I

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 103.

1There stands a stane in wan water,It's lang ere it grew green;Lady Maisry sits in her bower door,Sewing at her silken seam.2Word's gane to her mother's kitchen,And to her father's ha,That Lady Maisry is big wi bairn—And her true-love's far awa.3When her brother got word of this,Then fiercely looked he:'Betide me life, betide me death,At Maisry's bower I'se be.4'Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steed,To hae me to the town.'5When he came to Maisry's bower,He turnd him round about,And at a little shott-window,He saw her peeping out.6'Gude morrow, gude morrow, Lady Maisry,God make you safe and free!''Gude morrow, gude morrow, my brother dear,What are your wills wi me?'7'What's come o a' your green claithing,Was ance for you too side?And what's become o your lang stays,Was ance for you too wide?'8'O he that made my claithing short,I hope he'll make them side;And he that made my stays narrow,I hope he'll make them wide.'9'O is it to a lord o might,Or baron o high degree?Or is it to any o your father's boys,Rides in the chase him wi?'10'It's no to any Scottish lord,Nor baron o high degree;But English James, that little prince,That has beguiled me.'11'O was there not a Scots baronThat could hae fitted thee,That thus you've lovd an Englishman,And has affronted me?'12She turnd her right and round about,The tear blinded her ee:'What is the wrang I've done, brother,Ye look sae fierce at me?'13'Will ye forsake that English blude,When your young babe is born?''I'll nae do that, my brother dear,Tho I shoud be forlorn.'14'I'se cause a man put up the fire,Anither ca in the stake,And on the head o yon high hillI'll burn you for his sake.15'O where are all my wall-wight men,That I pay meat and fee,For to hew down baith thistle and thorn,To burn that lady wi?'16Then he has taen her, Lady Maisry,And fast he has her bound;And he causd the fiercest o his menDrag her frae town to town.17Then he has causd ane of his menHew down baith thistle and thorn;She carried the peats in her petticoat-lap,Her ainsell for to burn.18Then ane pat up this big bauld fire,Anither ca'd in the stake;It was to burn her Lady Maisry,All for her true-love's sake.19But it fell ance upon a day,Prince James he thought full lang;He minded on the lady gayHe left in fair Scotland.20'O where will I get a little wee boy,Will win gowd to his fee,That will rin on to Adam's high tower,Bring tidings back to me?'21'O here am I, a little wee boy,Will win gowd to my fee,That will rin on to Adam's high tower,Bring tidings back to thee.'22Then he is on to Adam's high tower,As fast as gang coud he,And he but only wan in timeThe fatal sight to see.23He sat his bent bow to his breast,And ran right speedilie,And he is back to his master,As fast as gang coud he.24'What news, what news, my little wee boy?What news hae ye to me?''Bad news, bad news, my master dear,Bad news, as ye will see.'25'Are ony o my biggins brunt, my boy?Or ony o my towers won?Or is my lady lighter yet,O dear daughter or son?'26'There's nane o your biggins brunt, master,Nor nane o your towers won,Nor is your lady lighter yet,O dear daughter nor son.27'There's an has been [put up] a big bauld fire,Anither ca'd in the stake,And on the head o yon high hill,They're to burn her for your sake.'28'Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steed,To hae me to the town.'29Ere he was three miles near the town,She heard his horse-foot patt:'Mend up the fire, my fause brother,It scarce comes to my pap.'30Ere he was twa miles near the town,She heard his bridle ring:'Mend up the fire, my fause brother,It scarce comes to my chin.31'But look about, my fause brother,Ye see not what I see;I see them coming here, or langWill mend the fire for thee.'32Then up it comes him little Prince James,And fiercely looked he:'I'se make my love's words very trueShe said concerning me.33'O wha has been sae bauld,' he said,'As put this bonfire on?And wha has been sae bauld,' he said,'As put that lady in?'34Then out it spake her brother then,He spoke right furiouslie;Says, I'm the man that put her in:Wha dare hinder me?35'If my hands had been loose,' she said,'As they are fastly bound,I woud hae looted me to the ground,Gien you up your bonny young son.'36'I will burn, for my love's sake,Her father and her mother;And I will burn, for my love's sake,Her sister and her brother.37'And I will burn, for my love's sake,The whole o a' her kin;And I will burn, for my love's sake,Thro Linkum and thro Lin.38'And mony a bed will I make toom,And bower will I make thin;And mony a babe shall thole the fire,For I may enter in.'39Great meen was made for Lady Maisry,On that hill whare she was slain;But mair was for her ain true-love,On the fields for he ran brain.

1There stands a stane in wan water,It's lang ere it grew green;Lady Maisry sits in her bower door,Sewing at her silken seam.

2Word's gane to her mother's kitchen,And to her father's ha,That Lady Maisry is big wi bairn—And her true-love's far awa.

3When her brother got word of this,Then fiercely looked he:'Betide me life, betide me death,At Maisry's bower I'se be.

4'Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steed,To hae me to the town.'

5When he came to Maisry's bower,He turnd him round about,And at a little shott-window,He saw her peeping out.

6'Gude morrow, gude morrow, Lady Maisry,God make you safe and free!''Gude morrow, gude morrow, my brother dear,What are your wills wi me?'

