C

Kinloch MSS, I, 45, from the recitation of Mary Barr, of Lesmahago, "aged upwards of 70," May, 1827.

1Lord Lavel he stands at his stable-door,Kaiming his milk-white steed;And by and cam Fair Nancybelle,And wished Lord Lavel good speed.2'O whare are ye going, Lord Lavel?' she said,'I pray ye tell to me:''O I am going to merry England,To win your love aff me.'3'And when will ye return again?' she said,'Lord Lavel, pray tell to me:''Whan seven lang years are past and gane,Fair Nancybelle, I'll return to thee.'4''T is too lang, Lord Lavel,' she said,''T is too lang for me;'T is too long, Lord Lavel,' she said,'A true lover for to see.'* * * * *5He had na been in merry EnglandA month but barely three,Till languishing thoughts cam into his mind,And Nancybelle fain wad he see.6He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,Till he cam to yonder toun;He heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,And the ladies were mourning roun.7He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,Till he cam to yonder hall;He heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,And the ladies were mourning all.8He asked wha it was that was dead,The ladies did him tell:They said, It is the king's daughter,Her name is Fair Nancybelle;She died for the love of a courteous young knicht,His name is Lord Lavel.9'O hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle,O hast thou died for me!O hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle!Then I will die for thee.'10Fair Nancybelle died, as it might be, this day,Lord Lavel he died tomorrow;Fair Nancybelle died with pure, pure love,Lord Lavel he died with sorrow.11Lord Lavel was buried in Mary's kirk,Nancybelle in Mary's quire;And out o the ane there grew a birk,Out the other a bonny brier.12And ae they grew, and ae they threw,Until they twa did meet,That ilka ane might plainly seeThey war twa lovers sweet.

1Lord Lavel he stands at his stable-door,Kaiming his milk-white steed;And by and cam Fair Nancybelle,And wished Lord Lavel good speed.

2'O whare are ye going, Lord Lavel?' she said,'I pray ye tell to me:''O I am going to merry England,To win your love aff me.'

3'And when will ye return again?' she said,'Lord Lavel, pray tell to me:''Whan seven lang years are past and gane,Fair Nancybelle, I'll return to thee.'

4''T is too lang, Lord Lavel,' she said,''T is too lang for me;'T is too long, Lord Lavel,' she said,'A true lover for to see.'

* * * * *

5He had na been in merry EnglandA month but barely three,Till languishing thoughts cam into his mind,And Nancybelle fain wad he see.

6He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,Till he cam to yonder toun;He heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,And the ladies were mourning roun.

7He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,Till he cam to yonder hall;He heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,And the ladies were mourning all.

8He asked wha it was that was dead,The ladies did him tell:They said, It is the king's daughter,Her name is Fair Nancybelle;She died for the love of a courteous young knicht,His name is Lord Lavel.

9'O hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle,O hast thou died for me!O hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle!Then I will die for thee.'

10Fair Nancybelle died, as it might be, this day,Lord Lavel he died tomorrow;Fair Nancybelle died with pure, pure love,Lord Lavel he died with sorrow.

11Lord Lavel was buried in Mary's kirk,Nancybelle in Mary's quire;And out o the ane there grew a birk,Out the other a bonny brier.

12And ae they grew, and ae they threw,Until they twa did meet,That ilka ane might plainly seeThey war twa lovers sweet.

Communicated by Mr Alexander Laing, 1873, as taken down from the recitation of Miss Fanny Walker, of Mount Pleasant, near Newburgh-on-Tay.

1Lord Travell stands in his stable-door,Dressing his milk-white steed,An bye comes Lady Ounceville:'I wish you muckle speed.2'Oh whar are ye gaun, Lord Travell?' she says,'Whar are gaun frae me?''I am gaun to London town,Some strange things for to see.'3'Whan will ye be back, Lord Travell?' she says,'Whan will ye be back to me?''I will be back in seven lang years,To wed my gay ladie.'4'Oh that is too lang for me,' she says,'Oh that is too lang for me;Oh that is too lang for me,' she says,'To wed thy gay ladie.'5He hadna been in London townA week but only three,Whan a boding voice thirld in his ear,That Scotland he maun see.6He rade an he rode alang the highway,Till he cam to yon little town:'Oh is there ony body dead?The bells they mak sic a sound.'7He rade an he rode alang the highway,Till he cam to yon little town:'Oh is there ony body dead?The folk gae mournin round.'8'Oh yes indeed, there is ane dead,Her name is Ounceville;An she has died for a courteous knicht,His name is Lord Travell.'9'Oh hand ye aboot, ye gentlemen,The white bread an the wine,For the morn's nicht aboot this timeYe'll do the same for mine!'

1Lord Travell stands in his stable-door,Dressing his milk-white steed,An bye comes Lady Ounceville:'I wish you muckle speed.

2'Oh whar are ye gaun, Lord Travell?' she says,'Whar are gaun frae me?''I am gaun to London town,Some strange things for to see.'

3'Whan will ye be back, Lord Travell?' she says,'Whan will ye be back to me?''I will be back in seven lang years,To wed my gay ladie.'

4'Oh that is too lang for me,' she says,'Oh that is too lang for me;Oh that is too lang for me,' she says,'To wed thy gay ladie.'

5He hadna been in London townA week but only three,Whan a boding voice thirld in his ear,That Scotland he maun see.

6He rade an he rode alang the highway,Till he cam to yon little town:'Oh is there ony body dead?The bells they mak sic a sound.'

7He rade an he rode alang the highway,Till he cam to yon little town:'Oh is there ony body dead?The folk gae mournin round.'

8'Oh yes indeed, there is ane dead,Her name is Ounceville;An she has died for a courteous knicht,His name is Lord Travell.'

9'Oh hand ye aboot, ye gentlemen,The white bread an the wine,For the morn's nicht aboot this timeYe'll do the same for mine!'

