J

Communicated by Dr Thomas Davidson, as learned from his aunt at Old Deer, about 185

1Lord John stands in his stable-door,Just on his way to ride;Lady Ellen stands in her bower-door,Says, Bide, Lord John, abide!* * * * *2He did ride, and she did run,A lief-lang simmer's day,Until they came till a wan water,That a' man did ca Tay.3The first step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the cweet;An sichan said that gay lady,I fear this water's deep!4The next step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the knee;An sichan said that gay lady,This water's deep for me!5Lord John hield down his high horse head,Said, Lady, will ye ride?'O no! O no! kind sir,' she said,'I'll rather choose tae wide.'6The next step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the chin;An sichan said that gay lady,I'll wide nae farrer in.7The firsten town that they cam till,She got a leash o huns tae lead,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .* * * * *8When bells were rung, and mass was sung,An a' was ready tae dine,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .9When bells were rung, and mass was sung,An a' were bound for bed,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

1Lord John stands in his stable-door,Just on his way to ride;Lady Ellen stands in her bower-door,Says, Bide, Lord John, abide!

* * * * *

2He did ride, and she did run,A lief-lang simmer's day,Until they came till a wan water,That a' man did ca Tay.

3The first step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the cweet;An sichan said that gay lady,I fear this water's deep!

4The next step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the knee;An sichan said that gay lady,This water's deep for me!

5Lord John hield down his high horse head,Said, Lady, will ye ride?'O no! O no! kind sir,' she said,'I'll rather choose tae wide.'

6The next step that she steppit in,She steppit tae the chin;An sichan said that gay lady,I'll wide nae farrer in.

7The firsten town that they cam till,She got a leash o huns tae lead,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

* * * * *

8When bells were rung, and mass was sung,An a' was ready tae dine,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

9When bells were rung, and mass was sung,An a' were bound for bed,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 30.

