D

Herd's MSS, I, 169, II, 84. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 265.

1Lady Maisdry was a lady fair,She maid her mither's bed;Auld Ingram was an aged knight,And hee sought her to wed.2''Tis I forbid ye, Auld Ingram,For to seek me to spouse;For Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Has been into my bowrs.3''T is I forbid ye, Auld Ingram,For to seek me to wed;For Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Has been into my bed.'4'T is he has bought to this ladyThe robes of the brown;'And ever alas,' says this lady,'The robs will pit mee down!'5And he has bought to this ladyThe robs of the red;'And ever alas,' says this lady,'The robs will be my dead!'6And he has bought to this ladyThe chrystal and the lammer,Sae has hee bought to her mitherThe curches of the cammer.7Every ane o her se'n brethrenThey had a hawk in hand,And every lady i the placeThey got a goud garland.8Every cuk in that kitchenThey gat a noble claith;A' was blyth at Auld Ingram's cuming,But Lady Maisdrey was wraith.9'Whare will I get a bonny boy,Wad fain wun hos and shoon,That wud rin on to my Wayets,And quickly cume again?'10'Here am I, a bonny boy,Wad fain wun hoes and shoon,Wha wull rin on to your Wayets,And quickly cume again.'11'Ye'l bid him, and ye'l pray him baith,Gif ony prayer can dee,To Mary Kirk to cume the morn,My weary wadding to see.'12Lord Wayets lay our his castle wa,Beheld baith dale and down,And he beheld a bonny boyCume rinnen to the town.13'What news, what news, ye bonny boy?What news ye hae to mee?. . . . . . .. . . . . . .14'O is my ladie's fauldis brunt?Or is her towrs wun?Or is my Maisdrey lighter yetA dear dochter or sun?'15'Your ladie's faulds they are not brunt,Nor yet are her towrs wun,Neither is Maisdrey lighter yetA dear dochter or sun.16'But she bids ye and she prays ye baith,Gif ony prayer can dee,To Mary Kirk to cume the morn,Her weary wadding to see.'17He dung the boord up wi his fit,Sae did he wi his tae;The silver cup that sat upon'tI the fire he gard it flee:'O what na a lord in a' ScotlandDare marry my Maisdrey?'18'O 't is but a feeble thoughtTo tell the tane and not the tither;O 't is but a feeble thoughtTo tell't is your mither's brither.'19''T is I wull send to that wadding,And I wul follow syne,The fitches o the fallow deerAn the gammons o the swine,An the nine hides o the noble cow;'T was slain in season time.20''T is I wul send to that waddingTen ton of the red wyne;Much more I'll send to that wadding,An I wul follow syne.'21When he came in unto the ha,Lady Maisdrey she did ween,And twenty times he kist her mouBefore Auld Ingram's een.22Nor to the kirk she wud ne gae,Nor til't she wudn ride,Till four and twunty men she gat her before,An twunty on ilka side,An four and twunty milk-white dowsTo flee aboon her head.23A loud laughter gae Lord WayetsMang the mids o his men:'Marry the lady wham they weel,A maiden she is nane.'24'O laugh ye at my men, Wayets?Or di ye laugh at me?Or laugh ye at the beerly bride,That's gane to marry me?'25'I laugh na at your men, uncle,Nor yet dive I at thee,Bit I laugh at my lands sae braid,Sae weel's I do them see.'26Whan ene was cume, and ene-bells rung,An a' man gane to bed,The bride bit and the silly bridegroomIn chambers they were laid.27Was na it a fell thing for to see,Twa heads lye on a coad,Lady Maisdrey like the moten goud,Auld Ingram like a toad?28He turnd his face unto the stock,And sound he fell asleep;She turnd her fair face unto the wa,An sa't tears she did weep.29It fell about the mark midnight,Auld Ingram began to turn him;He pat his hands on's lady's sides,An waly, sair was she murnin.30'What aileth thee, my lady dear?Ever alas and wae's me,There is a baube betwixt thy sides!O sae sair's it grieves me.'31'Didn I tell ye that, Auld Ingram,Or ye saught me to wed,That Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Had been into my bed?'32'O father that bairn on me, Maisdrey,O father it on me,An ye sall hae a rigland shireYour mornin's gift to bee.'33'O sarbit,' says the Lady Maisdrey,'That ever the like me befa,To father my bairn on Auld Ingram,Lord Wayets in my father's ha!34'O sarbit,' says the Lady Maisdrey,'That ever the like me betide,To father my bairn on Auld Ingram,An Lord Wayets beside!'

1Lady Maisdry was a lady fair,She maid her mither's bed;Auld Ingram was an aged knight,And hee sought her to wed.

2''Tis I forbid ye, Auld Ingram,For to seek me to spouse;For Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Has been into my bowrs.

3''T is I forbid ye, Auld Ingram,For to seek me to wed;For Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Has been into my bed.'

4'T is he has bought to this ladyThe robes of the brown;'And ever alas,' says this lady,'The robs will pit mee down!'

5And he has bought to this ladyThe robs of the red;'And ever alas,' says this lady,'The robs will be my dead!'

6And he has bought to this ladyThe chrystal and the lammer,Sae has hee bought to her mitherThe curches of the cammer.

7Every ane o her se'n brethrenThey had a hawk in hand,And every lady i the placeThey got a goud garland.

