted him six years and a day,At length her belly did her betray.

3She did her down to the greenwood gang,To spend awa a while o her time.

4She lent her back unto a thorn,And she's got her twa bonny boys born.

5She 's taen the ribbons frae her hair,Bound their bodyes fast and sair.

6She 's put them aneath a marble stane,Thinking a maiden to gae hame.

7Looking oer her castle wa,She spied her bonny boys at the ba.

8'O bonny babies, if ye were mine,I woud feed you with the white bread and wine.

9'I woud feed you wi the ferra cow's milk,And dress you in the finest silk.'

10'O cruel mother, when we were thine,We saw none of your bread and wine.

11'We saw none of your ferra cow's milk,Nor wore we of your finest silk.'

12'O bonny babies, can ye tell me,What sort of death for you I must die?'

13'Yes, cruel mother, we'll tell to thee,What sort of death for us you must die.

14'Seven years a fowl in the woods,Seven years a fish in the floods.

15'Seven years to be a church bell,Seven years a porter in hell.'

16'Welcome, welcome, fowl in the wood[s],Welcome, welcome, fish in the flood[s].

17'Welcome, welcome, to be a church bell,But heavens keep me out of hell.'

a.Harris MS., fol. 10, "Mrs Harris and others."b.Fragment communicated by Dr T. Davidson.

1She leant her back against a thorn,Hey for the Rose o' Malindie OAnd there she has twa bonnie babes born.Adoon by the green wood sidie O2She's taen the ribbon frae her head,An hankit their necks till they waur dead.3She luikit outowre her castle wa,An saw twa nakit boys, playin at the ba.4'O bonnie boys, waur ye but mine,I wald feed ye wi flour-bread an wine.'5'O fause mother, whan we waur thine,Ye didna feed us wi flour-bread an wine.'6'O bonnie boys, gif ye waur mine,I wald clied ye wi silk sae fine.'7'O fause mother, whan we waur thine,You didna clied us in silk sae fine.8'Ye tuik the ribbon aff your head,An' hankit our necks till we waur dead.* * * * *9'Ye sall be seven years bird on the tree,Ye sall be seven years fish i the sea.10'Ye sall be seven years eel i the pule,An ye sail be seven years doon into hell.'11'Welcome, welcome, bird on the tree,Welcome, welcome, fish i the sea.12'Welcome, welcome, eel i the pule,But oh for gudesake, keep me frae hell!'

1She leant her back against a thorn,Hey for the Rose o' Malindie OAnd there she has twa bonnie babes born.Adoon by the green wood sidie O

2She's taen the ribbon frae her head,An hankit their necks till they waur dead.

3She luikit outowre her castle wa,An saw twa nakit boys, playin at the ba.

4'O bonnie boys, waur ye but mine,I wald feed ye wi flour-bread an wine.'

5'O fause mother, whan we waur thine,Ye didna feed us wi flour-bread an wine.'

6'O bonnie boys, gif ye waur mine,I wald clied ye wi silk sae fine.'

7'O fause mother, whan we waur thine,You didna clied us in silk sae fine.

8'Ye tuik the ribbon aff your head,An' hankit our necks till we waur dead.

* * * * *

9'Ye sall be seven years bird on the tree,Ye sall be seven years fish i the sea.

10'Ye sall be seven years eel i the pule,An ye sail be seven years doon into hell.'

11'Welcome, welcome, bird on the tree,Welcome, welcome, fish i the sea.

12'Welcome, welcome, eel i the pule,But oh for gudesake, keep me frae hell!'

Motherwell's MS., p. 186.

1Lady Margaret looked oer the castle wa,Hey and a lo and a lilly OAnd she saw twa bonnie babes playing at the ba.Down by the green wood sidy O2'O pretty babes, an ye were mine,I would dress you in the silks so fine.'3'O false mother, when we were thine,Ye did not dress us in silks so fine.'4'O bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I would feed you on the bread and wine.'5'O false mother, when we were thine,Ye did not feed us on the bread and the wine.'* * * * *6'Seven years a fish in the sea,And seven years a bird in the tree.7'Seven years to ring a bell,And seven years porter in hell.'