Kinloch MSS, VII, 83, from the recitation of a lady of Roxburghshire; Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 31.

1Lord Lovel stands at his stable-door,Mounted upon a grey steed,And bye cam Ladie Nanciebel,And wishd Lord Lovel much speed.2'O whare are ye going, Lord Lovel?My dearest, tell unto me:''I am going a far journey,Some strange countrey to see.3'But I'll return in seven long years,Lady Nanciebel to see:''Oh seven, seven, seven long years,They are much too long for me.'* * * * *4He was gane about a year away,A year but barely ane,Whan a strange fancy cam intil his headThat faire Nanciebel was gane.5It's then he rade, and better rade,Untill he cam to the toun,And there he heard a dismal noise,For the church bells au did soun.6He asked what the bells rang for;They said, It's for Nanciebel;She died for a discourteous squire,And his name is Lord Lovel.7The lid of the coffin he opened up,The linens he faulded doun,And ae he kissd her pale, pale lips,And the tears cam trinkling doun.8'Weill may I kiss these pale, pale lips,For they will never kiss me;I'll mak a vow, and I'll keep it true,That I'll neer kiss ane but thee.'9Lady Nancie died on Tuesday's nicht,Lord Lovel upon the niest day;Lady Nancie died for pure, pure love,Lord Lovel for deep sorraye.

1Lord Lovel stands at his stable-door,Mounted upon a grey steed,And bye cam Ladie Nanciebel,And wishd Lord Lovel much speed.

2'O whare are ye going, Lord Lovel?My dearest, tell unto me:''I am going a far journey,Some strange countrey to see.

3'But I'll return in seven long years,Lady Nanciebel to see:''Oh seven, seven, seven long years,They are much too long for me.'

* * * * *

4He was gane about a year away,A year but barely ane,Whan a strange fancy cam intil his headThat faire Nanciebel was gane.

5It's then he rade, and better rade,Untill he cam to the toun,And there he heard a dismal noise,For the church bells au did soun.

6He asked what the bells rang for;They said, It's for Nanciebel;She died for a discourteous squire,And his name is Lord Lovel.

7The lid of the coffin he opened up,The linens he faulded doun,And ae he kissd her pale, pale lips,And the tears cam trinkling doun.

8'Weill may I kiss these pale, pale lips,For they will never kiss me;I'll mak a vow, and I'll keep it true,That I'll neer kiss ane but thee.'

9Lady Nancie died on Tuesday's nicht,Lord Lovel upon the niest day;Lady Nancie died for pure, pure love,Lord Lovel for deep sorraye.

Communicated by J. F. Campbell, Esq., as learned from the singing of an English gentleman, about 1850.

1'Now fare ye well, Lady Oonzabel,For I must needs be gone,To visit the king of fair Scotland,Oh I must be up and ride.'2So he called unto him his little foot-page,To saddle his milk-white steed;Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed!3He had not been in fair Scotland,Not passing half a year,When a lover-like thought came into his head,Lady Oonzabel he would go see her.4So he called unto him his little foot-page,To saddle his milk-white steed;Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed.5He had not been in fair England,Not passing half a day,When the bells of the high chappel did ring,And they made a loud sassaray.6He asked of an old gentlemanWho was sitting there all alone,Why the bells of the high chappel did ring,And the ladies were making a moan.7'Oh, the king's fair daughter is dead,' said he;'Her name's Lady Oonzabel;And she died for the love of a courteous young knight,And his name it is Lord Lovel.'* * * * *8He caused the bier to be set down,The winding sheet undone,And drawing forth his rapier bright,Through his own true heart did it run.9Lady Oonzabel lies in the high chappel,Lord Lovel he lies in the quier;And out of the one there grew up a white rose,And out of the other a brier.10And they grew, and they grew, to the high chappel top;They could not well grow any higher;And they twined into a true lover's knot,So in death they are joined together.

1'Now fare ye well, Lady Oonzabel,For I must needs be gone,To visit the king of fair Scotland,Oh I must be up and ride.'

2So he called unto him his little foot-page,To saddle his milk-white steed;Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed!

3He had not been in fair Scotland,Not passing half a year,When a lover-like thought came into his head,Lady Oonzabel he would go see her.

4So he called unto him his little foot-page,To saddle his milk-white steed;Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed.

5He had not been in fair England,Not passing half a day,When the bells of the high chappel did ring,And they made a loud sassaray.

6He asked of an old gentlemanWho was sitting there all alone,Why the bells of the high chappel did ring,And the ladies were making a moan.

7'Oh, the king's fair daughter is dead,' said he;'Her name's Lady Oonzabel;And she died for the love of a courteous young knight,And his name it is Lord Lovel.'

* * * * *

8He caused the bier to be set down,The winding sheet undone,And drawing forth his rapier bright,Through his own true heart did it run.

9Lady Oonzabel lies in the high chappel,Lord Lovel he lies in the quier;And out of the one there grew up a white rose,And out of the other a brier.

10And they grew, and they grew, to the high chappel top;They could not well grow any higher;And they twined into a true lover's knot,So in death they are joined together.

Communicated by Mr Robert White, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.

1As Lord Lovel was at the stable-door,Mounting his milk-white steed,Who came by but poor Nancy Bell,And she wished Lovel good speed.2'O where are ye going, Lord Lovel?' she said,'How long to tarry from me?''Before six months are past and gone,Again I'll return to thee.'3He had not been a twelvemonth away,A twelvemonth and a day,Till Nancy Bell grew sick and sad,She pined and witherd away.4The very first town that he came to,He heard the death-bell knell;The very next town that he came to,They said it was Nancy Bell.5He orderd the coffin to be broke open,The sheet to be turned down,And then he kissd her cold pale lips,Till the tears ran tricklin down.6The one was buried in St. John's church,The other in the choir;From Nancy Bell sprang a bonny red rose,From Lord Lovel a bonny briar.7They grew, and they grew, to the height o the church,To they met from either side,And at the top a true lover's knotShows that one for the other had died.