7'What's come o a' your green claithing,Was ance for you too side?And what's become o your lang stays,Was ance for you too wide?'

8'O he that made my claithing short,I hope he'll make them side;And he that made my stays narrow,I hope he'll make them wide.'

9'O is it to a lord o might,Or baron o high degree?Or is it to any o your father's boys,Rides in the chase him wi?'

10'It's no to any Scottish lord,Nor baron o high degree;But English James, that little prince,That has beguiled me.'

11'O was there not a Scots baronThat could hae fitted thee,That thus you've lovd an Englishman,And has affronted me?'

12She turnd her right and round about,The tear blinded her ee:'What is the wrang I've done, brother,Ye look sae fierce at me?'

13'Will ye forsake that English blude,When your young babe is born?''I'll nae do that, my brother dear,Tho I shoud be forlorn.'

14'I'se cause a man put up the fire,Anither ca in the stake,And on the head o yon high hillI'll burn you for his sake.

15'O where are all my wall-wight men,That I pay meat and fee,For to hew down baith thistle and thorn,To burn that lady wi?'

16Then he has taen her, Lady Maisry,And fast he has her bound;And he causd the fiercest o his menDrag her frae town to town.

17Then he has causd ane of his menHew down baith thistle and thorn;She carried the peats in her petticoat-lap,Her ainsell for to burn.

18Then ane pat up this big bauld fire,Anither ca'd in the stake;It was to burn her Lady Maisry,All for her true-love's sake.

19But it fell ance upon a day,Prince James he thought full lang;He minded on the lady gayHe left in fair Scotland.

20'O where will I get a little wee boy,Will win gowd to his fee,That will rin on to Adam's high tower,Bring tidings back to me?'

21'O here am I, a little wee boy,Will win gowd to my fee,That will rin on to Adam's high tower,Bring tidings back to thee.'

22Then he is on to Adam's high tower,As fast as gang coud he,And he but only wan in timeThe fatal sight to see.

23He sat his bent bow to his breast,And ran right speedilie,And he is back to his master,As fast as gang coud he.

24'What news, what news, my little wee boy?What news hae ye to me?''Bad news, bad news, my master dear,Bad news, as ye will see.'

25'Are ony o my biggins brunt, my boy?Or ony o my towers won?Or is my lady lighter yet,O dear daughter or son?'

26'There's nane o your biggins brunt, master,Nor nane o your towers won,Nor is your lady lighter yet,O dear daughter nor son.

27'There's an has been [put up] a big bauld fire,Anither ca'd in the stake,And on the head o yon high hill,They're to burn her for your sake.'

28'Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steed,To hae me to the town.'

29Ere he was three miles near the town,She heard his horse-foot patt:'Mend up the fire, my fause brother,It scarce comes to my pap.'

30Ere he was twa miles near the town,She heard his bridle ring:'Mend up the fire, my fause brother,It scarce comes to my chin.

31'But look about, my fause brother,Ye see not what I see;I see them coming here, or langWill mend the fire for thee.'

32Then up it comes him little Prince James,And fiercely looked he:'I'se make my love's words very trueShe said concerning me.

33'O wha has been sae bauld,' he said,'As put this bonfire on?And wha has been sae bauld,' he said,'As put that lady in?'

34Then out it spake her brother then,He spoke right furiouslie;Says, I'm the man that put her in:Wha dare hinder me?

35'If my hands had been loose,' she said,'As they are fastly bound,I woud hae looted me to the ground,Gien you up your bonny young son.'

36'I will burn, for my love's sake,Her father and her mother;And I will burn, for my love's sake,Her sister and her brother.

37'And I will burn, for my love's sake,The whole o a' her kin;And I will burn, for my love's sake,Thro Linkum and thro Lin.

38'And mony a bed will I make toom,And bower will I make thin;And mony a babe shall thole the fire,For I may enter in.'

39Great meen was made for Lady Maisry,On that hill whare she was slain;But mair was for her ain true-love,On the fields for he ran brain.

a.Motherwell's MS., p. 235; Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 221.b.Motherwell's MS., p. 179, from Mrs Thomson, of Kilbarchan.c.Motherwell's MS., p. 181, from Mrs McLean, of Glasgow.

1There lived a lady in Scotland,Hey my love and ho my joyThere lived a lady in Scotland,Who dearly loved meThere lived a lady in Scotland,An she's fa'n in love wi an Englishman.And bonnie Susie Cleland is to be burnt in Dundee2The father unto the daughter came,Who dearly loved meSaying, Will you forsake that Englishman?3'If you will not that Englishman forsake,Who dearly loved meO I will burn you at a stake.'4'I will not that Englishman forsake,Who dearly loved meTho you should burn me at a stake.5'O where will I get a pretty little boy,Who dearly loves meWho will carry tidings to my joy?'6'Here am I, a pretty little boy,Who dearly loves theeWho will carry tidings to thy joy.'7'Give to him this right-hand glove,Who dearly loves meTell him to get another love.For, etc.8'Give to him this little penknife,Who dearly loves meTell him to get another wife.For, etc.9'Give to him this gay gold ring;Who dearly loves meTell him I'm going to my burning.'An, etc.10The brother did the stake make,Who dearly loved meThe father did the fire set.An bonnie Susie Cleland was burnt in Dundee.