1Lady Margaret looked oer the castle wa,Hey and a lo and a lilly OAnd she saw twa bonnie babes playing at the ba.Down by the green wood sidy O

2'O pretty babes, an ye were mine,I would dress you in the silks so fine.'

3'O false mother, when we were thine,Ye did not dress us in silks so fine.'

4'O bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I would feed you on the bread and wine.'

5'O false mother, when we were thine,Ye did not feed us on the bread and the wine.'

* * * * *

6'Seven years a fish in the sea,And seven years a bird in the tree.

7'Seven years to ring a bell,And seven years porter in hell.'

Smith's Scottish Minstrel,IV, 33, 2d ed.

1A lady lookd out at a castle wa,Fine flowers in the valleyShe saw twa bonnie babes playing at the ba.And the green leaves they grow rarely2'O my bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I would cleed ye i the scarlet sae fine.3'I 'd lay ye saft in beds o down,And watch ye morning, night and noon.'4'O mither dear, when we were thine,Ye didna cleed us i the scarlet sae fine.5'But ye took out yere little pen-knife,And parted us frae our sweet life.6'Ye howkit a hole aneath the moon,And there ye laid our bodies down.7'Ye happit the hole wi mossy stanes,And there ye left our wee bit banes.8'But ye ken weel, O mither dear,Ye never cam that gate for fear.'* * * * *9'Seven lang years ye'll ring the bell,And see sic sights as ye darna tell.'

1A lady lookd out at a castle wa,Fine flowers in the valleyShe saw twa bonnie babes playing at the ba.And the green leaves they grow rarely

2'O my bonnie babes, an ye were mine,I would cleed ye i the scarlet sae fine.

3'I 'd lay ye saft in beds o down,And watch ye morning, night and noon.'

4'O mither dear, when we were thine,Ye didna cleed us i the scarlet sae fine.

5'But ye took out yere little pen-knife,And parted us frae our sweet life.

6'Ye howkit a hole aneath the moon,And there ye laid our bodies down.

7'Ye happit the hole wi mossy stanes,And there ye left our wee bit banes.

8'But ye ken weel, O mither dear,Ye never cam that gate for fear.'

* * * * *

9'Seven lang years ye'll ring the bell,And see sic sights as ye darna tell.'

Communicated by Miss Margaret Reburn, as learned in County Meath, Ireland, about 1860.

'O mother dear, when we were thine,All a lee and aloney OYou neither dressed us in coarse or fine.'Down by the greenwood sidy O

Superscribed, "Fragment to its own tune. Melancholy."Against the first line of the burden is written in the margin, "perhaps alas-a-day," and this change is adopted in Herd's printed copy. Scott suggestedwell-a-day.42.MSS and ed. 1776 haveze ... ze'll.

42.MSS and ed. 1776 haveze ... ze'll.

B. b.

"A fragment [of 5 stanzas] containing the following verses, which I have often heard sung in my childhood."Scott,III. 259. No burden is given.11. She set her back against.12. young son born.21. O smile nae sae.3, 4,wanting.51. An when that lady went.52. She spied a naked boy.61. O bonnie boy, an ye.62. I'd cleed ye in the silks.72. To me ye were na half.Cunningham, Songs of Scotland,I, 340, says:"I remember a verse, and but a verse, of an old ballad which records a horrible instance of barbarity,"and quotes the first two stanzas of Scott's fragment literally; from which we may infer that it was Scott's fragment that he partly remembered. But he goes on:"At this moment a hunter came—one whosesuit the lady had long rejected with scorn—the brother of her lover:

"A fragment [of 5 stanzas] containing the following verses, which I have often heard sung in my childhood."Scott,III. 259. No burden is given.

11. She set her back against.

12. young son born.

21. O smile nae sae.

3, 4,wanting.

51. An when that lady went.

52. She spied a naked boy.

61. O bonnie boy, an ye.

62. I'd cleed ye in the silks.

72. To me ye were na half.

Cunningham, Songs of Scotland,I, 340, says:"I remember a verse, and but a verse, of an old ballad which records a horrible instance of barbarity,"and quotes the first two stanzas of Scott's fragment literally; from which we may infer that it was Scott's fragment that he partly remembered. But he goes on:"At this moment a hunter came—one whosesuit the lady had long rejected with scorn—the brother of her lover:

He took the babe on his spear point,And threw it upon a thorn:'Let the wind blow east, the wind blow west,The cradle will rock alone.'"