8Every cuk in that kitchenThey gat a noble claith;A' was blyth at Auld Ingram's cuming,But Lady Maisdrey was wraith.

9'Whare will I get a bonny boy,Wad fain wun hos and shoon,That wud rin on to my Wayets,And quickly cume again?'

10'Here am I, a bonny boy,Wad fain wun hoes and shoon,Wha wull rin on to your Wayets,And quickly cume again.'

11'Ye'l bid him, and ye'l pray him baith,Gif ony prayer can dee,To Mary Kirk to cume the morn,My weary wadding to see.'

12Lord Wayets lay our his castle wa,Beheld baith dale and down,And he beheld a bonny boyCume rinnen to the town.

13'What news, what news, ye bonny boy?What news ye hae to mee?. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

14'O is my ladie's fauldis brunt?Or is her towrs wun?Or is my Maisdrey lighter yetA dear dochter or sun?'

15'Your ladie's faulds they are not brunt,Nor yet are her towrs wun,Neither is Maisdrey lighter yetA dear dochter or sun.

16'But she bids ye and she prays ye baith,Gif ony prayer can dee,To Mary Kirk to cume the morn,Her weary wadding to see.'

17He dung the boord up wi his fit,Sae did he wi his tae;The silver cup that sat upon'tI the fire he gard it flee:'O what na a lord in a' ScotlandDare marry my Maisdrey?'

18'O 't is but a feeble thoughtTo tell the tane and not the tither;O 't is but a feeble thoughtTo tell't is your mither's brither.'

19''T is I wull send to that wadding,And I wul follow syne,The fitches o the fallow deerAn the gammons o the swine,An the nine hides o the noble cow;'T was slain in season time.

20''T is I wul send to that waddingTen ton of the red wyne;Much more I'll send to that wadding,An I wul follow syne.'

21When he came in unto the ha,Lady Maisdrey she did ween,And twenty times he kist her mouBefore Auld Ingram's een.

22Nor to the kirk she wud ne gae,Nor til't she wudn ride,Till four and twunty men she gat her before,An twunty on ilka side,An four and twunty milk-white dowsTo flee aboon her head.

23A loud laughter gae Lord WayetsMang the mids o his men:'Marry the lady wham they weel,A maiden she is nane.'

24'O laugh ye at my men, Wayets?Or di ye laugh at me?Or laugh ye at the beerly bride,That's gane to marry me?'

25'I laugh na at your men, uncle,Nor yet dive I at thee,Bit I laugh at my lands sae braid,Sae weel's I do them see.'

26Whan ene was cume, and ene-bells rung,An a' man gane to bed,The bride bit and the silly bridegroomIn chambers they were laid.

27Was na it a fell thing for to see,Twa heads lye on a coad,Lady Maisdrey like the moten goud,Auld Ingram like a toad?

28He turnd his face unto the stock,And sound he fell asleep;She turnd her fair face unto the wa,An sa't tears she did weep.

29It fell about the mark midnight,Auld Ingram began to turn him;He pat his hands on's lady's sides,An waly, sair was she murnin.

30'What aileth thee, my lady dear?Ever alas and wae's me,There is a baube betwixt thy sides!O sae sair's it grieves me.'

31'Didn I tell ye that, Auld Ingram,Or ye saught me to wed,That Lord Wayets, your sister's son,Had been into my bed?'

32'O father that bairn on me, Maisdrey,O father it on me,An ye sall hae a rigland shireYour mornin's gift to bee.'

33'O sarbit,' says the Lady Maisdrey,'That ever the like me befa,To father my bairn on Auld Ingram,Lord Wayets in my father's ha!

34'O sarbit,' says the Lady Maisdrey,'That ever the like me betide,To father my bairn on Auld Ingram,An Lord Wayets beside!'

Kinloch MSS, V, 323, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.

1Lord Ingram and Childe ViatWere both bred in one ha;They laid their luves on one ladye,And frae her they could na fa.2Lord Ingram courted Ladye Maisery,He courted her frae ha to bower;And even sae did Childe Viat,Amang the summer flowers.3Lord Ingram courted Ladye Maisery,He courted her frae bower to ha;And even sae did Childe Viat,Among the sheets sae sma.4Lord Ingram bought her Ladye MaiseryThe steed that paid him well;She wads he were ayont the sea,Gin she had her true love.5Lord Ingram bought her Lady MaiseryThe knives hafted wi steel;She wads they were in his heart's bluid,Gin Childe Viat was weel.6Lord Ingram bought her Lady MaiseryThe golden knobbed gloves;She wads they were ayone the sea,Gin she had her true love.* * * * *7'There's two swords in one scabbard,They cost me many a pound;Take you tho best, leave me the worst,We's fight till they be done.'8The firsten stroke Lord Ingram gae,He wounded Childe Viat nigh;The nexten stroke Childe Viat gae,Lord Ingram's head did flie;And fifty feet oer a burken bussLord Ingram's head did flee.9There was no mane made for these two lords,In bower where they lay slain;But all was for this fair ladie,In bower where she gaed brain.* * * * *10'For one word I would gie for Childe Viat,For Lord Ingram I would gie three;And it's a' for the brave weddingThat he did to me gie.'

1Lord Ingram and Childe ViatWere both bred in one ha;They laid their luves on one ladye,And frae her they could na fa.

2Lord Ingram courted Ladye Maisery,He courted her frae ha to bower;And even sae did Childe Viat,Amang the summer flowers.