1As Lord Lovel was at the stable-door,Mounting his milk-white steed,Who came by but poor Nancy Bell,And she wished Lovel good speed.

2'O where are ye going, Lord Lovel?' she said,'How long to tarry from me?''Before six months are past and gone,Again I'll return to thee.'

3He had not been a twelvemonth away,A twelvemonth and a day,Till Nancy Bell grew sick and sad,She pined and witherd away.

4The very first town that he came to,He heard the death-bell knell;The very next town that he came to,They said it was Nancy Bell.

5He orderd the coffin to be broke open,The sheet to be turned down,And then he kissd her cold pale lips,Till the tears ran tricklin down.

6The one was buried in St. John's church,The other in the choir;From Nancy Bell sprang a bonny red rose,From Lord Lovel a bonny briar.

7They grew, and they grew, to the height o the church,To they met from either side,And at the top a true lover's knotShows that one for the other had died.

Harris MS., fol. 28 b, from the recitation of Mrs Molison, Dunlappie.

1Lord Revel he stands in his stable-door,He was dressing a milk-white steed;A lady she stands in her bour-door,A dressin with haste an speed.2'O where are you goin, Lord Revel,' she said,'Where are you going from me?''It's I am going to Lonnon toun,That fair city for to see.'3'When will you be back, Lord Revel?' she said,'When will you be back to me?''I will be back in the space of three years,To wed you, my gey ladie.'4'That's too long a time for me,' she said,'That's too long a time for me;For I'll be dead long time ere that,For want of your sweet companie.'5He had not been in Lonnon tounA month but barely three,When word was brought that IsabellWas sick, an like to dee.6He had not been in Lonnon tounA year but barely ane,When word was brought from Lonnon tounThat Isabell was gane.7He rode an he rode along the high way,Till he came to Edenborrow toon:Is there any fair lady dead,' said he,'That the bells gie such a tone?'8'Oh yes, there's a ladie, a very fine ladie,Her name it is Isabell;She died for the sake of a young Scottish knight,His name it is Lord Revel.'9'Deal well, deal well at Isabell's burialThe biscuit and the beer,An gainst the morrow at this same timeYou'll aye deal mair and mair.10'Deal well, deal well at Isabell's burialThe white bread and the wine,An gainst the morn at this same timeYou'll deal the same at mine.'11They dealt well, dealt weel at Isabell's burialThe biscuit an the beer,And gainst the morn at that same timeThey dealt them mair an mair.12They dealt weel, dealt weel at Isabell's burialThe white bread an the wine,An gainst the morn at that same timeThey dealt the same again.

1Lord Revel he stands in his stable-door,He was dressing a milk-white steed;A lady she stands in her bour-door,A dressin with haste an speed.

2'O where are you goin, Lord Revel,' she said,'Where are you going from me?''It's I am going to Lonnon toun,That fair city for to see.'

3'When will you be back, Lord Revel?' she said,'When will you be back to me?''I will be back in the space of three years,To wed you, my gey ladie.'

4'That's too long a time for me,' she said,'That's too long a time for me;For I'll be dead long time ere that,For want of your sweet companie.'

5He had not been in Lonnon tounA month but barely three,When word was brought that IsabellWas sick, an like to dee.

6He had not been in Lonnon tounA year but barely ane,When word was brought from Lonnon tounThat Isabell was gane.

7He rode an he rode along the high way,Till he came to Edenborrow toon:Is there any fair lady dead,' said he,'That the bells gie such a tone?'

8'Oh yes, there's a ladie, a very fine ladie,Her name it is Isabell;She died for the sake of a young Scottish knight,His name it is Lord Revel.'

9'Deal well, deal well at Isabell's burialThe biscuit and the beer,An gainst the morrow at this same timeYou'll aye deal mair and mair.

10'Deal well, deal well at Isabell's burialThe white bread and the wine,An gainst the morn at this same timeYou'll deal the same at mine.'

11They dealt well, dealt weel at Isabell's burialThe biscuit an the beer,And gainst the morn at that same timeThey dealt them mair an mair.

12They dealt weel, dealt weel at Isabell's burialThe white bread an the wine,An gainst the morn at that same timeThey dealt the same again.

a.London broadside of 1846, in Dixon's Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 78, Percy Society, vol.XIX.b.Davidson's Universal Melodist, I, 148.

1Lord Lovel he stood at his castle-gate,Combing his milk-white steed,When up came Lady Nancy Belle,To wish her lover good speed, speed,To wish her lover good speed.2'Where are you going, Lord Lovel?' she said,'Oh where are you going?' said she;'I'm going, my Lady Nancy Belle,Strange countries for to see.'3'When will you be back, Lord Lovel?' she said,'Oh when will you come back?' said she;'In a year or two, or three, at the most,I'll return to my fair Nancy.'4But he had not been gone a year and a day,Strange countries for to see,When languishing thoughts came into his head,Lady Nancy Belle he would go see.5So he rode, and he rode, on his milk-white steed,Till he came to London town,And there he heard St Pancras bells,And the people all mourning round.6'Oh what is the matter?' Lord Lovel he said,'Oh what is the matter?' said he;'A lord's lady is dead,' a woman replied,'And some call her Lady Nancy.'7So he ordered the grave to be opened wide,And the shroud he turned down,And there he kissed her clay-cold lips,Till the tears came trickling down.8Lady Nancy she died, as it might be, today,Lord Lovel he died as tomorrow;Lady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief,Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow.9Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras church,Lord Lovel was laid in the choir;And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,And out of her lover's a briar.10They grew, and they grew, to the church-steeple too,And then they could grow no higher;So there they entwined in a true-lover's knot,For all lovers true to admire.

1Lord Lovel he stood at his castle-gate,Combing his milk-white steed,When up came Lady Nancy Belle,To wish her lover good speed, speed,To wish her lover good speed.