Cunningham's recollection was evidently much confused. This last stanza, which is not in the metre of the others, is perhaps from some copy of 'Edom o Gordon.'

D. a.

62. I was.

Kinloch makes slight changes in his printed copy, as usual.41. until a brier.51. out she 's tane.62. She seemd the lealest maiden amang.81. O an thae.

Kinloch makes slight changes in his printed copy, as usual.

41. until a brier.

51. out she 's tane.

62. She seemd the lealest maiden amang.

81. O an thae.

11, 111. Lurkmay be a corruption ofYork, which is written in pencil (by way of suggestion?) in the MSS.

161. on your.

41, 141. upon a thorn.52. twindwanting.61. sattinswanting.13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are not written out in the note-book.181. the heavens.192. but there is none.

41, 141. upon a thorn.

52. twindwanting.

61. sattinswanting.

13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are not written out in the note-book.

181. the heavens.

192. but there is none.

F. a.

9 stands last but one in the MS.142. Here.

9 stands last but one in the MS.

142. Here.

42. has her.72. sweetis omitted.Printed as from the MS. in Dixon's Scottish Traditional Versions, etc., p. 46. Dixon has changedbabytobabiesin 4, 5, 6, 8, and indulges in other variations.

42. has her.

72. sweetis omitted.

Printed as from the MS. in Dixon's Scottish Traditional Versions, etc., p. 46. Dixon has changedbabytobabiesin 4, 5, 6, 8, and indulges in other variations.

The ballad had been heard with two different burdens; besides the one given in the text, this:

Three and three, and three by threeAh me, some forty three

7 'Lady Mary Ann,'Johnson's Museum, No 377, begins:

O Lady Mary Ann looks oer the castle wa,She saw three bonie boys playing at the ba.

I. a, b.

141, 161.fool, i.e.fowlspelt phonetically.

31. greenwoods

22. it did.82. with white.112. wear'd.132. maun die.

22. it did.

82. with white.

112. wear'd.

132. maun die.

"Epitomized"from Buchan,II, 217, "and somewhat changed for this work, some of the changes being made according to the way the Editor has heard it sung."Note by Christie, p. 106.Burden, It 's hey with the rose, etc.71. As a lady was looking.72. She spied twa.112. Nor wore we a.122. What sort of pain for you I must drie.132. What sort of pain for us you must drie.142. And seven.Printed as from the MS. in Dixon's Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 50, 'The Minister's Dochter o Newarke,' with a few arbitrary changes.

"Epitomized"from Buchan,II, 217, "and somewhat changed for this work, some of the changes being made according to the way the Editor has heard it sung."Note by Christie, p. 106.

Burden, It 's hey with the rose, etc.

71. As a lady was looking.

72. She spied twa.

112. Nor wore we a.

122. What sort of pain for you I must drie.

132. What sort of pain for us you must drie.

142. And seven.

Printed as from the MS. in Dixon's Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 50, 'The Minister's Dochter o Newarke,' with a few arbitrary changes.

J. a.

91. You.bhas stanzas corresponding to a 1, 3, 4, 6, and, in place of 2,

91. You.

bhas stanzas corresponding to a 1, 3, 4, 6, and, in place of 2,

She 's taen oot a little pen-knife,And she 's robbit them o their sweet life.

Burden1. Hey i the rose o Mylindsay O.11, until a thorn.12. An syne her twa bonnie boys was born.31. As she leukit oer her father's.32. bonnie boys.41. an ye were mine.42. bread.62. claithe ye in.

Burden1. Hey i the rose o Mylindsay O.

11, until a thorn.

12. An syne her twa bonnie boys was born.

31. As she leukit oer her father's.

32. bonnie boys.

41. an ye were mine.

42. bread.

62. claithe ye in.

8 looks like an interpolation, and very probably the ballad was docked at the beginning in order to suit the parlor better.

FOOTNOTES:[181]All the genuine ones. 'Lady Anne,' in Scott's Minstrelsy,III, 259, 1803, is on the face of it a modern composition, with extensive variations, on the theme of the popular ballad. It is here given in an Appendix, with a companion piece from Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song.