1The knight stands in his stable-door,Says he, I will gae ride;A lady stands in her bower-door,Says, I'll ride by your side.2'Ye shall not follow me, Burd Helen,Except ye do this deed;That is, to saddle to me my horse,And bridle to me my steed,And every town that ye come to,A liesh o hounds to lead.'3'I will saddle to you your horse,Sae will I bridle your steed;And every town that we come to,A liesh o hounds I'll lead.'4Take warning a', ye maidens fair,That wear scarlet and brown;In virtue leave your lammas beds,To follow knights frae town.5'My dogs shall eat the white bread, Helen,And you the dust and bran;And you will sigh, and say, alas!That eer our loves began.'6'Your dogs may eat the gude white bread,And I the dust and bran;Yet will I sing, and say, well's me,That eer our loves began.'7'My horse shall drink the gude red wine,And you the water wan;And then you'll sigh, and say, alas!That eer our loves began.'8'Your horse may drink the gude red wine,And I the water wan;But yet I'll sing, and say, well's me,That eer our loves began.'9Then Willie lap on his white steed,And straight awa did ride;Burd Helen, drest in men's array,She walked by his side.10But he was neer sae lack a knightAs ance woud bid her ride,And she was neer sae mean a mayAs ance woud bid him bide.11Sweet Willie rade, Burd Helen ran,A livelang summer's tide,Until she came to wan water,For a' men ca's it Clyde.12The first an step that she wade in,She wadit to the knee;'Ohon, alas!' said that fair maid,'This water's nae for me!'13The next an step that she wade in,She wadit to the pap;The babe within her sides twa,Cauld water gart it quack.14'Lie still, lie still, my bonny bairn,For a' this winna dee;Your father rides on high horseback,Minds neither you nor me.'15In the midst of Clyde's water,There stands a yird-fast stone;There he leant him ower his saddle-bow,And set that lady on,And brought her to the other side,Then set her down again.16'O see ye not yon goodly towers,And gowd towers stand sae hie?There is a lady in yonder bowerWill sinder you and me.'17'I wish nae ill to your lady,She neer wishd nane to me;But I wish the maid maist o your loveThat drees far mair for thee.18'I wish nae ill to your lady,She neer comes in my thought;But I wish the maid maist o your loveThat dearest hae you bought.'19Four an twenty gay ladiesLed Willie thro bower and ha;But the fairest lady amo them a'Led his horse to the sta.20Four an twenty gay ladiesWere a' at dinner set;Burd Helen sat at a by-table,A bit she coudna eat.21Out it spake her Dow Isbel,A skilly dame was she:'O whare got ye this fine foot-pageYe've brought alang wi thee?22'Sometimes his colour waxes red,Sometimes it waxes wan;He is liker a woman big wi bairnNor be a waiting man.'23'Win up, win up, my boy,' he says,'At my bidding to be,And gang and supper my gude steed,See he be litterd tee.'24Then she is into stable gane,Shut tee the door wi a pin,And even amang Willie's horse feetBrought hame her bonny young son.25When day was gane, and night was come,And a' man bound for bed,Sweet Willie and Dow IsbelIn ae chamber were laid.26They hadna been well lien down,Nor yet well faen asleep,Till up it wakens Sweet Willie,And stood at Dow Isbel's feet.27'I dreamd a dreary dream this night,I wish it may be for guid;Some rogue hae broke my stable-door,And stown awa my steed.28'Win up, win up now, Dow Isbel,At my bidding to be,And ye'll gae to my stable-door,See that be true or lie.'29When she gaed to the stable-door,She heard a grievous groan;She thought she heard a bairn greet,But and a woman's moan.30'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore but what I would;This night I'm lighter 'mang Willie's horse feet,I fear I'll die for cold.31'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore gold to my tae;This night I'm lighter mang Willie's horse feet,And fear I'll die or day.32'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore scarlet and green;This night I'm lighter mang Willie's horse feet,And fear I'll die my lane.'33Dow Isbel now came tripping hame,As fast as gang coud she;'I thought your page was not a man,Ye brought alang wi thee.34'As I gaed to your stable, Willie,I heard a grievous groan;I thought I heard a bairn greet,But and a woman's moan.35'She said, when in her bigly bower,She wore but what she would;But this night is lighter mang your horse feet,And fears she'll die for cold.36'She said, when in her bigly bower,She wore gold to her tae;But this night is lighter mang your horse feet,And fears she'll die or day.37'Win up, win up, now Sweet Willie,At my bidding to be,And speak some comfort to the maid,That's dreed sae much for thee.'38He is to the stable door gane,As fast as gang coud he;'O open, O open, Burd Helen,' he says,'Ye'll open the door to me.'39'That was never my mother's custom,And hope it's never be mine,A knight into her companie,When she drees a' her pine.'40'O open the door, Burd Helen,' he says,'O open the door to me;For as my sword hangs by my gair,I'll gar it gang in three.'41'How can I open, how shall I open,How can I open to thee,When lying amang your great steed's feet,Your young son on my knee?'42He hit the door then wi his foot,Sae did he wi his knee,Till doors o deal, and locks o steel,In splinders gart he flee.43'An asking, asking, Sweet Willie,An asking ye'll grant me;The warst in bower in a' your towers,For thy young son and me.'44'Your asking's nae sae great, Burd Helen,But granted it shall be;The best in bower in a' my towers,For my young son and thee.'45'An asking, asking, sweet Willie,An asking ye'll grant me;The warst an woman about your bowers,To wait on him and me.'46'The best an woman about my bowers,To wait on him and thee,And that's my sister Dow Isbel,And a gude woman is she.47'Ye will take up my little young son,And wash him wi the milk;And ye'll take up my gay lady,And row her in the silk.48'Be favourable to my lady,Be favourable, if ye may;Her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand on ae day.49'There is not here a woman livingBut her shall be my bride,And all is for the fair speechesI got frae her at Clyde.'

1The knight stands in his stable-door,Says he, I will gae ride;A lady stands in her bower-door,Says, I'll ride by your side.

2'Ye shall not follow me, Burd Helen,Except ye do this deed;That is, to saddle to me my horse,And bridle to me my steed,And every town that ye come to,A liesh o hounds to lead.'

3'I will saddle to you your horse,Sae will I bridle your steed;And every town that we come to,A liesh o hounds I'll lead.'

4Take warning a', ye maidens fair,That wear scarlet and brown;In virtue leave your lammas beds,To follow knights frae town.

5'My dogs shall eat the white bread, Helen,And you the dust and bran;And you will sigh, and say, alas!That eer our loves began.'

6'Your dogs may eat the gude white bread,And I the dust and bran;Yet will I sing, and say, well's me,That eer our loves began.'

7'My horse shall drink the gude red wine,And you the water wan;And then you'll sigh, and say, alas!That eer our loves began.'