2'Where are you going, Lord Lovel?' she said,'Oh where are you going?' said she;'I'm going, my Lady Nancy Belle,Strange countries for to see.'

3'When will you be back, Lord Lovel?' she said,'Oh when will you come back?' said she;'In a year or two, or three, at the most,I'll return to my fair Nancy.'

4But he had not been gone a year and a day,Strange countries for to see,When languishing thoughts came into his head,Lady Nancy Belle he would go see.

5So he rode, and he rode, on his milk-white steed,Till he came to London town,And there he heard St Pancras bells,And the people all mourning round.

6'Oh what is the matter?' Lord Lovel he said,'Oh what is the matter?' said he;'A lord's lady is dead,' a woman replied,'And some call her Lady Nancy.'

7So he ordered the grave to be opened wide,And the shroud he turned down,And there he kissed her clay-cold lips,Till the tears came trickling down.

8Lady Nancy she died, as it might be, today,Lord Lovel he died as tomorrow;Lady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief,Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow.

9Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras church,Lord Lovel was laid in the choir;And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,And out of her lover's a briar.

10They grew, and they grew, to the church-steeple too,And then they could grow no higher;So there they entwined in a true-lover's knot,For all lovers true to admire.

Percy Papers, communicated by Principal Robertson, the historian.

1There came a ghost to Helen's bower,Wi monny a sigh and groan:'O make yourself ready, at Wednesday at een,Fair Helen, you must be gone.'2'O gay Death, O gallant Death,Will you spare my life sae langUntill I send to merry Primrose,Bid my dear lord come hame?'3'O gay Helen, O galant Helen,I winna spare you sae lang;But make yoursell ready, again Wednesday at een,Fair Helen, you must be gane.'4'O where will I get a bonny boy,That would win hose and shoon,That will rin fast to merry Primrose,Bid my dear lord come soon?'5O up and speak a little boy,That would win hose and shoon:'Aft have I gane your errants, lady,But by my suth I'll rin.'6When he came to broken briggsHe bent his bow and swam,And when he came to grass growingHe cast off his shoon and ran.7When he came to merry Primrose,His lord he was at meat:'O my lord, kend ye what I ken,Right little wad ye eat.'8'Is there onny of my castles broken doun,Or onny of my towers won?Or is Fair Helen brought to bedOf a doughter or a son?'9'There's nane of [your] castles broken doun,Nor nane of your towers won,Nor is Fair Helen brought to bedOf a doghter or a son.'10'Gar sadle me the black, black steed,Gar sadle me the brown;Gar sadle me the swiftest horseEer carried man to town.'11First he bursted the bonny black,And then he bursted the brown,And then he bursted the swiftest steedEer carried man to town.12He hadna ridden a mile, a mile,A mile but barelins ten,When he met four and twenty gallant knights,Carrying a dead coffin.13'Set down, set down Fair Helen's corps,Let me look on the dead;'And out he took a little pen-knife,And he screeded the winding-sheet.14O first he kist her rosy cheek,And then he kist her chin,And then he kist her coral lips,But there's nae life in within.15'Gar deal, gar deal the bread,' he says,'The bread bat an the wine,And at the morn at twelve o'clockYe's gain as much at mine.'16The tane was buried in Mary's kirk,The tother in Mary's choir,And out of the tane there sprang a birch,And out of the tother a briar.17The tops of them grew far sundry,But the roots of them grew neer,And ye may easy ken by thatThey were twa lovers dear.

1There came a ghost to Helen's bower,Wi monny a sigh and groan:'O make yourself ready, at Wednesday at een,Fair Helen, you must be gone.'

2'O gay Death, O gallant Death,Will you spare my life sae langUntill I send to merry Primrose,Bid my dear lord come hame?'

3'O gay Helen, O galant Helen,I winna spare you sae lang;But make yoursell ready, again Wednesday at een,Fair Helen, you must be gane.'

4'O where will I get a bonny boy,That would win hose and shoon,That will rin fast to merry Primrose,Bid my dear lord come soon?'

5O up and speak a little boy,That would win hose and shoon:'Aft have I gane your errants, lady,But by my suth I'll rin.'

6When he came to broken briggsHe bent his bow and swam,And when he came to grass growingHe cast off his shoon and ran.

7When he came to merry Primrose,His lord he was at meat:'O my lord, kend ye what I ken,Right little wad ye eat.'

8'Is there onny of my castles broken doun,Or onny of my towers won?Or is Fair Helen brought to bedOf a doughter or a son?'

9'There's nane of [your] castles broken doun,Nor nane of your towers won,Nor is Fair Helen brought to bedOf a doghter or a son.'

10'Gar sadle me the black, black steed,Gar sadle me the brown;Gar sadle me the swiftest horseEer carried man to town.'

11First he bursted the bonny black,And then he bursted the brown,And then he bursted the swiftest steedEer carried man to town.

12He hadna ridden a mile, a mile,A mile but barelins ten,When he met four and twenty gallant knights,Carrying a dead coffin.

13'Set down, set down Fair Helen's corps,Let me look on the dead;'And out he took a little pen-knife,And he screeded the winding-sheet.

14O first he kist her rosy cheek,And then he kist her chin,And then he kist her coral lips,But there's nae life in within.

15'Gar deal, gar deal the bread,' he says,'The bread bat an the wine,And at the morn at twelve o'clockYe's gain as much at mine.'

16The tane was buried in Mary's kirk,The tother in Mary's choir,And out of the tane there sprang a birch,And out of the tother a briar.

17The tops of them grew far sundry,But the roots of them grew neer,And ye may easy ken by thatThey were twa lovers dear.

The copy sent Percy in 1770 was slightly revised by Parsons; the original was communicated in 1775.33. along in.44. coud speed.63. make.64. their mourn.104.Parsons correctsbunchtobranch.

The copy sent Percy in 1770 was slightly revised by Parsons; the original was communicated in 1775.

33. along in.

44. coud speed.

63. make.