[181]All the genuine ones. 'Lady Anne,' in Scott's Minstrelsy,III, 259, 1803, is on the face of it a modern composition, with extensive variations, on the theme of the popular ballad. It is here given in an Appendix, with a companion piece from Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song.

"This ballad was communicated to me by Mr Kirkpatrick Sharpe of Hoddom, who mentions having copied it from an old magazine. Although it has probably received some modern corrections, the general turn seems to be ancient, and corresponds with that of a fragment [B b], which I have often heard sung in my childhood." Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,III, 259, ed. 1803.

Buchan, Gleanings, p. 90, has an additional stanza between 8 and 9 of Scott's, whether from the old magazine or not, it would not be worth the while to ascertain.

Cunningham, Songs of Scotland,I, 339, has rewritten even 'Lady Anne.'

Translated by Schubart, p. 170, and by Gerhard, p. 92.

1Fair Lady Anne sate in her bower,Down by the greenwood side,And the flowers did spring, and the birds did sing,'Twas the pleasant May-day tide.2But fair Lady Anne on Sir William calld,With the tear grit in her ee,'O though them be fause, may Heaven thee guard,In the wars ayont the sea!'3Out of the wood came three bonnie boys,Upon the simmer's morn,And they did sing and play at the ba',As naked as they were born.4'O seven lang years wad I sit here,Amang the frost and snaw,A' to hae but ane o these bonnie boys,A playing at the ba.'5Then up and spake the eldest boy,'Now listen, thou fair ladie,And ponder well the rede that I tell,Then make ye a choice of the three.6''Tis I am Peter, and this is Paul,And that ane, sae fair to see,But a twelve-month sinsyne to paradise came,To join with our companie.'7'O I will hae the snaw-white boy,The bonniest of the three:''And if I were thine, and in thy propine,O what wad ye do to me?'8''Tis I wad clead thee in silk and gowd,And nourice thee on my knee:''O mither, mither, when I was thine,Sic kindness I couldna see.9'Beneath the turf, where now I stand,The fause nurse buried me;The cruel pen-knife sticks still in my heart,And I come not back to thee.'

1Fair Lady Anne sate in her bower,Down by the greenwood side,And the flowers did spring, and the birds did sing,'Twas the pleasant May-day tide.

2But fair Lady Anne on Sir William calld,With the tear grit in her ee,'O though them be fause, may Heaven thee guard,In the wars ayont the sea!'

3Out of the wood came three bonnie boys,Upon the simmer's morn,And they did sing and play at the ba',As naked as they were born.

4'O seven lang years wad I sit here,Amang the frost and snaw,A' to hae but ane o these bonnie boys,A playing at the ba.'

5Then up and spake the eldest boy,'Now listen, thou fair ladie,And ponder well the rede that I tell,Then make ye a choice of the three.

6''Tis I am Peter, and this is Paul,And that ane, sae fair to see,But a twelve-month sinsyne to paradise came,To join with our companie.'

7'O I will hae the snaw-white boy,The bonniest of the three:''And if I were thine, and in thy propine,O what wad ye do to me?'

8''Tis I wad clead thee in silk and gowd,And nourice thee on my knee:''O mither, mither, when I was thine,Sic kindness I couldna see.

9'Beneath the turf, where now I stand,The fause nurse buried me;The cruel pen-knife sticks still in my heart,And I come not back to thee.'

"There are many variations of this affecting tale. One of them appears in the Musical Museum, and is there called 'Fine Flowers of the Valley,' of which the present is either the original or a parallel song. I am inclined to think it is the original." Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, p. 267.

This is translated by Talvj, Versuch, p. 571.

1There sat 'mang the flowers a fair ladie,Sing ohon, ohon, and ohon OAnd there she has born a sweet babie.Adown by the greenwode side O2An strait she rowed its swaddling band,An O! nae mother grips took her hand.3O twice it lifted its bonnie wee ee:'Thae looks gae through the saul o me!'4She buried the bonnie babe neath the brier,And washed her hands wi mony a tear.5And as she kneelt to her God in prayer,The sweet wee babe was smiling there.6'O ay, my God, as I look to thee,My babe 's atween my God and me.7'Ay, ay, it lifts its bonnie wee ee:'"Sic kindness get as ye shawed me."'8'An O its smiles wad win me in,But I'm borne down by deadly sin.