3Lord Ingram courted Ladye Maisery,He courted her frae bower to ha;And even sae did Childe Viat,Among the sheets sae sma.

4Lord Ingram bought her Ladye MaiseryThe steed that paid him well;She wads he were ayont the sea,Gin she had her true love.

5Lord Ingram bought her Lady MaiseryThe knives hafted wi steel;She wads they were in his heart's bluid,Gin Childe Viat was weel.

6Lord Ingram bought her Lady MaiseryThe golden knobbed gloves;She wads they were ayone the sea,Gin she had her true love.

* * * * *

7'There's two swords in one scabbard,They cost me many a pound;Take you tho best, leave me the worst,We's fight till they be done.'

8The firsten stroke Lord Ingram gae,He wounded Childe Viat nigh;The nexten stroke Childe Viat gae,Lord Ingram's head did flie;And fifty feet oer a burken bussLord Ingram's head did flee.

9There was no mane made for these two lords,In bower where they lay slain;But all was for this fair ladie,In bower where she gaed brain.

* * * * *

10'For one word I would gie for Childe Viat,For Lord Ingram I would gie three;And it's a' for the brave weddingThat he did to me gie.'

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 234.

1Lord Ingram and Childe VyetWere baith born in ae bower;They fell in love wi ae lady,Their honour was but poor.2Lord Ingram and Childe VyetWere baith bred in ae ha;They laid their love on Lady Maisry,The waur did them befa.3Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae father and frae mother;Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae sister and frae brother.4Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae a' her kith and kin;Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryBut she said nay to him.5Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryIn the garden amo the flowers;Childe Vyet courted Lady MaisryAmo her ha's and bowers.6Lord Ingram sent to Lady MaisryA steed paced fu well;She wishes he were ower the sea,If Childe Vyet were well.7Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryFrae her relations a';Childe Vyet courted Lady MaisryAmo the sheets sae sma.8Lord Ingram bought to Lady MaisryThe siller knapped gloves;She wishd his hands might swell in them,Had she her ain true love.9Lord Ingram bought to Lady MaisryThe brands garnishd wi steel;She wishd the same might pierce his heart,Gin Childe Vyet were weell.10Childe Vyet bought to Lady MaisryThe fancy ribbons sma;She had mair delight in her sma fancyThan o Lord Ingram, gowd and a'.11Lord Ingram's gane to her father,And thus he did complain:'O am I doomd to die for love,And nae be loved again?12'I hae sent to your daughterThe steed paced fu well;She wishes I were ower the sea,Gin Childe Vyet were well.13'I hae bought to your daughterThe siller knapped gloves;She wishd my hands might swell in them,Had she her ain true love.14'I hae bought to your daughterThe brands garnishd wi steel;She wishd the same might pierce my heart,Gin Childe Vyet were weell.15'Childe Vyet bought to your daughterThe fancy ribbons sma;She's mair delight in her sma fancyNor o me, gowd and a'.'16Her father turnd him round about,A solemn oath sware he,Saying, She shall be the bride this night,And you bridegroom shall be.17'O had your tongue, my father dear,Let a' your passion be;The reason that I love this man,It is unknown to thee.'18Sweetly played the merry organs,Intill her mother's bower;But still and dum stood Lady Maisry,And let the tears down pour.19Sweetly played the harp sae fine,Intill her fathers ha;But still and dum stood Lady Maisry,And let tears down fa.20Tween Marykirk and her mother's bower,Was a' clad ower wi gowd,For keeping o her snaw-white feetFrae treading o the mould.21Lord Ingram gaed in at ae church-door,Childe Vyet at another,And lightly leugh him Childe VyetAt Lord Ingram, his brother.22'O laugh ye at my men, brother?Or do ye laugh at me?Or laugh ye at young Lady Maisry,This night my bride's to be?'23'I laugh na at your men, brother,Nor do I laugh at thee;But I laugh at the knightless sportThat I saw wi my ee.24'It is a ring on ae finger,A broach on ae breast-bane;And if ye kent what's under that,Your love woud soon be dane.'25Lord Ingram and his merry young menOut ower the plains are gane,And pensively walkd him Childe Vyet,Him single self alane.26When they had eaten and well drunken,And a' men bound for bed,Lord Ingram and Lady MaisryIn ae chamber were laid.27He laid his hand upon her breast,And thus pronounced he:'There is a bairn within your sides,Wha may the father be?28'Wha ever be your bairn's father,Ye will father it on me;The fairest castle o SnowdownYour morning gift shall be.'29'Wha ever be my bairn's father,I'll neer father it on thee;For better love I my bairn's fatherNor ever I'll love thee.'30Then he's taen out a trusty brand,Laid it between them tway;Says, Lye ye there, ye ill woman,A maid for me till day.31Next morning her father came,Well belted wi a brand;Then up it starts him Lord Ingram,He was an angry man.32'If your daughter had been a gude woman,As I thought she had been,Cauld iron shoud hae never lienThe lang night us between.'33'Ohon, alas! my daughter dear,What's this I hear o thee?I thought ye was a gude womanAs in the north countrie.'34'O had your tongue, my father dear,Let a' your sorrows be;I never liked Lord Ingram,Ye ken ye forced me.'35Then in it came him Childe Vyet,Well belted wi a brand;Then up it raise him Lord Ingram,He was an angry man.36'Win up, win up, now Lord Ingram,Rise up immediately,That you and I the quarrel try,Who gains the victory.37'I hae twa brands in ae scabbard,That cost me mony pound;Take ye the best, gie me the warst,And I'll fight where I stand.'38Then up it starts him Childe Vyet,Shook back his yellow hair;The first an stroke Childe Vyet drew,He wounded Ingram sair.39Then up it starts him Lord Ingram,Shed back his coal-black hair;The first an stroke Lord Ingram drew,Childe Vyet needed nae mair.40Nae meen was made for these twa knights,Whan they were lying dead,But a' for her Lady Maisry,That gaes in mournfu weed.41Says, 'If I hae been an ill woman,Alas and wae is me!And if I've been an ill woman,A gude woman I'll be!42'Ye'll take frae me my silk attire,Bring me a palmer's weed,And thro the world, for their sakes,I'll gang and beg my bread.43'If I gang a step for Childe Vyet,For Lord Ingram I'll gang three;All for the honour that he paidAt Marykirk to me.44'I'll gang a step for Childe Vyet,For Lord Ingram I'll gang three;It was into my mother's bowerChilde Vyet wronged me.'