2The father unto the daughter came,Who dearly loved meSaying, Will you forsake that Englishman?

3'If you will not that Englishman forsake,Who dearly loved meO I will burn you at a stake.'

4'I will not that Englishman forsake,Who dearly loved meTho you should burn me at a stake.

5'O where will I get a pretty little boy,Who dearly loves meWho will carry tidings to my joy?'

6'Here am I, a pretty little boy,Who dearly loves theeWho will carry tidings to thy joy.'

7'Give to him this right-hand glove,Who dearly loves meTell him to get another love.For, etc.

8'Give to him this little penknife,Who dearly loves meTell him to get another wife.For, etc.

9'Give to him this gay gold ring;Who dearly loves meTell him I'm going to my burning.'An, etc.

10The brother did the stake make,Who dearly loved meThe father did the fire set.An bonnie Susie Cleland was burnt in Dundee.

111. she says.161.bloodI was disposed to change tolord: but seeH131.213, 4.As cited by Anderson from William Tytler's MS.,

111. she says.

161.bloodI was disposed to change tolord: but seeH131.

213, 4.As cited by Anderson from William Tytler's MS.,

... to green grass growingHe took off his sheen.

224. Janet's exite:inC164Janet's lyke.

Stanzas 8, 9, 21, are the three last of the MS.81, 2.I should readput on, were it not for 91, 2.233. lady lamentless.

Stanzas 8, 9, 21, are the three last of the MS.

81, 2.I should readput on, were it not for 91, 2.

233. lady lamentless.

33.Ifforthatin the margin, without explanation.15-17.The order in the MS. is 16, 17, 15.Motherwell, as often elsewhere, makes slight changes in printing, as: 112,brokentowon, though not changed in 122; 153[173],AndtoAnd wi, unnecessarily, seeF193.

33.Ifforthatin the margin, without explanation.

15-17.The order in the MS. is 16, 17, 15.

Motherwell, as often elsewhere, makes slight changes in printing, as: 112,brokentowon, though not changed in 122; 153[173],AndtoAnd wi, unnecessarily, seeF193.

2-9. "Her father, brother, and sister successively address her in the same polite style, and receive the same answer; except that to the latter, instead of the information contained in the last two lines, she addresses a piece of advice."The phrasestood statelyin 22, most appropriate for the mother, was probably varied for father, brother, and sister.15-16. "He delivers his message in the approved ballad style, and the lover speaks."20. "The few verses following contain her testamentary bequests to her relatives above mentioned; but the person from whom I got the ballad could not repeat them."

15-16. "He delivers his message in the approved ballad style, and the lover speaks."

20. "The few verses following contain her testamentary bequests to her relatives above mentioned; but the person from whom I got the ballad could not repeat them."

62. He bend.

I. a.

1.Given in the Appendix to Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. xix, XIV, with this slight difference in the burden: And she dearly loved me.3-9. at Dundeein the burden.82.Penknifeforwife, in my copy of the MS.10.In the Minstrelsy, fromb:

1.Given in the Appendix to Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. xix, XIV, with this slight difference in the burden: And she dearly loved me.

3-9. at Dundeein the burden.

82.Penknifeforwife, in my copy of the MS.

10.In the Minstrelsy, fromb:

Her father he ca'd up the stake,Her brother he the fire did make.

1.There lived a lady in ScotlandO my love and O my joyWho dearly loved an Englishman.And bonnie Susie Cleland is to be burnt at Dundee2.The father to the daughter came:'Will you forsake your Englishman?'For, etc.

1.There lived a lady in ScotlandO my love and O my joyWho dearly loved an Englishman.And bonnie Susie Cleland is to be burnt at Dundee

2.The father to the daughter came:'Will you forsake your Englishman?'For, etc.

3 is wanting.

4.'My Englishman I'll neer forsake,Altho you burn me at your stake.For, etc.5.'O where will I get a pretty little boy,That will bring tidings to my joy?'For, etc.6.'O here am I, a pretty little boy,And I'll carry tidings to thy joy.'For, etc.7.'O take to him this right-hand glove,Tell him to seek another love.'For, etc.

4.'My Englishman I'll neer forsake,Altho you burn me at your stake.For, etc.

5.'O where will I get a pretty little boy,That will bring tidings to my joy?'For, etc.

6.'O here am I, a pretty little boy,And I'll carry tidings to thy joy.'For, etc.

7.'O take to him this right-hand glove,Tell him to seek another love.'For, etc.

8 is wanting.

9.'O bring to him this gay gold ring,And bid him come to my burning.'For, etc.10.Her father he ca'd up the stake,Her brother he the fire did make.And bonnie Susie Cleland is burnt at Dundee

9.'O bring to him this gay gold ring,And bid him come to my burning.'For, etc.

10.Her father he ca'd up the stake,Her brother he the fire did make.And bonnie Susie Cleland is burnt at Dundee

1-4 are wanting.