64. their mourn.

104.Parsons correctsbunchtobranch.

74. bell.

H. a.

101. church-steeple too,perhaps a misprint fortop.

This is an attempt to burlesque the broadside by vulgarizing two or three words, aslovier,buzzum, and inserting one stanza.24, 42. Foreign countries.33. In a year, or two or three, or four.41. twelve months and a day.63. dead, the people all said.72. to be turned.74. Whilst.After7:

This is an attempt to burlesque the broadside by vulgarizing two or three words, aslovier,buzzum, and inserting one stanza.

24, 42. Foreign countries.

33. In a year, or two or three, or four.

41. twelve months and a day.

63. dead, the people all said.

72. to be turned.

74. Whilst.

After7:

Then he flung his self down by the side of the corpse,With a shivering gulp and a guggle;Gave two hops, three kicks, heavd a sigh, blew his nose,Sung a song, and then died in the struggle.

101. church-steeple top.103. they twin'd themselves into.

101. church-steeple top.

103. they twin'd themselves into.

32. 'you,'as if changed or supplied.52.Crossed out. In a different hand, Just at the lady's chin.74. would wad ye.113. swifted.134.Perhapsscrieded.

32. 'you,'as if changed or supplied.

52.Crossed out. In a different hand, Just at the lady's chin.

74. would wad ye.

113. swifted.

134.Perhapsscrieded.

FOOTNOTES:[120]It can scarcely be too often repeated that such ballads as this were meant only to be sung, not at all to be recited. As has been well remarked of a corresponding Norwegian ballad, 'Lord Lovel' is especially one of those which, for their due effect, require the support of a melody, and almost equally the comment of a burden. No burden is preserved in the case of 'Lord Lovel,' but we are not to infer that there never was one. The burden, which is at least as important as the instrumental accompaniment of modern songs, sometimes, in these little tragedies, foreshadows calamity from the outset, sometimes, as in the Norwegian ballad referred to, is a cheerful-sounding formula, which in the upshot enhances by contrast the gloom of the conclusion. "A simple but life-like story, supported by the burden and the air, these are the means by which such old romances seek to produce an impression:" Landstad, to 'Herr Stragi,' p. 541.[121](1), 'Das Lied vom Herren und der Magd,' 1771, Düntzer u. Herder, Briefe Goethe's an Herder, I, 157. (2), 'Eyn klegliche Mordgeschicht, von ey'm Graven vnnde eyner Meyd,' Nicolai, Eyn feyner kleyner Almanach, 1777, I, 39, No 2; with variations, Kretzschmer, I, 89, No 54, Uhland, p. 220, No 97 A. (3), 'Der Ritter und das Mägdlein,' Erk, Liederhort, p. 81, No 26, a traditional variety of (2). (4), Wunderhorn, 1806, I, 50=Erlach, II, 531, Mittler, No 91. (5), 'Des Prinzen Reue,' Meinert, p. 218, 1817. (6), Alemannia, II, 185, after a manuscript of von Arnim. (7), Erk's edition of the Wunderhorn, IV, 304. (8), Hoffmann u. Richter, Schlesische Volkslieder, p. 9, No 4. (9), Erk u. Irmer, IV, 62, No 56. (10), 'Zu späte Reue,' Fiedler, p. 161. (11), 'Der Erbgraf,' Simrock, p. 33, No 12, compounded, but partly oral. (12), 'Der Ritter und seine Dame,' Pröhle, p. 19, No 13. (13), Meier, p. 316, No 177. (14-16), Ditfurth, II, 4-8, Nos 6, 7, 8. (17-22), Wagner, in Deutsches Museum, 1862, II, 758-68. (23), 'Der Herr und seine Dame,' Peter, I, 193, No 10. (24), Parisius, p. 33, No 10. (25), Adam Wolf, p. 11, No 6. (26), Alfred Müller, p. 98. (27), 'Die traurige Begegnung,' Paudler, p. 21, No 13.Scandinavian, from the German: 'Ungersvennens Dröm,' Fagerlund, Anteckningar, p. 196; 'Jungfruns död,' Wigström, Folkdiktning, I, 52; and besides these Swedish copies, a Danish broadside, from the beginning of this century, which is very common. 'Stolten Hellelille,' "Tragica, No 22," 1657, Danske Viser, III, 184, No 130 (translated by Prior, III, 214), a somewhat artificial piece, has the outline of 'Der Ritter u. die Maid,' and is a hundred years older than any known copy of the German ballad.A Wendish ballad, founded on the German, is very like (4): Haupt and Schmaler, I, 139, No 136.A Dutch ballad, in the Antwerpener Liederbuch, No 45, Hoffmann, Niederländische Volkslieder, p. 61, No 15, Willems, p. 154, No 60, Uhland, No 97 B, has some points of the above, but is a very different story.[122]There is a Finnish form of this ballad, probably derived from the Swedish; also another Swedish version in Westergötlands Fornminnesförenings Tidskrift, 1869, häfte 1, which I have not yet seen.[123](1), "Bothe, Frühlings-Almanach," p. 132, 1806; 'Hans Markgraf,' Büsching u. von der Hagen, p. 30; Erlach, II, 136; Mittler, No 133. (2), 'Alle bei Gott die sich lieben,' Wunderhorn, II, 250, 1808, Mittler, No 128. (3), 'Alle bei Gott die sich lieben,' Hoffmann u. Richter, p. 12, No 5, Mittler, No 132. (4), 'Der Graf u. die Bauerntochter,' Ditfurth, II, 8, No 9. (5), 'Vom jungen Markgrafen,' Pogatschnigg u. Hermann, II, 179, No 595. (6), 'Die junge Mutter,' Paudler, p. 22, No 14.(7), 'Jungfer Dörtchen ist todt,' Parisius, p. 36, No 10. (8), 'Liebchens Tod,' Erk u. Irmer,VI, 4, No 2; Mittler, No 130. (9), 'Jägers Trauer,' Pröhle, p. 86, No 57; Mittler, No 129. (10), 'Das unverdiente Kränzlein,' Meinert, p. 32; Mittler, No 131. For plants springing from lovers' graves, as here and in Nos 73, 74, see vol. i, 96 ff.[124]In (2) the lover is warned of mishap by a bird, and the bird is a nightingale, as in Kristensen, II, No 20 A. A bird of some sort figures in all the Danish ballads referred to, printed and unprinted, and in the Swedish 'Hertig Nils;' also in the corresponding Finnish ballad. The nightingale warns to the same effect in a French ballad, Beaurepaire, p. 52. The lover goes straight to his mistress's house, and learns that they are burying her; then makes for the cemetery, hears the bells, the priests chanting, etc., and approaches the bier. The dead gives him some information, followed by some admonition.