8'Your horse may drink the gude red wine,And I the water wan;But yet I'll sing, and say, well's me,That eer our loves began.'

9Then Willie lap on his white steed,And straight awa did ride;Burd Helen, drest in men's array,She walked by his side.

10But he was neer sae lack a knightAs ance woud bid her ride,And she was neer sae mean a mayAs ance woud bid him bide.

11Sweet Willie rade, Burd Helen ran,A livelang summer's tide,Until she came to wan water,For a' men ca's it Clyde.

12The first an step that she wade in,She wadit to the knee;'Ohon, alas!' said that fair maid,'This water's nae for me!'

13The next an step that she wade in,She wadit to the pap;The babe within her sides twa,Cauld water gart it quack.

14'Lie still, lie still, my bonny bairn,For a' this winna dee;Your father rides on high horseback,Minds neither you nor me.'

15In the midst of Clyde's water,There stands a yird-fast stone;There he leant him ower his saddle-bow,And set that lady on,And brought her to the other side,Then set her down again.

16'O see ye not yon goodly towers,And gowd towers stand sae hie?There is a lady in yonder bowerWill sinder you and me.'

17'I wish nae ill to your lady,She neer wishd nane to me;But I wish the maid maist o your loveThat drees far mair for thee.

18'I wish nae ill to your lady,She neer comes in my thought;But I wish the maid maist o your loveThat dearest hae you bought.'

19Four an twenty gay ladiesLed Willie thro bower and ha;But the fairest lady amo them a'Led his horse to the sta.

20Four an twenty gay ladiesWere a' at dinner set;Burd Helen sat at a by-table,A bit she coudna eat.

21Out it spake her Dow Isbel,A skilly dame was she:'O whare got ye this fine foot-pageYe've brought alang wi thee?

22'Sometimes his colour waxes red,Sometimes it waxes wan;He is liker a woman big wi bairnNor be a waiting man.'

23'Win up, win up, my boy,' he says,'At my bidding to be,And gang and supper my gude steed,See he be litterd tee.'

24Then she is into stable gane,Shut tee the door wi a pin,And even amang Willie's horse feetBrought hame her bonny young son.

25When day was gane, and night was come,And a' man bound for bed,Sweet Willie and Dow IsbelIn ae chamber were laid.

26They hadna been well lien down,Nor yet well faen asleep,Till up it wakens Sweet Willie,And stood at Dow Isbel's feet.

27'I dreamd a dreary dream this night,I wish it may be for guid;Some rogue hae broke my stable-door,And stown awa my steed.

28'Win up, win up now, Dow Isbel,At my bidding to be,And ye'll gae to my stable-door,See that be true or lie.'

29When she gaed to the stable-door,She heard a grievous groan;She thought she heard a bairn greet,But and a woman's moan.

30'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore but what I would;This night I'm lighter 'mang Willie's horse feet,I fear I'll die for cold.

31'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore gold to my tae;This night I'm lighter mang Willie's horse feet,And fear I'll die or day.

32'When I was in my bigly bower,I wore scarlet and green;This night I'm lighter mang Willie's horse feet,And fear I'll die my lane.'

33Dow Isbel now came tripping hame,As fast as gang coud she;'I thought your page was not a man,Ye brought alang wi thee.

34'As I gaed to your stable, Willie,I heard a grievous groan;I thought I heard a bairn greet,But and a woman's moan.

35'She said, when in her bigly bower,She wore but what she would;But this night is lighter mang your horse feet,And fears she'll die for cold.

36'She said, when in her bigly bower,She wore gold to her tae;But this night is lighter mang your horse feet,And fears she'll die or day.

37'Win up, win up, now Sweet Willie,At my bidding to be,And speak some comfort to the maid,That's dreed sae much for thee.'

38He is to the stable door gane,As fast as gang coud he;'O open, O open, Burd Helen,' he says,'Ye'll open the door to me.'

39'That was never my mother's custom,And hope it's never be mine,A knight into her companie,When she drees a' her pine.'

40'O open the door, Burd Helen,' he says,'O open the door to me;For as my sword hangs by my gair,I'll gar it gang in three.'

41'How can I open, how shall I open,How can I open to thee,When lying amang your great steed's feet,Your young son on my knee?'