1There sat 'mang the flowers a fair ladie,Sing ohon, ohon, and ohon OAnd there she has born a sweet babie.Adown by the greenwode side O

2An strait she rowed its swaddling band,An O! nae mother grips took her hand.

3O twice it lifted its bonnie wee ee:'Thae looks gae through the saul o me!'

4She buried the bonnie babe neath the brier,And washed her hands wi mony a tear.

5And as she kneelt to her God in prayer,The sweet wee babe was smiling there.

6'O ay, my God, as I look to thee,My babe 's atween my God and me.

7'Ay, ay, it lifts its bonnie wee ee:'"Sic kindness get as ye shawed me."'

8'An O its smiles wad win me in,But I'm borne down by deadly sin.

A.Percy MS., p. 461. 'Lillumwham,' Hales and Furnivall,IV, 96.B.Sharpe's Ballad Book, ed. Laing, p. 157.

A.Percy MS., p. 461. 'Lillumwham,' Hales and Furnivall,IV, 96.

B.Sharpe's Ballad Book, ed. Laing, p. 157.

The only English copy of this ballad that approaches completeness is furnished by the Percy manuscript,A. Sir Walter Scott remembered, and communicated to Kirkpatrick Sharpe, three stanzas, and half of the burden, of another version,B.

There are three versions inDanish, no one of them very well preserved.A,'Maria Magdalena,' is a broadside of about 1700, existing in two identical editions: Grundtvig, No 98,II, 530;B,ib., was written down in the Färöe isles in 1848, by Hammershaimb;Cwas obtained from recitation by Kristensen in Jutland in 1869, Jydske Folkeviser,I, 197, No 72, 'Synderinden.'

AFäröeversion, from the end of the last century or the beginning of this, is given in Grundtvig's notes, p. 533 ff.

Versions recently obtained from recitation inNorwayare: 'Maria,' Bugge's Gamle Norske Folkeviser, No 18;A, p. 88;B, p. 90, a fragment, which has since been completed, but only two more stanzas printed, Grundtvig,III, 889;C, Bugge, p. 91.D,Eare reported, but only a stanza or two printed, Grundtvig,III, 889f;F, printed 890 f, andG, as obtained by Lindeman, 891: all these,D-G, communicated by Bugge.C, and one or two others, are rather Danish than Norwegian.

This is, according to Afzelius, one of the commonest ofSwedishballads. These versions are known:A, "a broadside of 1798 and 1802," Grundtvig,II, 531, Bergström's Afzelius,I, 335;B, 'Magdalena,' Atterbom's Poetisk Kalender for 1816, p. 20;C, Afzelius,II, 229;D, Arwidsson,I, 377, No 60;E, Dybeck's Svenska Visor, Häfte 2, No 6, only two stanzas;F,G, "in Wiede's collection, in the Swedish Historical and Antiquarian Academy;"H, "in Cavallius and Stephens' collection, where alsoA,F,Gare found;"I, Maximilian Axelson's Vesterdalarne, p. 171;J, 'Jungfru Adelin,' E. Wigström's Folkdiktning, No 38, p. 76;K, 'Jungfru Maja,' Album utgifvet af Nyländingar,VI, 227.A-Fare printed in Grundtvig's notes,II, 533 ff, and also some verses ofG,H.

The ballad is known to have existed inIcelandicfrom a minute of Arne Magnusson, who cites the line, "Swear not, swear not, wretched woman," but it has not been recovered (Grundtvig,III, 891, note d).

Finnish, 'Mataleenan vesimatka,' Kanteletar, ed. 1864, p. 240.

The story of the woman of Samaria, John, iv, is in all these blended with mediæval traditions concerning Mary Magdalen, who is assumed to be the same with the woman "which was a sinner," in Luke, vii, 37, and also with Mary, sister of Lazarus. This is the view of the larger part of the Latin ecclesiastical writers, while most of the Greeks distinguish the three (Butler, 'Lives of the Saints,'VII, 290, note). It was reserved for ballads, as Grundtvig remarks, to confound the Magdalen with the Samaritan woman.