[120]It can scarcely be too often repeated that such ballads as this were meant only to be sung, not at all to be recited. As has been well remarked of a corresponding Norwegian ballad, 'Lord Lovel' is especially one of those which, for their due effect, require the support of a melody, and almost equally the comment of a burden. No burden is preserved in the case of 'Lord Lovel,' but we are not to infer that there never was one. The burden, which is at least as important as the instrumental accompaniment of modern songs, sometimes, in these little tragedies, foreshadows calamity from the outset, sometimes, as in the Norwegian ballad referred to, is a cheerful-sounding formula, which in the upshot enhances by contrast the gloom of the conclusion. "A simple but life-like story, supported by the burden and the air, these are the means by which such old romances seek to produce an impression:" Landstad, to 'Herr Stragi,' p. 541.

[121](1), 'Das Lied vom Herren und der Magd,' 1771, Düntzer u. Herder, Briefe Goethe's an Herder, I, 157. (2), 'Eyn klegliche Mordgeschicht, von ey'm Graven vnnde eyner Meyd,' Nicolai, Eyn feyner kleyner Almanach, 1777, I, 39, No 2; with variations, Kretzschmer, I, 89, No 54, Uhland, p. 220, No 97 A. (3), 'Der Ritter und das Mägdlein,' Erk, Liederhort, p. 81, No 26, a traditional variety of (2). (4), Wunderhorn, 1806, I, 50=Erlach, II, 531, Mittler, No 91. (5), 'Des Prinzen Reue,' Meinert, p. 218, 1817. (6), Alemannia, II, 185, after a manuscript of von Arnim. (7), Erk's edition of the Wunderhorn, IV, 304. (8), Hoffmann u. Richter, Schlesische Volkslieder, p. 9, No 4. (9), Erk u. Irmer, IV, 62, No 56. (10), 'Zu späte Reue,' Fiedler, p. 161. (11), 'Der Erbgraf,' Simrock, p. 33, No 12, compounded, but partly oral. (12), 'Der Ritter und seine Dame,' Pröhle, p. 19, No 13. (13), Meier, p. 316, No 177. (14-16), Ditfurth, II, 4-8, Nos 6, 7, 8. (17-22), Wagner, in Deutsches Museum, 1862, II, 758-68. (23), 'Der Herr und seine Dame,' Peter, I, 193, No 10. (24), Parisius, p. 33, No 10. (25), Adam Wolf, p. 11, No 6. (26), Alfred Müller, p. 98. (27), 'Die traurige Begegnung,' Paudler, p. 21, No 13.Scandinavian, from the German: 'Ungersvennens Dröm,' Fagerlund, Anteckningar, p. 196; 'Jungfruns död,' Wigström, Folkdiktning, I, 52; and besides these Swedish copies, a Danish broadside, from the beginning of this century, which is very common. 'Stolten Hellelille,' "Tragica, No 22," 1657, Danske Viser, III, 184, No 130 (translated by Prior, III, 214), a somewhat artificial piece, has the outline of 'Der Ritter u. die Maid,' and is a hundred years older than any known copy of the German ballad.A Wendish ballad, founded on the German, is very like (4): Haupt and Schmaler, I, 139, No 136.A Dutch ballad, in the Antwerpener Liederbuch, No 45, Hoffmann, Niederländische Volkslieder, p. 61, No 15, Willems, p. 154, No 60, Uhland, No 97 B, has some points of the above, but is a very different story.

Scandinavian, from the German: 'Ungersvennens Dröm,' Fagerlund, Anteckningar, p. 196; 'Jungfruns död,' Wigström, Folkdiktning, I, 52; and besides these Swedish copies, a Danish broadside, from the beginning of this century, which is very common. 'Stolten Hellelille,' "Tragica, No 22," 1657, Danske Viser, III, 184, No 130 (translated by Prior, III, 214), a somewhat artificial piece, has the outline of 'Der Ritter u. die Maid,' and is a hundred years older than any known copy of the German ballad.

A Wendish ballad, founded on the German, is very like (4): Haupt and Schmaler, I, 139, No 136.

A Dutch ballad, in the Antwerpener Liederbuch, No 45, Hoffmann, Niederländische Volkslieder, p. 61, No 15, Willems, p. 154, No 60, Uhland, No 97 B, has some points of the above, but is a very different story.

[122]There is a Finnish form of this ballad, probably derived from the Swedish; also another Swedish version in Westergötlands Fornminnesförenings Tidskrift, 1869, häfte 1, which I have not yet seen.