42He hit the door then wi his foot,Sae did he wi his knee,Till doors o deal, and locks o steel,In splinders gart he flee.

43'An asking, asking, Sweet Willie,An asking ye'll grant me;The warst in bower in a' your towers,For thy young son and me.'

44'Your asking's nae sae great, Burd Helen,But granted it shall be;The best in bower in a' my towers,For my young son and thee.'

45'An asking, asking, sweet Willie,An asking ye'll grant me;The warst an woman about your bowers,To wait on him and me.'

46'The best an woman about my bowers,To wait on him and thee,And that's my sister Dow Isbel,And a gude woman is she.

47'Ye will take up my little young son,And wash him wi the milk;And ye'll take up my gay lady,And row her in the silk.

48'Be favourable to my lady,Be favourable, if ye may;Her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand on ae day.

49'There is not here a woman livingBut her shall be my bride,And all is for the fair speechesI got frae her at Clyde.'

Andthroughout for&.183, 193, 221, 231. four and twenty,MS. has 24.266. [rich].Percy.272. they way.281. goe thy.283. ffarest.285, 295. armes 2.311. this and itt droue now.The emendation, made without confidence, assumes, as does that to 313,andto be used as in 'Sir Cawline.'323. did on.

Andthroughout for&.

183, 193, 221, 231. four and twenty,MS. has 24.

266. [rich].Percy.

272. they way.

281. goe thy.

283. ffarest.

285, 295. armes 2.

311. this and itt droue now.The emendation, made without confidence, assumes, as does that to 313,andto be used as in 'Sir Cawline.'

323. did on.

B. a.

212. An a' man.

11. I forbid you.13. To leave your father's families.14. And follow... frae the.21. I am a gay ladie.22. wear.23. father's castle.31, 3stands.32. Says I am boon to ride.34. Says I'll run by your side.41. He has mounted on his berry brown steed.43. She's clad her in a page's weed.44. And ay as fast.52. An folks.53. He's lookd oer.54. Says Ellen will you ride.61. O I learnd it when I was a bairn.71, 81, 91. that ladie.72. It was aboon her knee.73. Says Bird Ellen.82. It was up till.83. Ohon alas says Bird Ellen.91. The thirden step.92. touched her pap.93. The bairn between her sides twa.94. begood to.102. You gie your mother pain.104. And cares little for us twain.111. Owanting. Clyde's.112. There stands.113. He has turnd about his berry brown steed.114. And taen her up him behind.124. Where this night you mean to be.131. Do not ye see.132. so far and hie.133. ladie there, he says.

11. I forbid you.

13. To leave your father's families.

14. And follow... frae the.

21. I am a gay ladie.

22. wear.

23. father's castle.

31, 3stands.

32. Says I am boon to ride.

34. Says I'll run by your side.

41. He has mounted on his berry brown steed.

43. She's clad her in a page's weed.

44. And ay as fast.

52. An folks.

53. He's lookd oer.

54. Says Ellen will you ride.

61. O I learnd it when I was a bairn.

71, 81, 91. that ladie.

72. It was aboon her knee.

73. Says Bird Ellen.

82. It was up till.

83. Ohon alas says Bird Ellen.

91. The thirden step.

92. touched her pap.

93. The bairn between her sides twa.

94. begood to.

102. You gie your mother pain.

104. And cares little for us twain.

111. Owanting. Clyde's.

112. There stands.

113. He has turnd about his berry brown steed.

114. And taen her up him behind.

124. Where this night you mean to be.

131. Do not ye see.

132. so far and hie.

133. ladie there, he says.

14.Altho there be a ladie there,Should sunder you and me,Betide my life, betide my death,I will go thither and see.

152, 162. brown.153. Then you will.154. That ever you lovd a man.161. O 'tis I shall.

152, 162. brown.

153. Then you will.

154. That ever you lovd a man.

161. O 'tis I shall.

163, 4.But I neer shall live to cry alas,That ever I lovd a man.171, 2.My horse shall eat the baken meat,And you shall eat the corn.

163, 4.But I neer shall live to cry alas,That ever I lovd a man.

171, 2.My horse shall eat the baken meat,And you shall eat the corn.

173. You then will.181. O I shall eat the baken meat.183. And I still shall bless.204. her lane.212. a' were.22=a23.3. O I can neither eat nor drink.23=a22.3. O I can neither eat nor drink.