5.'Where will I get a bonny boy,Oh my love and oh my joyWhere will I get a bonny boy,That dearly loves meWhere will I get a bonny boy,Will carry tidings to my joy?'Bonnie Susie Cleland was burned at Dundee6.'Here am I, a little boy,That dearly loves theeWill carry tidings to thy joy.'7.'Carry my love this glove,Who dearly loves meBid him seek another love.8.'Carry my love this knife,That dearly loves meBid him seek another wife.9.'Carry my love this ring,That dearly loves meBid him come to my burning.

6.'Here am I, a little boy,That dearly loves theeWill carry tidings to thy joy.'

7.'Carry my love this glove,Who dearly loves meBid him seek another love.

8.'Carry my love this knife,That dearly loves meBid him seek another wife.

9.'Carry my love this ring,That dearly loves meBid him come to my burning.

10 is wanting.

FOOTNOTES:[87]The genuineness ofH, Buchan's version, may be doubted both on general and on particular grounds, and both because of its departures from the common story and because of its repeating some peculiarities of the Jamieson-Brown copy,A. IfHwas compiled, as I think it was, largely fromA, the person that did the work may have seen the manuscript, which is not at all improbable; for theEnglish bludeofH13 is found in the MS.,A16, and not in the copy printed by Jamieson, and so with thethistleofH15,A17. Buchan, or Buchan's foreman, is entitled to copyright for the invention, inH17, of Maisry's carrying peats in her petticoat, "her ainsell for to burn;" also for English James, that little prince, 103, Adam's high tower, 203, thro Linkum and thro Lin, 374.[88]Like the Clerk of Oxenford's two sons, and Sweet William, Motherwell, Minstrelsy, p. 307.[89]There is no word of quailing except inG, and inGshe blesses her lover most touchingly, with almost her last words.She turned her head on her left shoulder,Saw her girdle hang on the tree:'O God bless them that gave me that!They'll never give more to me.'[90]According to Buchan,H39, Maisry's true-love ran brain; so again in Buchan's version ofFair Janet, seeF35. This is Maisry's end in several versions of 'Auld Ingram,' and in all, I suppose, a modern substitute for the immediate death of older ballads.[91]A champion may be offered even in Ariosto's Scotland.[92]In 'The Infanta and Don Galvan,' the lady, like Fair Janet, calls to Don Galvan to come and take her new-born child and carry it to his mother to nurse. The father superintends in person the preparation of the pile in 'Dona Ausenda.' In the romances of Conde Claros, the infanta, when she learns that she is to be burnt, asks for some one "que haya comido mi pan," to carry a letter to Don Claros, and a page does the errand, just as in the Scottish ballad: Primavera, II, 374, etc. Often a bird, hawk, dove, takes the message, as in 'Sweet William,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 307. Don Claros asks the infanta of her father in marriage, and is refused (because she is promised). He then informs the emperor that the infanta is with child. It is ahunterwho informs the father of the love of his daughter and the count in one of the romances, Primavera, II, 362. Compare the German ballad, in 'Fair Janet,' p. 102. When the lover gets his letter, in Briz, IV, 43, he reminds us of Sir Patrick Spens:Quan D. Cárlos reb la carta, molt content y alegre estava:Al desclohent de la carta, llágrimas de sanch llansava.

[87]The genuineness ofH, Buchan's version, may be doubted both on general and on particular grounds, and both because of its departures from the common story and because of its repeating some peculiarities of the Jamieson-Brown copy,A. IfHwas compiled, as I think it was, largely fromA, the person that did the work may have seen the manuscript, which is not at all improbable; for theEnglish bludeofH13 is found in the MS.,A16, and not in the copy printed by Jamieson, and so with thethistleofH15,A17. Buchan, or Buchan's foreman, is entitled to copyright for the invention, inH17, of Maisry's carrying peats in her petticoat, "her ainsell for to burn;" also for English James, that little prince, 103, Adam's high tower, 203, thro Linkum and thro Lin, 374.

[88]Like the Clerk of Oxenford's two sons, and Sweet William, Motherwell, Minstrelsy, p. 307.

[89]There is no word of quailing except inG, and inGshe blesses her lover most touchingly, with almost her last words.She turned her head on her left shoulder,Saw her girdle hang on the tree:'O God bless them that gave me that!They'll never give more to me.'

[89]There is no word of quailing except inG, and inGshe blesses her lover most touchingly, with almost her last words.

She turned her head on her left shoulder,Saw her girdle hang on the tree:'O God bless them that gave me that!They'll never give more to me.'

[90]According to Buchan,H39, Maisry's true-love ran brain; so again in Buchan's version ofFair Janet, seeF35. This is Maisry's end in several versions of 'Auld Ingram,' and in all, I suppose, a modern substitute for the immediate death of older ballads.

[91]A champion may be offered even in Ariosto's Scotland.