1Lord Ingram and Childe VyetWere baith born in ae bower;They fell in love wi ae lady,Their honour was but poor.

2Lord Ingram and Childe VyetWere baith bred in ae ha;They laid their love on Lady Maisry,The waur did them befa.

3Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae father and frae mother;Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae sister and frae brother.

4Lord Ingram gained Lady MaisryFrae a' her kith and kin;Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryBut she said nay to him.

5Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryIn the garden amo the flowers;Childe Vyet courted Lady MaisryAmo her ha's and bowers.

6Lord Ingram sent to Lady MaisryA steed paced fu well;She wishes he were ower the sea,If Childe Vyet were well.

7Lord Ingram courted Lady MaisryFrae her relations a';Childe Vyet courted Lady MaisryAmo the sheets sae sma.

8Lord Ingram bought to Lady MaisryThe siller knapped gloves;She wishd his hands might swell in them,Had she her ain true love.

9Lord Ingram bought to Lady MaisryThe brands garnishd wi steel;She wishd the same might pierce his heart,Gin Childe Vyet were weell.

10Childe Vyet bought to Lady MaisryThe fancy ribbons sma;She had mair delight in her sma fancyThan o Lord Ingram, gowd and a'.

11Lord Ingram's gane to her father,And thus he did complain:'O am I doomd to die for love,And nae be loved again?

12'I hae sent to your daughterThe steed paced fu well;She wishes I were ower the sea,Gin Childe Vyet were well.

13'I hae bought to your daughterThe siller knapped gloves;She wishd my hands might swell in them,Had she her ain true love.

14'I hae bought to your daughterThe brands garnishd wi steel;She wishd the same might pierce my heart,Gin Childe Vyet were weell.

15'Childe Vyet bought to your daughterThe fancy ribbons sma;She's mair delight in her sma fancyNor o me, gowd and a'.'

16Her father turnd him round about,A solemn oath sware he,Saying, She shall be the bride this night,And you bridegroom shall be.

17'O had your tongue, my father dear,Let a' your passion be;The reason that I love this man,It is unknown to thee.'

18Sweetly played the merry organs,Intill her mother's bower;But still and dum stood Lady Maisry,And let the tears down pour.

19Sweetly played the harp sae fine,Intill her fathers ha;But still and dum stood Lady Maisry,And let tears down fa.

20Tween Marykirk and her mother's bower,Was a' clad ower wi gowd,For keeping o her snaw-white feetFrae treading o the mould.

21Lord Ingram gaed in at ae church-door,Childe Vyet at another,And lightly leugh him Childe VyetAt Lord Ingram, his brother.

22'O laugh ye at my men, brother?Or do ye laugh at me?Or laugh ye at young Lady Maisry,This night my bride's to be?'

23'I laugh na at your men, brother,Nor do I laugh at thee;But I laugh at the knightless sportThat I saw wi my ee.

24'It is a ring on ae finger,A broach on ae breast-bane;And if ye kent what's under that,Your love woud soon be dane.'

25Lord Ingram and his merry young menOut ower the plains are gane,And pensively walkd him Childe Vyet,Him single self alane.

26When they had eaten and well drunken,And a' men bound for bed,Lord Ingram and Lady MaisryIn ae chamber were laid.

27He laid his hand upon her breast,And thus pronounced he:'There is a bairn within your sides,Wha may the father be?

28'Wha ever be your bairn's father,Ye will father it on me;The fairest castle o SnowdownYour morning gift shall be.'

29'Wha ever be my bairn's father,I'll neer father it on thee;For better love I my bairn's fatherNor ever I'll love thee.'

30Then he's taen out a trusty brand,Laid it between them tway;Says, Lye ye there, ye ill woman,A maid for me till day.

31Next morning her father came,Well belted wi a brand;Then up it starts him Lord Ingram,He was an angry man.

32'If your daughter had been a gude woman,As I thought she had been,Cauld iron shoud hae never lienThe lang night us between.'

33'Ohon, alas! my daughter dear,What's this I hear o thee?I thought ye was a gude womanAs in the north countrie.'

34'O had your tongue, my father dear,Let a' your sorrows be;I never liked Lord Ingram,Ye ken ye forced me.'