The traditional Mary Magdalen was a beautiful woman of royal descent, who derived her surname from Magdalum, her portion of the great family estate. For some of her earlier years entirely given over to carnal delights, "unde jam, proprio nomine perdito, peccatrix consueverat appellari," she was, by the preaching of Jesus, converted to a passionate repentance and devotedness. In the course of the persecution of the church at Jerusalem, when Stephen was slain and the Christianswidely dispersed, Mary, with Lazarus, her brother, Martha, and many more, were set afloat on the Mediterranean in a rudderless ship, with the expectation that they would find a watery grave. But the malice of the unbelieving was overruled, and the vessel came safe into port at Marseilles. Having labored some time for the christianizing of the people, and founded churches and bishoprics, Mary retired to a solitude where there was neither water, tree, nor plant, and passed the last thirty years of her life in heavenly contemplation. The cave in which she secluded herself is still shown at La Sainte Baume. The absence of material comforts was, in her case, not so great a deprivation, since every day at the canonical hours she was carried by angels to the skies, and heard, with ears of the flesh, the performances of the heavenly choirs, whereby she was so thoroughly refected that when the angels restored her to her cave she was in need of no bodily aliment. (Golden Legend, Græsse, c. 96.) It is the practical Martha that performs real austerities, and those which are ascribed to her correspond too closely with the penance in the Scandinavian ballads not to be the original of it: "Nam in primisseptemannis, glandibus et radicibus herbisque crudis etpomis[182]silvestribus corpusculum sustentans potius quam reficiens, victitavit.... Extensis solo ramis arboreis aut viteis, lapide pro cervicali capiti superposito subjecto, ... incumbebat." (Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Hist., ix, 100.)

The best-preserved Scandinavian ballads concur nearly in this account. A woman at a well, or a stream, is approached by Jesus, who asks for drink. She says she has no vessel to serve him with. He replies that if she were pure, he would drink from her hands. She protests innocence with oaths, but is silenced by his telling her that she has had three children, one with her father, one with her brother, one with her parish priest: DanishA,B,C; Färöe; SwedishC,D,F,I,J,K; NorwegianA,C,F,G. She falls at his feet, and begs him to shrive her. Jesus appoints her a seven years' penance in the wood. Her food shall be the buds or the leaves of the tree [grass, worts, berries, bark], her drink the dew [brook, juice of plants], her bed the hard ground [linden-roots, thorns and prickles, rocks, straw and sticks]; all the while she shall be harassed by bears and lions [wolves], or snakes and drakes (this last in SwedishB,C,D,I,K, NorwegianA). The time expired, Jesus returns and asks how she has liked her penance. She answers, as if she had eaten daintily, drunk wine, slept on silk or swan's-down, and had angelic company [had been listening to music].[183]Jesus then tells her that a place is ready for her in heaven.

The penance lasts eight years in SwedishC,F,J, NorwegianA; nine in the Färöe ballad; fifteen in DanishB; and six weeks in DanishC. It is to range the field in DanishA, SwedishF; to walk the snows barefoot in the Färöe ballad and NorwegianB; in NorwegianDto stand nine years in a rough stream and eight years naked in the church-paths.

The names Maria, or Magdalena, Jesus, or Christ, are found in most of the Scandinavian ballads. SwedishEhas 'Lena (Lilla Lena); SwedishHHe-lena;J, Adelin;K, Maja. NorwegianAgives no name to the woman, and DanishAa name only in the burden; NorwegianBhas, corruptly, Margjit. In DanishC, NorwegianB,G, Jesus is called anoldman, correspondingly with the "old palmer" of EnglishA, but the old man is afterwards called Jesus in NorwegianG(Bis not printed in full), and in the burden of DanishC. TheSon is exchanged for the Father in SwedishD.

Stanzas 4, 5 of SwedishA,G, approach singularly near to EnglishA6, 7:

SwedishA:

4'Would thy leman now but come,Thou wouldst give him to drink out of thy hand.'5By all the worlds Magdalen swore,That leman she never had.

4'Would thy leman now but come,Thou wouldst give him to drink out of thy hand.'

5By all the worlds Magdalen swore,That leman she never had.

SwedishG:

4'Yes, but if I thy leman were,I should get drink from thy snow-white hand.'5Maria swore by the Holy Ghost,She neer had to do with any man.

4'Yes, but if I thy leman were,I should get drink from thy snow-white hand.'

5Maria swore by the Holy Ghost,She neer had to do with any man.