[92]In 'The Infanta and Don Galvan,' the lady, like Fair Janet, calls to Don Galvan to come and take her new-born child and carry it to his mother to nurse. The father superintends in person the preparation of the pile in 'Dona Ausenda.' In the romances of Conde Claros, the infanta, when she learns that she is to be burnt, asks for some one "que haya comido mi pan," to carry a letter to Don Claros, and a page does the errand, just as in the Scottish ballad: Primavera, II, 374, etc. Often a bird, hawk, dove, takes the message, as in 'Sweet William,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 307. Don Claros asks the infanta of her father in marriage, and is refused (because she is promised). He then informs the emperor that the infanta is with child. It is ahunterwho informs the father of the love of his daughter and the count in one of the romances, Primavera, II, 362. Compare the German ballad, in 'Fair Janet,' p. 102. When the lover gets his letter, in Briz, IV, 43, he reminds us of Sir Patrick Spens:Quan D. Cárlos reb la carta, molt content y alegre estava:Al desclohent de la carta, llágrimas de sanch llansava.

Quan D. Cárlos reb la carta, molt content y alegre estava:Al desclohent de la carta, llágrimas de sanch llansava.

A. a.'Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 173.b.'Child Vyet,' Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 24.B.'Lord Ingram and Gil Viett,' Skene MS., p. 16.C.'Auld Ingram,' Herd's MSS, I, 169, II, 84; 'Lord Wa'yates and Auld Ingram,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 265.D.'Lord Ingram and Childe Viat,' Kinloch MSS, V, 323.E.'Lord Ingram and Childe Vyet,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 234.

A. a.'Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 173.b.'Child Vyet,' Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 24.

B.'Lord Ingram and Gil Viett,' Skene MS., p. 16.

C.'Auld Ingram,' Herd's MSS, I, 169, II, 84; 'Lord Wa'yates and Auld Ingram,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 265.

D.'Lord Ingram and Childe Viat,' Kinloch MSS, V, 323.

E.'Lord Ingram and Childe Vyet,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 234.

Cwas furnished Jamieson from Herd's MSS by Scott, and underwent a few slight changes in publication. Jamieson inquired through the Scots Magazine, October, 1803, p. 699, for the conclusion, which is wanting, but unsuccessfully.

The only variation of much moment in the five versions of this tragedy is that, inC, the bridegroom and the lover are not brothers, but uncle and nephew. Some inconsistencies have been created in the course of tradition. The bride's insisting on having twenty men before her and twenty on each side, ere she will go to kirk, not to mention the extravagance of twenty milk-white doves above her head,C22,[93]is incompatible with her aversion to the "weary wedding," and with her language about the bridegroom's gifts inC4, 5,D4-6,E8-10. There is much confusion at the end. After the death of the two rivals the lady, inE, imposes on herself the penance of begging her bread as a pilgrim for the rest of her days. This penance we find also in the two last stanzas ofA, and a trace of it inB20,D10. Another, and probably later, representation is that she went mad,A30,B19,D9. The two are blended inA,B,D; unless we are to suppose that Maisry's adoptinga beggar's life was a consequence of her madness, which is not according to the simplicity of old ballads. That something was due the unfortunate Lord Ingram, especially if he was disposed to relinquish his wife to his brother,B17, the modern sense of justice will admit; but that Maisry's remorse on account of the handsome wedding Ingram had given her should exceed her grief for Chiel Wyet,A32,B20,D10,E43, 44, is as little natural as romantic, and is only to be explained as an exhibition of imbecility, whether on her part or on the part of some reciter who gave that turn to the story.Bconfounds confusion by killing Maisry on the top of all.

The sword laid in bed between man and woman,B14,E30, as a sign or pledge of continence, does not occur often in popular ballads. We have it in 'Südeli,' Uhland, I, 275, No 121, st. 11, and in two of the Swedish forms of Grundtvig's 'Brud i Vaande,' Danmarks gamle Folkeviser, V, 345, No. 277,D, sts 26, 27, and Arwidsson, II, 248, No 132, sts 21, 22, 'Fru Margaretha.' In popular tales: Grimms, K. u. H. märchen, No 60; Asbjørnsen og Moe, Norske Folkeeventyr, No 3; Il Pentamerone,I, 9; Hahn's Griechische Märchen, I, 171, No 122. In Norse poetry and saga: Völsunga saga, 27, Rafn, Fornaldar Sögur, I, 187; Sæmund's Edda, Sigurðarkviða,III, 65, Lüning, p. 401, Bugge (68), p. 259; Snorri's Edda, Hafniæ, 1848, I, 362, Skáldskaparmál, 41; Saxo Grammaticus, Book 9, p. 162 of the Frankfort edition of 1576; Gaungu-Hrólfs saga, 24, Fornaldar Sögur, III, 303. Further, in Orendel und Bríde, ed. Ettmüller, p. 46,XII, 49, 50; Wolfdietrich, von der Hagen's Heldenbuch, I, 236, st. 592; Tristan, ed. Michel, I, 88, v. 1768 ff, Scott's Sir Tristrem,III, 20; Amis and Amiloun, Weber's Metrical Romances, II, 417, v. 1163 ff; Aladdin in the Arabian Nights, J. Scott, IV 345.[94]