[123](1), "Bothe, Frühlings-Almanach," p. 132, 1806; 'Hans Markgraf,' Büsching u. von der Hagen, p. 30; Erlach, II, 136; Mittler, No 133. (2), 'Alle bei Gott die sich lieben,' Wunderhorn, II, 250, 1808, Mittler, No 128. (3), 'Alle bei Gott die sich lieben,' Hoffmann u. Richter, p. 12, No 5, Mittler, No 132. (4), 'Der Graf u. die Bauerntochter,' Ditfurth, II, 8, No 9. (5), 'Vom jungen Markgrafen,' Pogatschnigg u. Hermann, II, 179, No 595. (6), 'Die junge Mutter,' Paudler, p. 22, No 14.(7), 'Jungfer Dörtchen ist todt,' Parisius, p. 36, No 10. (8), 'Liebchens Tod,' Erk u. Irmer,VI, 4, No 2; Mittler, No 130. (9), 'Jägers Trauer,' Pröhle, p. 86, No 57; Mittler, No 129. (10), 'Das unverdiente Kränzlein,' Meinert, p. 32; Mittler, No 131. For plants springing from lovers' graves, as here and in Nos 73, 74, see vol. i, 96 ff.

(7), 'Jungfer Dörtchen ist todt,' Parisius, p. 36, No 10. (8), 'Liebchens Tod,' Erk u. Irmer,VI, 4, No 2; Mittler, No 130. (9), 'Jägers Trauer,' Pröhle, p. 86, No 57; Mittler, No 129. (10), 'Das unverdiente Kränzlein,' Meinert, p. 32; Mittler, No 131. For plants springing from lovers' graves, as here and in Nos 73, 74, see vol. i, 96 ff.

[124]In (2) the lover is warned of mishap by a bird, and the bird is a nightingale, as in Kristensen, II, No 20 A. A bird of some sort figures in all the Danish ballads referred to, printed and unprinted, and in the Swedish 'Hertig Nils;' also in the corresponding Finnish ballad. The nightingale warns to the same effect in a French ballad, Beaurepaire, p. 52. The lover goes straight to his mistress's house, and learns that they are burying her; then makes for the cemetery, hears the bells, the priests chanting, etc., and approaches the bier. The dead gives him some information, followed by some admonition.

A.'Fair Isabell of Rochroyall,' Elizabeth Cochrane's Song-Book, p. 151, No 114.B.'The Bonny Lass of Lochroyan, or Lochroyen,' Herd's MSS, I, 144, II, 60; Herd's Scottish Songs, 1776, I, 149.C.'Lord Gregory,' Pitcairn's MSS, III, 1.D.'Fair Anny,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 27; 'Fair Annie of Lochroyan,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 36.E.a.'Love Gregor,' Alexander Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 2.b.'The Lass of Lochroyan,' Scott's Minstrelsy, II, 49, 1802.F.Herd's MSS, I, 31, II, 65.G.'Love Gregory,' Buchan's MSS, II, 149; Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 198; Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, Percy Society, vol. xvii, p. 60.H.'The Lass of Aughrim,' an Irish version, communicated by Mr G. C. Mahon, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.I.'Oh open the door, Lord Gregory,' Johnson's Museum, I, 5, No 5, four stanzas.J.Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 12, two stanzas.K.Stenhouse's Johnson's Museum, IV, *107, one stanza.

A.'Fair Isabell of Rochroyall,' Elizabeth Cochrane's Song-Book, p. 151, No 114.

B.'The Bonny Lass of Lochroyan, or Lochroyen,' Herd's MSS, I, 144, II, 60; Herd's Scottish Songs, 1776, I, 149.

C.'Lord Gregory,' Pitcairn's MSS, III, 1.

D.'Fair Anny,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 27; 'Fair Annie of Lochroyan,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 36.

E.a.'Love Gregor,' Alexander Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 2.b.'The Lass of Lochroyan,' Scott's Minstrelsy, II, 49, 1802.

F.Herd's MSS, I, 31, II, 65.

G.'Love Gregory,' Buchan's MSS, II, 149; Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 198; Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, Percy Society, vol. xvii, p. 60.

H.'The Lass of Aughrim,' an Irish version, communicated by Mr G. C. Mahon, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I.'Oh open the door, Lord Gregory,' Johnson's Museum, I, 5, No 5, four stanzas.

J.Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 12, two stanzas.

K.Stenhouse's Johnson's Museum, IV, *107, one stanza.

A, never as yet published, is from a manuscript of the first half of the last century.B, the earliest printed copy, was given by Herd, from his manuscript, in 1776, with his usual fidelity. Scott followed, in 1802, with a copy obtained from Mrs Brown by Alexander Fraser Tytler in 1800, introducing six stanzas fromBand five fromF, and a few readings from two recited copies. This compounded copy is the one that is most generally known. Jamieson printed, in 1806,D, a version written down from Mrs Brown's recitation in 1783, giving it not quiteverbatim, as he says (he changes, for instance, Rochroyal to Lochroyan), but in general adhering to his text.E a, the copy principally used by Scott, is, to a considerable extent, a repetition ofD, but is by no means an imperfectly remembered version of its predecessor (which was written down seventeen years earlier), filled out by Mrs Brown's improvised inventions.E ahas stanzas not found inD, two of which occur inB, and is to be regarded as a blending of two independent versions known toMrs Brown, which no doubt had much in common, though not so much asDandE a. The whole of the fragmentFhas not been published hitherto, but five of the eight stanzas are interpolated into Scott's copy, including the two last, which are shown by the very style to be spurious. Fairy charms have been exercised on Lord Gregory, according to the final stanza ofF, and Lord Gregory calls his dame "witch mother" inC10. But there appears to be no call for magic or witchcraft in the case. A man who is asleep is simply not informed by an ill disposed mother that a woman whom he would like to see is at the door; that is all.[125]