The woman is said to have taken the lives of her three children in DanishA,B,C, and of two in SwedishC,D,F,I,J,K(Balso, where there are but two in all), a trait probably borrowed from 'The Cruel Mother.'

The seven years' penance of the Scandinavian ballads is multiplied three times in EnglishA, and four times inBand in those versions of 'The Cruel Mother' which have been affected by the present ballad (20,I,J,K;Lis defective). What is more important, the penance in the English ballads is completely different in kind, consisting not in exaggerated austerities, but partly, at least, in transmigration or metensomatosis: seven years to be a fish, 20,I,J,K; seven years a bird, 20,I,J,K; seven years a stone, 21,A,B; seven years an eel, 20,J; seven years a bell, or bell-clapper, 20,I, 21,A(to ring a bell, 20,K,L). Seven years in hell seems to have been part of the penance or penalty in every case: seven years a porter in hell, 21,B, 20,I,K; seven years down in hell, 20,J; seven years to "ring the bell and see sic sights as ye darna tell, 20,L;" "other seven to lead an ape in hell,"A, a burlesque variation of the portership.

The Finnish Mataleena, going to the well for water, sees the reflection of her face, and bewails her lost charms. Jesus begs a drink: she says she has no can, no glass. He bids her confess. "Where are your three boys? One you threw into the fire, one into the water, and one you buried in the wilderness." She fills a pail with her tears, washes his feet, and wipes them with her hair: then asks for penance. "Put me, Lord Jesus, where you will. Make me a ladder-bridge over the sea, a brand in the fire, a coal in the furnace."

There are several Slavic ballads which blend the story of the Samaritan woman and that of 'The Cruel Mother,' without admixture of the Magdalen.WendishA,'Aria' (M-aria?), Haupt and Schmaler,I, 287, No 290, has a maid Who goes for water on Sunday morning, and is joined by an old man who asks for a drink. She says the water is not clean; it is dusty and covered with leaves. He says, The water is clean, but you are unclean. She demands proof, and he bids her go to church in her maiden wreath. This she does. The grass withers before her, a track of blood follows her, and in the churchyard there come to her nine headless boys, who say, Nine sons hast thou killed, chopt off their heads, and meanest to do the same for a tenth. She entreats their forgiveness, enters the church, sprinkles herself with holy water, kneels at the altar and crosses herself, then suddenly sinks into the ground, so that nothing is to be seen but her yellow hair.B, 'Die Kindesmörderin,'ib.,II, 149, No 197, begins likeA. As the maid proceeds to the church, nine graves open before her, and nine souls follow her into the church. The oldest of her children springs upon her and breaks her neck, saying, "Mother, here is thy reward. Nine of us didst thou kill."

There are twoMoravianballads of the same tenor:A, Deutsches Museum, 1855,I, 282, translated by M. Klapp:B, communicated to the Zeitschrift des böhmischen Museums, 1842, p. 401, by A.W. Šembera, as sung by the "mährisch sprechenden Slawen" in Prussian Silesia; the first seven stanzas translated in Haupt u. Schmaler,II, 314, note to No 197. The Lord God goes out one Sunday morning, and meets a maid, whom he asks for water. She says the water is not clean. He replies that it is cleaner than she; for (A)she has seduced fifteen men and had children with all of them, has filled hell with the men and the sea with the children. He sends her to church; but, as she enters the church-yard, the bells begin to ring (of themselves), and when she enters the church, all the images turn their backs. As she falls on her knees, she is changed into a pillar of salt.

The popular ballads of some of the southern nations give us the legend of the Magdalen without mixture.

French.A, Poésies populaires de la France,I(not paged), from Sermoyer, Ain, thirty lines, made stanzas by repetition. Mary goes from door to door seeking Jesus. He asks what she wants: she answers, To be shriven. Her sins have been such, she says, that the earth ought not to bear her up, the trees that see her can but tremble. For penance she is to stay seven years in the woods of Baume, eat the roots of the trees, drink the dew, and sleep under a juniper. Jesus comes to inquire about her when this space has expired. She says she is well, but her hands, once white as flower-de-luce, are now black as leather. For this Jesus requires her to stay seven years longer, and then, being thoroughly cured of her old vanities, she is told,

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