Lord Wayets, inC17, kicks up the table and sends the silver cup into the fire. Young Beichan takes the table with his foot and makes the cups and cans to flee,B18,D23,F28,J5,N42, or makes the table flee,H42; so the knight in 'Child Waters,'G18, the baron in 'Child Maurice,'E,F, and the mother in 'Fair Mary of Wallington,'A,B. Kinmont Willie, st. 9, takes the table with his hand and gars the red wine spring on hie. The table, being of boards laid on trestles, would be easy to ding over or make flee. Being also narrow, it might be jumped over, and those in whose way it might be seem to have preferred to clear it in that fashion, at least out of Britain. So the Danish Lord Lovel on hearing of his love's death, spilling the mead or wine, Kristensen, II, No 20,A6,B10,C3,D4; Sir Peter in Afzelius, No 9, I, 50, Grundtvig, No 210, IV, 220, etc. The king in the Icelandic Ribbalds kvæði, to be sure, kicks the table away and spills the mead and wine, Íslenzk Fornkvæði, No 16,B8,C2, so that Lord Wayets, Young Beichan, and others may have taken their cue from that island. But against this we may put Hervarar saga, c. 3, Fornaldar Sögur, I, 516; Olafs saga hins Helga, c. 50, Keyser and Unger, p. 36; Grundtvig, Danmarks Folkeviser, No 11,A23, No 13,B18,G15,I16; etc. In 'Magnus Algotsøn,' Grundtvig, No 181,D18, the bride jumps over the table and goes off with her old love; in Sušil's Bohemian ballads, No 135, p. 131, the bride jumps over four tables and on to a fifth to get at her first betrothed; in the Novella della Figlia del Re di Dacia, ed. Wesselofsky, p. 38, the duke jumps over the table to get to his wife; in a German ballad in Schröer's Ausflug nach Gottschee, p. 210 f,the bridegroom, who has lost the bride, jumps over the table to get out of the room as soon as possible; a French gentleman takes a vault over the table before him, Gautier, Les Épopées Françaises, I, 508, ed. 1865, and a lady in a ludicrous anecdote told in the Zimmerische Chronik, ed. Barack, 1881, II, 132 f. But Torello's wife, on the other hand, Decameron,X, 9, throws down the table which bars her way to her lord, and so does the steward in 'Sir Orfeo,' v. 576, ed. Zielke.[95]

Ebbe Skammelsøn, being obliged to absent himself from his plighted maid for a considerable time, loses her through the artifices of his brother [and mother], who pretends first that Ebbe is unfaithful, and then that he is dead. Ebbe is warned by a dream that his brother is about to wed his mistress, goes home in great haste, and arrives on the wedding-day. He kills the bride, and then his brother, who, at the last moment, offers to cede the bride to him, as Lord Ingram, inB17, says he meant to do. Ebbe after this begs his bread, or goes on a pilgrimage weighted with iron on his hands and loins; wherein his part resembles Maisry's. Danske Viser, III, 75, No 120, translated by Prior, II, 380; Arwidsson, No 33, I, 216, 224, 412; Atterbom's Poetisk Kalender, 1816, p. 55.

It may be worth noting that Maisry's wedding, according toB20, was "in good kirk-door," like the five of The Wife of Bath.

Translated by Knortz, Lieder und Romanzen Alt-Englands, p. 166, No 44, after Allingham, p. 306.

a.Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 173, communicated by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe.b.Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 24, from tradition in Aberdeenshire.

1Lord Ingram and Chiel WyetWas baith born in one bower;Laid baith their hearts on one lady,The less was their honour.2Chiel Wyet and Lord IngramWas baith born in one hall;Laid baith their hearts on one lady,The worse did them befall.3Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryFrom father and from mother;Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryFrom sister and from brother.4Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryWith leave of a' her kin;And every one gave full consent,But she said no to him.5Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryInto her father's ha;Chiel Wyet wood her Lady MaiseryAmang the sheets so sma.6Now it fell out upon a day,She was dressing her head,That ben did come her father dear,Wearing the gold so red.7He said, Get up now, Lady Maisery,Put on your wedding gown;For Lord Ingram he will be here,Your wedding must be done.8'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,The white fish for to sell,Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,To wear the silk so well.9'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,With him to beg my bread,Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,To wear the gold so red.10'Where will I get a bonny boy,Will win gold to his fee,And will run unto Chiel Wyet's,With this letter from me?'11'O here I am, the boy,' says one,'Will win gold to my fee,And carry away any letterTo Chiel Wyet from thee.'12And when he found the bridges broke,He bent his bow and swam;And when he found the grass growing,He hastened and he ran.13And when he came to Chiel Wyet's castle,He did not knock nor call,But set his bent bow to his breast,And lightly leaped the wall;And ere the porter opend the gate,The boy was in the hall.14The first line he looked on,A grieved man was he;The next line he looked on,A tear blinded his ee:Says, I wonder what ails my one brotherHe'll not let my love be!15'But I'll send to my brother's bridal bridal—The bacon shall be mine—Full four and twenty buck and roe,And ten tun of the wine;And bid my love be blythe and glad,And I will follow syne.'16There was not a groom about that castleBut got a gown of green,And all was blythe, and all was glad,But Lady Maisery she was neen.17There was no cook about that kitchenBut got a gown of gray,And all was blythe, and all was glad,But Lady Maisery was wae.18Between Mary Kirk and that castleWas all spread ower with garl,To keep Lady Maisery and her maidensFrom tramping on the marl.19From Mary Kirk to that castleWas spread a cloth of gold,To keep Lady Maisery and her maidensFrom treading on the mold.20When mass was sung, and bells was rung,And all men bound for bed,Then Lord Ingram and Lady MaiseryIn one bed they were laid.21When they were laid into their bed—It was baith soft and warm—He laid his hand over her side,Says, I think you are with bairn.22'I told you once, so did I twice,When ye came me to woo,That Chiel Wyet, your only brother,One night lay in my bower.23'I told you twice, I told you thrice,Ere ye came me to wed,That Chiel Wyet, your one brother,One night lay in my bed.'24'O will you father your bairn on me,And on no other man?And I'll give him to his dowryFull fifty ploughs of land.'25'I will not father my bairn on you,Nor on no wrongeous man,Though ye would give him to his dowryFive thousand ploughs of land.'26Then up did start him Chiel Wyet,Shed by his yellow hair,And gave Lord Ingram to the heartA deep wound and a sair.27Then up did start him Lord Ingram,Shed by his yellow hair,And gave Chiel Wyet to the heartA deep wound and a sair.28There was no pity for that two lords,Where they were lying slain;But all was for her Lady Maisery,In that bower she gaed brain.29There was no pity for that two lords,When they were lying dead;But all was for her Lady Maisery,In that bower she went mad.30Said, Get to me a cloak of cloth,A staff of good hard tree;If I have been an evil woman,I shall beg till I dee.31'For a bit I'll beg for Chiel Wyet,For Lord Ingram I'll beg three;All for the good and honorable marriageAt Mary Kirk he gave me.'