173. You then will.

181. O I shall eat the baken meat.

183. And I still shall bless.

204. her lane.

212. a' were.

22=a23.3. O I can neither eat nor drink.

23=a22.3. O I can neither eat nor drink.

243, 4.My son, where gat ye that foot-pageYou have brought hame to me?

251. cheeks look.252. pale and wan.253. He looks mair like a ladie wi bairn.

251. cheeks look.

252. pale and wan.

253. He looks mair like a ladie wi bairn.

26.He has looked oer his left shoulder,And a loud laugh laughed he;Says, He's a squire's ae dear son,I got in the north countrie.

271. Win up, win up.273. And so.274. As fast as ever I may.

271. Win up, win up.

273. And so.

274. As fast as ever I may.

282-4.And the corn in her right hand,And she's hied her to the stable-door,As fast as she could gang.

292. Stand nearer to.293. between my sides.

292. Stand nearer to.

293. between my sides.

301, 2.

She has leand to the manger sideAnd gien a grieveous groan.

304. brought home a son.

31=a31, 32.

Then out it spake Lord John's mother,As she stood on the stair,'I think I hear a woman groan,And a bairn greeting sair.'

32=a33.1. O quickly, quickly raise he up.3. But hied him to the stable-door.

32=a33.

1. O quickly, quickly raise he up.

3. But hied him to the stable-door.

33, wanting ina.

'Now open the door, Bird Ellen,' he says,'O open and let me in,Or baith the door and the door cheeksInto the floor I'll fling.'34.He is struck the door wi his right footAnd pushed it wi his knee,Till iron bolts and iron barsIn flinders he has gard flee:'Be not afraid, Bird Ellen,' he says,'For there's nane win in but me.'

'Now open the door, Bird Ellen,' he says,'O open and let me in,Or baith the door and the door cheeksInto the floor I'll fling.'

34.He is struck the door wi his right footAnd pushed it wi his knee,Till iron bolts and iron barsIn flinders he has gard flee:'Be not afraid, Bird Ellen,' he says,'For there's nane win in but me.'

35, wanting ina.

The never a word spake that ladie,As on the floor she lay,But hushd her young son in her armsAnd turnd his face away.

36=a35.

'Now up ye take my bonny young sonAnd wash him wi the milk,And up ye take my fair ladie,And row her i the silk.'

a36 is wanting inb.

37.'And smile on me now, Bird Ellen,And cast awa your care,For I'll make you ladie of a' my lands,And your son shall be my heir.'38.'Blessd be the day,' sayd Bird Ellen,'That I followd you frae the town,For I'd rather far be your foot-pageThan the queen that wears the crown.'

37.'And smile on me now, Bird Ellen,And cast awa your care,For I'll make you ladie of a' my lands,And your son shall be my heir.'

38.'Blessd be the day,' sayd Bird Ellen,'That I followd you frae the town,For I'd rather far be your foot-pageThan the queen that wears the crown.'

The stanzas bracketed are those which Kinloch interpolated in his later copy.27, 31, 32, were derived fromD.221.In his later copy Kinloch has made the change, Win up, win up, my bonnie boy.

The stanzas bracketed are those which Kinloch interpolated in his later copy.

27, 31, 32, were derived fromD.

221.In his later copy Kinloch has made the change, Win up, win up, my bonnie boy.

204. Or lyin:seeG14.

226. Aye.

54.This line is included in () in the MS., and was probably supplied by Motherwell.

33, 43, 63. sichan:MS."sich an, perhaps sichin."

43seems to be a corruption ofI forbid you leave your families, or something of the kind: cf.B a11, 3.101.The knight seems to belack(wanting) rather innotbidding, or letting, her ride; his lack is nothing but his leave; but as the idea may conceivably be that it would be unknightly to ride with a lady behind—all ballads to the contrary—no emendation has been attempted.213. five foot page.

43seems to be a corruption ofI forbid you leave your families, or something of the kind: cf.B a11, 3.

101.The knight seems to belack(wanting) rather innotbidding, or letting, her ride; his lack is nothing but his leave; but as the idea may conceivably be that it would be unknightly to ride with a lady behind—all ballads to the contrary—no emendation has been attempted.

213. five foot page.