35Then in it came him Childe Vyet,Well belted wi a brand;Then up it raise him Lord Ingram,He was an angry man.

36'Win up, win up, now Lord Ingram,Rise up immediately,That you and I the quarrel try,Who gains the victory.

37'I hae twa brands in ae scabbard,That cost me mony pound;Take ye the best, gie me the warst,And I'll fight where I stand.'

38Then up it starts him Childe Vyet,Shook back his yellow hair;The first an stroke Childe Vyet drew,He wounded Ingram sair.

39Then up it starts him Lord Ingram,Shed back his coal-black hair;The first an stroke Lord Ingram drew,Childe Vyet needed nae mair.

40Nae meen was made for these twa knights,Whan they were lying dead,But a' for her Lady Maisry,That gaes in mournfu weed.

41Says, 'If I hae been an ill woman,Alas and wae is me!And if I've been an ill woman,A gude woman I'll be!

42'Ye'll take frae me my silk attire,Bring me a palmer's weed,And thro the world, for their sakes,I'll gang and beg my bread.

43'If I gang a step for Childe Vyet,For Lord Ingram I'll gang three;All for the honour that he paidAt Marykirk to me.

44'I'll gang a step for Childe Vyet,For Lord Ingram I'll gang three;It was into my mother's bowerChilde Vyet wronged me.'

A. a.

14, their bonheur.82. to kill.111. boywanting: seeb.112. And will.191. and that.261. did stand.

14, their bonheur.

82. to kill.

111. boywanting: seeb.

112. And will.

191. and that.

261. did stand.

11. Childe Vyet,and always.13, 23. Had... loves.14, honour.31, 33, 41, 51, 53. the Lady.71. He saidwanting.73. hewanting.82. to sell. 93. I'd be.103. Will run.111. I am the boy, says one.112. Will win.131. to Vyet's.141. line that Childe Vyet read.143. line that he.145, 6, 151, 2,as15.

11. Childe Vyet,and always.

13, 23. Had... loves.

14, honour.

31, 33, 41, 51, 53. the Lady.

71. He saidwanting.

73. hewanting.

82. to sell. 93. I'd be.

103. Will run.

111. I am the boy, says one.

112. Will win.

131. to Vyet's.

141. line that Childe Vyet read.

143. line that he.

145, 6, 151, 2,as15.

What ails my one brother, he says,He'll not let my love be?But I'll send to my brother's bridal,The woman shall be free.

153. Take four and twenty bucks and ewes.164. was wi wean.171. about the.182. with gold.183, 193. keep the lady.184. the mould.201. bells were.211. upon their.214. Says he, You are with bairn.222. came as my wooer.223. your one.231. so did I.261. start him.281, 291. for the.283, 293. All was for Lady.301. O get to me.31. For ae.313. All for the honourable marriage that.

153. Take four and twenty bucks and ewes.

164. was wi wean.

171. about the.

182. with gold.

183, 193. keep the lady.

184. the mould.

201. bells were.

211. upon their.

214. Says he, You are with bairn.

222. came as my wooer.

223. your one.

231. so did I.

261. start him.

281, 291. for the.

283, 293. All was for Lady.

301. O get to me.

31. For ae.

313. All for the honourable marriage that.

13. Their laid.22. womb.12, 13 make one stanza in the MS.15, 16 are written together in three long lines.18 did not belong where it stands, cf.A31,E43, 44, but as the text now runs, cannot well change place.

13. Their laid.

22. womb.

12, 13 make one stanza in the MS.

15, 16 are written together in three long lines.

18 did not belong where it stands, cf.A31,E43, 44, but as the text now runs, cannot well change place.

Herd's copies differ little except in spelling.64. cannell (cinnamon).I have thought it best to riskcammer, forcamerik,cambric, though I have not found the word in English: Danishkammer-dug.103.second copy omitson.112. due (?).13, 14 are written in one stanza.195.second copyhidies.251. men, Wayets: unclein second copy.26-28 precede 23-25.

Herd's copies differ little except in spelling.

64. cannell (cinnamon).I have thought it best to riskcammer, forcamerik,cambric, though I have not found the word in English: Danishkammer-dug.

103.second copy omitson.

112. due (?).

13, 14 are written in one stanza.

195.second copyhidies.

251. men, Wayets: unclein second copy.

26-28 precede 23-25.

42. that paid:cf.E62.10 follows 6 in MS.

312, 352. belted and a brand.