A, the oldest copy, has a preliminary history wanting in the others. Isabel of Rochroyal has a dream about her lover. She orders her horse, to ride till she comes to some hold. She meets a company, who ask her questions about a first and a second young may, whichsheseems to understand, but which are not made intelligible to us. They then ask whether she be Isabel of Rochroyal, and she answers that she is that same lady, banished from kith and kin; why, we are not informed, but we might conjecture that it would be on account of her relations with Love Gregory. She is directed to Gregory's castle, tirls at the pin, and begs admission. Gregory's mother answers as and for her son, and demands proofs of her being the lass of Rochroyal. These are given, and the mother says that Gregory is gone to sea. Hereupon Isabel breaks out into exclamations as to her helpless condition; who will take care of her? who will be the bairn's father till Gregory come home? The mother replies that she will do all that is necessary for her, but there is none to be her bairn's father till Gregory return. This is in itself unnatural, since the mother is hostile to her son's love, and it is counter to what we read in the other versions. InBas inA, to be sure, the lass is said to be banished from her kin, but her kin nevertheless show a disposition to do all that is in their power in the way of kind attentions. The other copies say nothing of her family being alienated. The father inDeven furnishes his daughter with a bonny ship, to go to her true-love. If we seek to reconcile these accounts, we must take the banishment as a separation for which only the fates are responsible, and suppose that verses are lost inAafter 17 which narrated Annie's return to her own family. The lass says, st. 22, that she will set her foot on ship-board, having been told by the mother, st. 17, that Gregory is on the sea. Gregory, in turn, has his dream, that his love has been knocking at the door, and his mother tells him that she has not been gone half an hour, and gets his curses for not informing him. Gregory orders his swiftest horse, to ride till he comes to some hold, and presently meets a funeral train who are carrying his love to burial. This conclusion, found also inB,C, is that of 'Lord Lovel' and 'Fair Margaret and Sweet William,' and must perhaps be set aside as not the original one. InBGregory kills himself, as Lord Lovel does in one copy,E.

The whole story asAactually stands, notwithstanding that the lass says she will take ship, seems to pass on land. Two different relations may have been confounded. In the other versions Love Gregory is somewhere over sea, and inB,Fhis lass is indebted for his direction, not to a company who are raking over the lea, but to a sea-rover, who shows a consideration not to be looked for from his class.[126]The maid, repulsed by Gregory's mother, and supposing herself to be cast off by Gregory himself, sails away from his castle, and inD,Eencounters a storm, and is wrecked. InDGregory rushes to the strand near which his castle lies, sees Annie sailing away, witnesses the wreck of her vessel, plunges into the sea and brings her body to land, and dies of heartbreak. So inE, with the difference that Annie's body is thrown ashore by the waves, and that the tale does not finish with the death of Gregory, which we know must have followed.

Why the lovers are parted, why Gregory winna come to the lass, and she must go to him, is not accounted for inC-G. We may deduce fromAandB, though the story in these versions as we have it is not altogether consistent, that the lass was banished from kith and kin on account of her connection with Gregory (which inB16 andH9 is said to have been irregular) and flying to her lover, found no acceptance with his mother.

Cunningham has rewritten this ballad, Scottish Songs, I, 298, and several songs have been composed on the story: by Burns and Dr Wolcott (Peter Pindar), Thomson's Select Melodies of Scotland, I, 37, ed. 1822; Jamieson, Popular Ballads, I, 46; and by an anonymous writer in a London periodical, cited by Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 99.

Roch- or Rough-royal,A,D,E,F, Ruchlawhill,C, I have not found, but there is a Rough castle in Stirlingshire. Loch Ryan runs up into the north-west corner of Wigtown, a shire at the south-west extremity of Scotland. Aughrim is in the county of Roscommon, Ireland.

As the mother in this ballad, feigning to be her son, requires the lady at the gate to legitimate herself by mentioning some of the tokens which have been exchanged between her and her lover, so in other ballads a wife demands conclusive proofs that a man claiming to be her long absent husband is what he pretends to be. E. g., some forms of the French ballad of 'Germaine:'

'Ouvre ta port', Germin', c'est moi qu'est ton mari.''Donnez-moi des indic's de la première nuit,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari.''T'en souviens-tu, Germin', de la première nuit,Où tu étais monté' sur un beau cheval gris,Placée entre tes frèr's et moi ton favori?''Donnez-moi des indic's de la deuxième nuit,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari.''T'en souviens-tu, Germin', de la deuxième nuit?En te serrant les doigts ton anneau y cassa,Tu en as la moitié, et l'autre la voilà.'

'Ouvre ta port', Germin', c'est moi qu'est ton mari.''Donnez-moi des indic's de la première nuit,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari.'

'T'en souviens-tu, Germin', de la première nuit,Où tu étais monté' sur un beau cheval gris,Placée entre tes frèr's et moi ton favori?'

'Donnez-moi des indic's de la deuxième nuit,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari,Et par là je croirai que vous êt's mon mari.'

'T'en souviens-tu, Germin', de la deuxième nuit?En te serrant les doigts ton anneau y cassa,Tu en as la moitié, et l'autre la voilà.'

Champfleury, Chansons populaires des Provinces, p. 196.

Cf. Poésies pop. de la France, MS., IV, fol. 189; Puymaigre, p. 11, 2d ed., I, 50 f; Beaurepaire, p. 76; Fleury, p. 267; Rathery, in Le Moniteur, Aug. 26, 1853, p. 945 f, 'Le Sire de Créqui;' Wolf, Volkslieder aus Venetien, No 81, p. 59; Ferraro, Canti p. monferrini, No 26, p. 33. And again in Romaic:Hê Ἡ Αναγνωρισις, etc.; Fauriel, II, 422-25; Tommaseo, III, 141-44, 148-50; Marcellus, Chants du Peuple en Grèce, I, 328; Schmidt, Griechische Märchen, u. s. w., p. 192, No 57; Chasiotis, p. 29, No 28; Zambelios, p. 718, No 5; Jeannaraki, p. 237, No 300; Aravandinos, pp 209, 211, Nos 347, 348; Passow, pp 321-28, Nos 441-446; Manousos, p. 103=Fauriel, II, 423. Several of the ballads in Passow are of course repetitions.[127]

Dis translated, after Jamieson, by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, No 16;E b, Scott's compounded version, by Schubart, p. 93, Doenniges, p. 33, Gerhard, p. 21, Wolff, Halle der Völker, I, 52, and by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder der Vorzeit, No 39, with a change or two from Aytoun; Allingham's compounded version by Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 63.

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