FOOTNOTES:[82]Caution is imperative where so much ground is covered, and no man should be confident that he can do absolute justice to poetry in a tongue that he was not born to; but foreign poetry is as likely to be rated too high as to be undervalued. I will give Grundtvig's impression, at least as competent a judge of popular ballads as ever spoke: "Den Rigdom paa stemningsfuld Lyrik, som i det hele taget hjemler den engelsk-skotske Folkevise den højeste poetiske Rang mellem alle sine Søskende, kommer ogsaa her til Syne, fordelt paa alle Opskrifter." Danmarks gamle Folkeviser, V, 187.[83]Except in SwedishA, where, apparently by a mixture of two stories, the issue is tragic.

[82]Caution is imperative where so much ground is covered, and no man should be confident that he can do absolute justice to poetry in a tongue that he was not born to; but foreign poetry is as likely to be rated too high as to be undervalued. I will give Grundtvig's impression, at least as competent a judge of popular ballads as ever spoke: "Den Rigdom paa stemningsfuld Lyrik, som i det hele taget hjemler den engelsk-skotske Folkevise den højeste poetiske Rang mellem alle sine Søskende, kommer ogsaa her til Syne, fordelt paa alle Opskrifter." Danmarks gamle Folkeviser, V, 187.

[83]Except in SwedishA, where, apparently by a mixture of two stories, the issue is tragic.

A.'Fair Janet,' Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 1.B.'Fair Janet and Sweet William,' Motherwell's MS., p. 357.C.'Willie and Annet,' Herd's Scots Songs, 1769, p. 303.D.'Lord William,' Motherwell's MS., p. 271.E.'Willie and Janet,' Kinloch MSS, V, 283, II, 41.F.'Sweet Willie and Fair Maisry,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 97; Motherwell's MS., p. 606.G.'Sweet Willie,' Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 61.

A.'Fair Janet,' Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 1.

B.'Fair Janet and Sweet William,' Motherwell's MS., p. 357.

C.'Willie and Annet,' Herd's Scots Songs, 1769, p. 303.

D.'Lord William,' Motherwell's MS., p. 271.

E.'Willie and Janet,' Kinloch MSS, V, 283, II, 41.

F.'Sweet Willie and Fair Maisry,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 97; Motherwell's MS., p. 606.

G.'Sweet Willie,' Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 61.

G, as printed by Finlay, was made up from various fragments. Of his twenty-seven stanzas fourteen were taken fromC, and these are now omitted.A13,D5,G4, 5,C19, are found also in some copies of 'Fair Annie of Lochroyan;'C19 also in 'Sweet Willie and Fair Annie.' The very inappropriate question inF4, "O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie," occurs in Jamieson's 'Clerk Saunders,' I, 84, st. 5. The inquiry inG1, "Will youburnfor Sweet Willie?" may probably have been suggested by the ballad of 'Lady Maisry.' Wehave the oath by the thorn,G13, in 'Glasgerion.' For the conclusion ofA,E, see No 7, I, 96 ff.

Fair Janet,A,B,E[Annet, Maisry], loving Sweet Willie, and on the point of becoming a mother by him, is destined by her father to marry a French lord,A; a Southland lord,B,E,G. She implores Willie to fly with her over sea,B,C; to good green wood,F. They set sail, but her condition obliges her to return,B; her time comes before they can get away,C. She bears a child.[84]To avoid discovery, the babe is taken to Willie's mother, who very readily assumes charge of it. Scarcely has the child been born, when Janet's father comes with orders to busk the bride,A,B,C(?),E,F. She begs to be tenderly handled, as not being in good plight. They attire her gayly, and she selects Willie to lead her horse, or ride before her on her horse, to church,A,B,E. Her cheek is pale, her color goes and comes; it is suspected, and even suggested, that she has borne a bairn, or is near to doing so,A22,C14,D10,E11,F25. She seeks to clear herself by an ambiguous oath,E12,G26, 27; Willie does this for her,G11. After dinner, or supper,A,B, dancing is in order. Janet makes excuses to her brothers, her father, the bridegroom's man, and declines very decidedly the bridegroom's own invitation, with marked asperity inA,B. But with Willie she will dance though her heart should break in three. She takes three turns, and falls down dead. Willie gives the key of his coffer to his man, and bids him tell his mother that his horse has slain him. He would not survive Janet in any pure and full form of the story, and does not inA,C,E.

'Sweet William,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 307, borrows some stanzas at the beginning from 'Fair Janet.'