1Lord Ingram and Chiel WyetWas baith born in one bower;Laid baith their hearts on one lady,The less was their honour.

2Chiel Wyet and Lord IngramWas baith born in one hall;Laid baith their hearts on one lady,The worse did them befall.

3Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryFrom father and from mother;Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryFrom sister and from brother.

4Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryWith leave of a' her kin;And every one gave full consent,But she said no to him.

5Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaiseryInto her father's ha;Chiel Wyet wood her Lady MaiseryAmang the sheets so sma.

6Now it fell out upon a day,She was dressing her head,That ben did come her father dear,Wearing the gold so red.

7He said, Get up now, Lady Maisery,Put on your wedding gown;For Lord Ingram he will be here,Your wedding must be done.

8'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,The white fish for to sell,Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,To wear the silk so well.

9'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,With him to beg my bread,Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,To wear the gold so red.

10'Where will I get a bonny boy,Will win gold to his fee,And will run unto Chiel Wyet's,With this letter from me?'

11'O here I am, the boy,' says one,'Will win gold to my fee,And carry away any letterTo Chiel Wyet from thee.'

12And when he found the bridges broke,He bent his bow and swam;And when he found the grass growing,He hastened and he ran.

13And when he came to Chiel Wyet's castle,He did not knock nor call,But set his bent bow to his breast,And lightly leaped the wall;And ere the porter opend the gate,The boy was in the hall.

14The first line he looked on,A grieved man was he;The next line he looked on,A tear blinded his ee:Says, I wonder what ails my one brotherHe'll not let my love be!

15'But I'll send to my brother's bridal bridal—The bacon shall be mine—Full four and twenty buck and roe,And ten tun of the wine;And bid my love be blythe and glad,And I will follow syne.'

16There was not a groom about that castleBut got a gown of green,And all was blythe, and all was glad,But Lady Maisery she was neen.

17There was no cook about that kitchenBut got a gown of gray,And all was blythe, and all was glad,But Lady Maisery was wae.

18Between Mary Kirk and that castleWas all spread ower with garl,To keep Lady Maisery and her maidensFrom tramping on the marl.

19From Mary Kirk to that castleWas spread a cloth of gold,To keep Lady Maisery and her maidensFrom treading on the mold.

20When mass was sung, and bells was rung,And all men bound for bed,Then Lord Ingram and Lady MaiseryIn one bed they were laid.

21When they were laid into their bed—It was baith soft and warm—He laid his hand over her side,Says, I think you are with bairn.

22'I told you once, so did I twice,When ye came me to woo,That Chiel Wyet, your only brother,One night lay in my bower.

23'I told you twice, I told you thrice,Ere ye came me to wed,That Chiel Wyet, your one brother,One night lay in my bed.'

24'O will you father your bairn on me,And on no other man?And I'll give him to his dowryFull fifty ploughs of land.'

25'I will not father my bairn on you,Nor on no wrongeous man,Though ye would give him to his dowryFive thousand ploughs of land.'

26Then up did start him Chiel Wyet,Shed by his yellow hair,And gave Lord Ingram to the heartA deep wound and a sair.

27Then up did start him Lord Ingram,Shed by his yellow hair,And gave Chiel Wyet to the heartA deep wound and a sair.

28There was no pity for that two lords,Where they were lying slain;But all was for her Lady Maisery,In that bower she gaed brain.

29There was no pity for that two lords,When they were lying dead;But all was for her Lady Maisery,In that bower she went mad.

30Said, Get to me a cloak of cloth,A staff of good hard tree;If I have been an evil woman,I shall beg till I dee.