FOOTNOTES:[93]This stanza, which comes in here with flagrant impropriety, is a commonplace, or movable passage. It occurs, as a feature in the ceremony of a brilliant wedding, in 'Fair Mary of Wallington,'E6, 7, and in some copies of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet:' see that ballad, note toA.[94]These citations, which might easily be extended, are many of them repeated from Grimm's Rechtsalterthümer, pp. 168-70 of the second edition. Sir Walter Scott has pointed out that on the occasion of the marriage of Maria of Burgundy with the Archduke Maximilian, in 1477, the marriage being by proxy, Ludwig, Pfalzgraf of Vendelz, the bridegroom's representative, was formally bedded with the bride, a naked sword being laid between them. Scott also refers to a play called The Jovial Crew, acted in 1641, in which one of the characters, to enrage another, proposes to be his proxy, marry his love for him, and lay a naked cudgel betwixt them: Sir Tristrem, p. 439, ed. 1833. In an Italian ballad the sword is reduced to a straw: Wolf, Volkslieder aus Venetien, No 95, Bolza, No 56, Ferraro, C. p. monferrini, No 76. In the Spanish and Portuguese romances of 'Gerineldo,' the sultan or king, having found the page asleep with the infanta, lays his sword between the two and retires: Duran, Nos 320, 321; Hardung, I, 101.[95]Some of the Norse examples were derived from notes of Grundtvig, three others from Liebrecht. Grundtvig cites an ordinance of Frederic II of Denmark, dated 1586, to this effect: Whereas a custom has come in of having a dance during a wedding-repast, which dance those that sit behind the tables are asked to as well as others, and therefore are obliged to step on the tables, on which the victuals are still standing, and whereas this, indecorous of itself, might even prove dangerous to women-folk, and others, who should attempt to jump over the tables, now therefore dancing during meal-time is forbidden until dishes and tables shall have been cleared away: IV, 754. The table-jumping above is mostly done under great excitement, and at weddings, in order that the right parties may come together; but nimble young men in England seem to have taken this short way to their places habitually in old times. Liebrecht cites this curious passage from the Jests of Scogin, Hazlitt's Shakespeare Jest-Books, II, 105: "Scogin did mark the fashions of the court, and among all other things he did mark how men did leap over the table in the king's hall to sit down at dinner and supper, which is not used now." The first edition of Scogin's Jests is of 1565.

[93]This stanza, which comes in here with flagrant impropriety, is a commonplace, or movable passage. It occurs, as a feature in the ceremony of a brilliant wedding, in 'Fair Mary of Wallington,'E6, 7, and in some copies of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet:' see that ballad, note toA.

[94]These citations, which might easily be extended, are many of them repeated from Grimm's Rechtsalterthümer, pp. 168-70 of the second edition. Sir Walter Scott has pointed out that on the occasion of the marriage of Maria of Burgundy with the Archduke Maximilian, in 1477, the marriage being by proxy, Ludwig, Pfalzgraf of Vendelz, the bridegroom's representative, was formally bedded with the bride, a naked sword being laid between them. Scott also refers to a play called The Jovial Crew, acted in 1641, in which one of the characters, to enrage another, proposes to be his proxy, marry his love for him, and lay a naked cudgel betwixt them: Sir Tristrem, p. 439, ed. 1833. In an Italian ballad the sword is reduced to a straw: Wolf, Volkslieder aus Venetien, No 95, Bolza, No 56, Ferraro, C. p. monferrini, No 76. In the Spanish and Portuguese romances of 'Gerineldo,' the sultan or king, having found the page asleep with the infanta, lays his sword between the two and retires: Duran, Nos 320, 321; Hardung, I, 101.

[95]Some of the Norse examples were derived from notes of Grundtvig, three others from Liebrecht. Grundtvig cites an ordinance of Frederic II of Denmark, dated 1586, to this effect: Whereas a custom has come in of having a dance during a wedding-repast, which dance those that sit behind the tables are asked to as well as others, and therefore are obliged to step on the tables, on which the victuals are still standing, and whereas this, indecorous of itself, might even prove dangerous to women-folk, and others, who should attempt to jump over the tables, now therefore dancing during meal-time is forbidden until dishes and tables shall have been cleared away: IV, 754. The table-jumping above is mostly done under great excitement, and at weddings, in order that the right parties may come together; but nimble young men in England seem to have taken this short way to their places habitually in old times. Liebrecht cites this curious passage from the Jests of Scogin, Hazlitt's Shakespeare Jest-Books, II, 105: "Scogin did mark the fashions of the court, and among all other things he did mark how men did leap over the table in the king's hall to sit down at dinner and supper, which is not used now." The first edition of Scogin's Jests is of 1565.

A.'Glasgerion,' Percy MS., p. 94; Hales and Furnivall, I, 248.B.'Glenkindie,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 93.C.Kinloch MSS, III, 139.

A.'Glasgerion,' Percy MS., p. 94; Hales and Furnivall, I, 248.

B.'Glenkindie,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 93.

C.Kinloch MSS, III, 139.

'Glasgerion' was first printed in Percy's Reliques, III, 43, 1765, and was not thought by the editor to require much correction. Certainly the English ballad is one which it would be hard to mend. ScottishBis mainly of good derivation (a poor old woman in Aberdeenshire), and has some good stanzas, but Jamieson unfortunately undertook to improve a copy in which the story was complete, but "the diction much humbled," by combining with it a fragment of another version. Dr John Hill Burton seems, in turn, to have compounded a portion of the ballad as printed by Jamieson with a fragment from tradition (C): Kinloch MSS, III, 147.

Cunningham, Songs of Scotland, II, 32, has fused Percy's and Jamieson's copies, as Motherwell remarks, "in a flux of his own which has disfigured and quite changed the features of each."

The grete Glascurion is joined in Chaucer's House of Fame,III, 113-118, with the harpers Orpheus, Orion (Arion), and Chiron, and with Orpheus again by Gavin Douglas, copying Chaucer, in his Palice of Honour, I, 21, vv 15, 16, ed. Small.