There are points of resemblance between 'Fair Janet' and a ballad very popular in Scandinavia and in Germany, which demand notice, though they may not warrant the assumption of community of origin.

The Scandinavian ballad is:Danish, 'Kong Valdemar og hans Søster,' Grundtvig, No 126, III, 63 ff, 911 f,A-I;Gfrom a sixteenth-century manuscript,A-Ffrom seventeenth-century manuscripts or print, the two last from recent tradition.Icelandic, 'Soffíu kvæði,' Íslenzk Fornkvæði, No 52, II, 152,A-F, all of which, according to Grundtvig, must be put, at latest, in the seventeenth century, though some are first met with in the eighteenth.Färoë, a single copy, almost Danish, from the beginning of this century, printed by Grundtvig, III, 67 f.Norwegian, three copies from recent tradition, Grundtvig, III, 69, 913 f.Swedish, all from this century, 'Liten Kerstin och Fru Sofia,' Arwidsson, No 53, I, 335-51,A-E;F,G, in Cavallius and Stephens' collection, Grundtvig, III, 70;H, 'Liten Kerstin och drottning Sofia,' Wigström, Folkdiktning, I, 79.[85]

TheGermanballad is:A.'Graf Hans von Holstein und seine Schwester Annchristine,' Müllenhoff, p. 492, No 48.B.'Der grobe Bruder,' Wunderhorn, II, 272, 1808, Birlinger und Crecelius, II, 24.C.'Der grausame Bruder,' Parisius, p. 38, No 12, A.D.'Das Lied vom Pfalzgrafen,' Düntzer und Herder, Briefe Goethe's an Herder, I, 154.E.'Der grausame Bruder,' Erk, Liederhort, p. 153, No 45.F.'Christinchen,' Pröhle, p. 4, No 2.G.Wunderhorn, Birlinger und Crecelius, II, 247, No 4.H.Parisius, No 12, C.I.Reifferscheid, p. 107.J.'Der böse Bruder,' Zuccalmaglio, p. 185, No 89.K.'Der Pfalzgraf vom Rhein,' Wunderhorn, I, 259, 1806, Birlinger und Crecelius, II, 24.L.'Der grausame Bruder,' Hoffmann und Richter, Schlesische Volkslieder, p. 49, No 27.M.Parisius, No 12, B. A version in broadside style, Erlach, II, 585, Doenniges, p. 217; compounded copies,Simrock, No 16, Scherer, Jungbrunnen, No 35, A.

According to the Scandinavian story, a king is informed by his queen, her inexorable enemy, that Kirstin, his sister, has just borne a child. The king sends for Kirstin, who is at some distance, to come to him immediately. She is obliged to make the journey on horseback. Upon her arrival the king puts her to a variety of tests, among these a long dance. Kirstin comes off so well that her brother says the queen has belied her. The queen then bares Kirstin's breast and makes milk flow from it. The king hereupon sends for heavy whips, and flogs his sister to the point of death. In the Icelandic and Färöe versions Kirstin dies of the dance, in her brother's arms. In the Swedish versions and in DanishIthe king is Kirstin's father, not her brother. The Norwegian versions and SwedishF,Hhave a false conclusion: Kirstin survives, and is united to her lover. In DanishAthe king had, before he learned the state of things, promised his sister to the son of the King of England, and in DanishF,H,I, SwedishF, and the Färöe ballad, Kirstin's lover is an English prince, who, in DanishH, comes to claim his mistress, and, finding her dead, kills the king. In SwedishAKirstin dances with four, dances with five, dances with all the men of the court, and in SwedishC,Hshe tires out successively all the courtiers, the king, and the queen.

A, far the best preserved of the German versions, makes a hunter ask a count for his sister Annchristine. Being refused, as an unequal match, he tells the count that his sister, for all her nobility, has borne a child. The count maintains Annchristine to be a maid. The hunter says, Send for her, and see. The young lady is required to come on horseback. When her brother sees her approaching, with her long hair flowing, his confidence is strengthened. The hunter says, Make her dance. She dances seven hours, and her brother finds reason to continue of the same mind as before. The hunter says, Let us tighten her lacing, and, when that is done, milk springs from her breasts. Her brother gives her the choice between whipping and the sword. She chooses the former. He beats her till liver and lungs spring from her body. She then calls on him to stop; Prince Frederick of England is his brother-in-law. The count is much troubled, and promises everything if she will live. But Annchristine dies, and presently Prince Frederick appears. He has heard of what the count has done, cuts him to bits, and gives him to the crows.