31'For a bit I'll beg for Chiel Wyet,For Lord Ingram I'll beg three;All for the good and honorable marriageAt Mary Kirk he gave me.'

Skene MS., p. 16; taken down in the North of Scotland, 1802-1803.

1Lord Ingram and Gil ViettWere baith born in ae ha;They laid their love on ae lady,An fate they coud na fa.2Lord Ingram and Gil ViettWere baith laid in ae wame;They laid their love on ae lady,The greater was their shame.3Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaseryFrae father and frae mither;Gill Viett wood her Lady MaseryFrae sister and frae brither.4Lord Ingram courted her Lady MaseryAmong the company a';Gill Viett he wood her Lady MaseryAmong the sheets so sma.5'Get up, my daughter dear,Put on your bridal gown;This day's your bridal dayWi Lord Ingram.'6'How can I get up,An put on my bridal gown,Or how marry the ae brither,An the tither's babe in my womb?'* * * * *7'O laugh you at mysell, brither,Or at my companie?Or laugh ye at my bonnie bride,She wad na laugh at thee?'8'I laugh na at yoursel, brither,Nor at your companie;Nor laugh I at your buirlie bride,She wad na laugh at me.9'But there's a brotch on a breast-bane,A garlan on ane's hair;Gin ye kend what war under that,Ye wad neer love woman mair.10'There is a brotch on a breast-bane,An roses on ane's sheen;Gin ye kend what war under that,Your love wad soon be deen.'11Whan bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' man boun to bed,Lord Ingram and Lady MaseryIn ae chamer were laid.12He put his hand out oure his bonnie bride,The babe between her sides did quake:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .13'O father your babe on me, Lady Masery,O father your babe on me.'. . . . . . .. . . . . . .14'I may father my babe on a stock,Sae may I on a stane,But my babe shall never haeA father but its ain.'15He took out a brand,And laid it atween them twa;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .16Gill Viett took out a long brand,And stroakd it oer a stro,An thro and thro Lord Ingram's bodieHe made it come and go.17'Wae mat worth ye, Gill Viett,An ill died mat ye die!For I had the cup in my handTo hae drunken her oer to thee.'18'[For] ae mile [I wad gae] for Gil Viett,For Lord Ingram I wad hae gaen three;An a' for that in good kirk-doorFair wedding he gave me.'19Gil Viett took a long brand,An stroakd it on a stro,An through and thro his own bodieHe made it come and go.20There was nae mean made for that godd lords,In bowr whar they lay slain,But a' was for that lady,In bowr whar she gaed brain.21There was nae mean made for that lady,In bowr whar she lay dead,But a' was for the bonnie babeThat lay blabbering in her bleed.

1Lord Ingram and Gil ViettWere baith born in ae ha;They laid their love on ae lady,An fate they coud na fa.

2Lord Ingram and Gil ViettWere baith laid in ae wame;They laid their love on ae lady,The greater was their shame.

3Lord Ingram wood her Lady MaseryFrae father and frae mither;Gill Viett wood her Lady MaseryFrae sister and frae brither.

4Lord Ingram courted her Lady MaseryAmong the company a';Gill Viett he wood her Lady MaseryAmong the sheets so sma.

5'Get up, my daughter dear,Put on your bridal gown;This day's your bridal dayWi Lord Ingram.'

6'How can I get up,An put on my bridal gown,Or how marry the ae brither,An the tither's babe in my womb?'

* * * * *

7'O laugh you at mysell, brither,Or at my companie?Or laugh ye at my bonnie bride,She wad na laugh at thee?'

8'I laugh na at yoursel, brither,Nor at your companie;Nor laugh I at your buirlie bride,She wad na laugh at me.

9'But there's a brotch on a breast-bane,A garlan on ane's hair;Gin ye kend what war under that,Ye wad neer love woman mair.

10'There is a brotch on a breast-bane,An roses on ane's sheen;Gin ye kend what war under that,Your love wad soon be deen.'

11Whan bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' man boun to bed,Lord Ingram and Lady MaseryIn ae chamer were laid.

12He put his hand out oure his bonnie bride,The babe between her sides did quake:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

13'O father your babe on me, Lady Masery,O father your babe on me.'. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

14'I may father my babe on a stock,Sae may I on a stane,But my babe shall never haeA father but its ain.'

15He took out a brand,And laid it atween them twa;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

16Gill Viett took out a long brand,And stroakd it oer a stro,An thro and thro Lord Ingram's bodieHe made it come and go.

17'Wae mat worth ye, Gill Viett,An ill died mat ye die!For I had the cup in my handTo hae drunken her oer to thee.'

18'[For] ae mile [I wad gae] for Gil Viett,For Lord Ingram I wad hae gaen three;An a' for that in good kirk-doorFair wedding he gave me.'

19Gil Viett took a long brand,An stroakd it on a stro,An through and thro his own bodieHe made it come and go.

20There was nae mean made for that godd lords,In bowr whar they lay slain,But a' was for that lady,In bowr whar she gaed brain.

21There was nae mean made for that lady,In bowr whar she lay dead,But a' was for the bonnie babeThat lay blabbering in her bleed.

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