Y Bardd Glas Keraint, in English Keraint the Blue Bard (Blue Bard being an appellation of a chief bard, who wore an official robe of blue), is recorded, as Mr Edward Williams informs us, to have been an eminent poet of distinguished birth, son of Owain, Prince of Glamorgan. The English name Glasgerion, Mr Williams further remarks, differs not halfso much from Glasgeraint as most Welsh names, as written by Englishmen, do from their true orthography. There is, therefore, at least no absurdity in the suggestion that the Glascurion of Chaucer and the Glasgerion of the ballad may represent the Welsh Glas Keraint.[96]

A peasant lad, tailor's lad, who had overheard the troth-plight of a knight and lady, anticipates the lover in 'Den fule Bondedreng,' Kristensen, II, 25-27; 'Torpardrängen,' Hazelius, Ur de Nordiska Folkens Lif, p. 138; 'Die Betrogene,' Norrenberg, Des dülkener Fiedlers Liederbuch, p. 79. The adventure is jocosely treated in the first two, and does not amount to a tragedy in the other. A groom forestalls Agilulf, King of the Lombards, in the Decameron,III, 2, again without a bloody conclusion.

The marvellous power of the harp inB2,C1 is precisely paralleled in the Scandinavian 'Harpans Kraft,' Arwidsson, No 149, II, 311-17; Afzelius, No 91, III, 144-47; Grundtvig, No 40, II, 65-68; Landstad, No 51, p. 475; Íslenzk Fornkvæði, No 3, p. 18 f. In these the fish is harped out of the water, the young from folk and from fee, the bairn from its mother's womb, the water from the brook, the hind from the wood, the horns from the hart's head, the bark from the tree, the dead out of the mould, etc., etc. These effects are of the same nature as those produced by the harp of Orpheus, and it is to be observed that in the ballad of 'Harpans Kraft' the harper is a bridegroom seeking (successfully) to recover his bride, who has been carried down to the depths of the water by a merman. We have had something like these effects in the 'Twa Brothers,' No 49,B10, I, 439, where Lady Margaret harps the small birds off the briers and her true love out of the grave.[97]There is a fisherman in the Gesta Romanorum who has a harp so sweet that all the fish in the water come to his hand: Oesterley, No 85, p. 413, Madden, No 35, p. 116, No 8, p. 293. Equally potent is pipe, flute, or song in many ballads of various nations; the fish come up from below, the stars are stopped, the brook rises, the pines vail their top, the deer stops in its leap, etc., the musician being sometimes an elf, sometimes an inspired mortal: 'Hr. Tönne af Alsö,' Grundtvig, No 34, II, 15, 19, Afzelius, No 7, I, 33, 128; 'Elvehöj,' Grundtvig, No 46, II, 107-109, Afzelius, No 95, III, 170, Arwidsson, No 147, II, 301; Kudrun, ed. Bartsch, sts 379, 381, 388; the Roumanian 'Salga,' 'Mihu Copilul,' 'Vidra,' Stanley, p. 29, Alecsandri, pp 58, 66, 98 f, the same, Ballades et Chants populaires, pp 118, 168, Murray, pp 44, 53 f, 83; 'El Poder del Canto,' Milá, Romancerillo, No 207, p. 165, Nigra, Rivista Contemporanea, XX, 78; 'Conde Arnaldos,' Wolf and Hofmann, No 153, II, 80. For the soporific effect of such music, as shown inB5,C2, there are parallels in 'Albred Lykke,' who sings a ballad which sets everybody asleep but the young bride who had been stolen from him, Kristensen, I, 281, No 105, sts 11, 12, II, 259 f, No 76, sts 13, 14; 'Den fortryllende Sang,' Grundtvig, No 243, IV, 470, DanishA12, 473, SwedishG25, 26; 'El Rey marinero,' Milá, No 201, p. 151, Briz, I, 117, IV, 15, V, 75; Campbell's West Highland Tales, I, 291 f.

The oath by oak, ash, and thorn,A18, is a relic or trait of high antiquity. We have an oath by the thorn in 'Fair Janet,'G13, 'Young Hunting,'K26; by corn, grass sae green and corn, in 'Young Hunting,'A16,D19,G7. It is to be supposed that the tree, thorn, corn, was touched while swearing, a sod taken up in the hand. See Grimm's Rechtsalterthümer, 2d ed., p. 896 f, p. 117 f.

For drying the sword on the sleeve,A22, see 'Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard.'

Translated by Bodmer, I, 73, after Percy; by Knortz, Lieder und Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 59, after Allingham, p. 358.

Percy MS., p. 94; Hales and Furnivall, I, 248.

1Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne,And a harperhe was good;He harped in the kings chamber,Where cuppe and candle stoode,And soe did hee in the queens chamber,Till ladies waxed wood.2And then bespake the kings daughter,And these words thus sayd shee:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .3Saide, Strike on, strike on, Glasgerrion,Of thy striking doe not blinne;There's neuer a stroke comes ouerthin harpeBut it glads my hart within.4'Faire might you fall, lady!' quoth hee;'Who taught you now to speak?I haue loued you, lady, seuen yeere;My hart I durst neere breake.'5'But come to my bower, my Glasgerryon,When all men are att rest;As I am a ladie true of my promise,Thou shalt bee a welcome guest.'6But hom then came Glasgerryon,A glad man, Lord, was hee:'And come thou hither, Iacke, my boy,Come hither vnto mee.7'For the kings daughter of Normandye,Her loue is granted mee,And beffore the cocke haue crowen,Att her chamber must I bee.'8'But come you hither master,' quoth hee,'Lay your head downe on this stone;For I will waken you, master deere,Afore it be time to gone.'9But vpp then rosethat lither ladd,And did on hose and shoone;A coller he cast vpon his necke,Hee seemed a gentleman.10And when he came tothat ladies chamber,He thrild vpon a pinn;The lady was true of her promise,Rose vp and lett him in.11He did not take the lady gayTo boulster nor to bedd,But downe vpon her chamber-floreFull soone he hath her layd.12He did not kissethat lady gayWhen he came nor when he youd;And sore mistrusted that lady gayHe was of some churlës blood.13But home then camethat lither ladd,And did of his hose and shoone,And castthat coller from about his necke;He was but a churlës sonne:'Awaken,' quoth hee, 'my master deere,I hold it time to be gone.14'For I haue sadled your horsse, master,Well bridled I haue your steed;Haue not I serued a good breakfast,When time comes I haue need.'15But vp then rose good Glasgerryon,And did on both hose and shoone,And cast a coller about his necke;He was a kingës sonne.16And when he came tothat ladieschamber,He thrild vpon a pinn;The ladywas more then true of promise,Rose vp and let him in.17Saies, Whether haue you left with meYour braclett or your gloue?Or are you returned backe againeTo know more of my loue?'18Glasgerryon swore a full great othe,By oake and ashe and thorne,'Lady, I was neuer in your chamberSith the time that I was borne.'19'O then it was your litle foote-pageFalsly hath beguiled me:'And then shee pulld forth a litle pen-kniffe,That hanged by her knee,Says, There shall neuer noe churlës bloodSpring within my body.20But home then went Glasgerryon,A woe man, good [Lord], was hee;Sayes, Come hither, thou Iacke, my boy,Come thou hither to me.21Ffor if I had killed a man to-night,Iacke, I wold tell it thee;But if I haue not killed a man to-night,Iacke, thou hast killed three!22And he puld out his bright browne sword,And dryed it on his sleeue,And he smote off that lither ladds head,And asked noe man noe leaue.23He sett the swords poynt till his brest,The pumill till a stone;Thorrowthat falsenese ofthat lither laddThese three liues werne all gone.

1Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne,And a harperhe was good;He harped in the kings chamber,Where cuppe and candle stoode,And soe did hee in the queens chamber,Till ladies waxed wood.

2And then bespake the kings daughter,And these words thus sayd shee:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

3Saide, Strike on, strike on, Glasgerrion,Of thy striking doe not blinne;There's neuer a stroke comes ouerthin harpeBut it glads my hart within.

4'Faire might you fall, lady!' quoth hee;'Who taught you now to speak?I haue loued you, lady, seuen yeere;My hart I durst neere breake.'

5'But come to my bower, my Glasgerryon,When all men are att rest;As I am a ladie true of my promise,Thou shalt bee a welcome guest.'

6But hom then came Glasgerryon,A glad man, Lord, was hee:'And come thou hither, Iacke, my boy,Come hither vnto mee.

7'For the kings daughter of Normandye,Her loue is granted mee,And beffore the cocke haue crowen,Att her chamber must I bee.'

8'But come you hither master,' quoth hee,'Lay your head downe on this stone;For I will waken you, master deere,Afore it be time to gone.'

9But vpp then rosethat lither ladd,And did on hose and shoone;A coller he cast vpon his necke,Hee seemed a gentleman.

10And when he came tothat ladies chamber,He thrild vpon a pinn;The lady was true of her promise,Rose vp and lett him in.

11He did not take the lady gayTo boulster nor to bedd,But downe vpon her chamber-floreFull soone he hath her layd.

12He did not kissethat lady gayWhen he came nor when he youd;And sore mistrusted that lady gayHe was of some churlës blood.

13But home then camethat lither ladd,And did of his hose and shoone,And castthat coller from about his necke;He was but a churlës sonne:'Awaken,' quoth hee, 'my master deere,I hold it time to be gone.

14'For I haue sadled your horsse, master,Well bridled I haue your steed;Haue not I serued a good breakfast,When time comes I haue need.'

15But vp then rose good Glasgerryon,And did on both hose and shoone,And cast a coller about his necke;He was a kingës sonne.

16And when he came tothat ladieschamber,He thrild vpon a pinn;The ladywas more then true of promise,Rose vp and let him in.

17Saies, Whether haue you left with meYour braclett or your gloue?Or are you returned backe againeTo know more of my loue?'

18Glasgerryon swore a full great othe,By oake and ashe and thorne,'Lady, I was neuer in your chamberSith the time that I was borne.'

19'O then it was your litle foote-pageFalsly hath beguiled me:'And then shee pulld forth a litle pen-kniffe,That hanged by her knee,Says, There shall neuer noe churlës bloodSpring within my body.

20But home then went Glasgerryon,A woe man, good [Lord], was hee;Sayes, Come hither, thou Iacke, my boy,Come thou hither to me.

21Ffor if I had killed a man to-night,Iacke, I wold tell it thee;But if I haue not killed a man to-night,Iacke, thou hast killed three!

22And he puld out his bright browne sword,And dryed it on his sleeue,And he smote off that lither ladds head,And asked noe man noe leaue.

23He sett the swords poynt till his brest,The pumill till a stone;Thorrowthat falsenese ofthat lither laddThese three liues werne all gone.

Back to Index Next