In the other German versions the informant is generally of low rank, and sometimes professes to be father of the child. InB,C,G,H,Khe is a kitchey-boy, a personage who plays no insignificant part in romantic story. The coming on horseback is wanting. The long dance is found inB-F. The father of the child is always the English King, who runs the brother through with his sword,B,D,E,G,K,L, or otherwise gives him his due.

The slight resemblance and the great difference of the Scottish story are apparent. Fair Janet has to go a certain distance on horseback, at a time when she is peculiarly ill fitted to do so, like the hapless Kirstin of the Scandinavian ballads and the GermanA, and she dies from dancing in her weak condition, as the lady does in the Icelandic and Färöe ballad. But both the ride and the dance are incidental to her forced marriage, and neither the ride nor the dance is employed as a test, as the dance always is in the other ballad, and as the ride is expressly devised to be in GermanA6. The Scottish Janet is not constrained to dance, nor does she dance down all the men in the room. She declines every invitation except Willie's, and this, in some cases, she (very naturally and touchingly) encourages or incites; and her vital powers give way after three turns. All the unspeakably ferocious features of the Norse and German ballads are wanting, and the bound which divides the pathetic from the horrible is never passed.

A Breton ballad, 'Ar C'homt Gwillou,' 'Prinses ar Gwillou,' 'Le Comte Guillou,' 'La Princesse Le Guillou,' Luzel, II, 6-15, in three versions, has the probation by dancing. A count or prince, returning to his mistress after a considerable absence, happens to hear a shepherdess singing a song, of which he himself is unfortunately the subject. The lady has had a child. Fearing to encounter her injured lover, she tries to pass off a younger sister for herself, but, as may be imagined, this desperate artifice does not succeed. She is told what is said of her, and hopes she may melt like butter if ever she had daughter or son. The count calls out, Play up, musicians, that we may see how this damsel will step out. The young woman pleads that she is suffering from fever, and cannot dance just now, but the count strikes her on the breast so that milk spurts on her gown,A. He kills her.[86]

There is also a Magyar ballad, in which a jealous or offended lover makes his mistress dance till her boots are full of blood, as Kjersti's are in NorwegianA,B: 'Darvas Kis Clement,' Aigner, p. 110.

One or two correspondences with the Scandinavian-German ballad will require to be noted under 'Lady Maisry,' which immediately follows.

Ais translated by Knortz, Schottische Balladen, No 7;Fby Gerhard, p. 97; a combination ofA,Cand others by Grundtvig, No 39.

Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 1, as sung by an old woman in Perthshire.

1'Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,Ye maun gang to him soon;Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,In case that his days are dune.'2Janet's awa to her father,As fast as she could hie:'O what's your will wi me, father?O what's your will wi me?'3'My will wi you, Fair Janet,' he said,'It is both bed and board;Some say that ye loe Sweet Willie,But ye maun wed a French lord.'4'A French lord maun I wed, father?A French lord maun I wed?Then, by my sooth,' quo Fair Janet,'He's neer enter my bed.'5Janet's awa to her chamber,As fast as she could go;Wha's the first ane that tapped there,But Sweet Willie her jo?6'O we maun part this love, Willie,That has been lang between;There's a French lord coming oer the sea,To wed me wi a ring;There's a French lord coming oer the sea,To wed and tak me hame.'7'If we maun part this love, Janet,It causeth mickle woe;If we maun part this love, Janet,It makes me into mourning go.'8'But ye maun gang to your three sisters.Meg, Marion, and Jean;Tell them to come to Fair Janet,In case that her days are dune.'9Willie's awa to his three sisters,Meg, Marion, and Jean:'O haste, and gang to Fair Janet,I fear that her days are dune.'10Some drew to them their silken hose,Some drew to them their shoon,Some drew to them their silk manteils,Their coverings to put on,And they're awa to Fair Janet,By the hie light o the moon.* * * * *11'O I have born this babe, Willie,Wi mickle toil and pain;Take hame, take hame, your babe, Willie,For nurse I dare be nane.'12He's tane his young son in his arms,And kisst him cheek and chin,And he's awa to his mother's bower,By the hie light o the moon.13'O open, open, mother,' he says,'O open, and let me in;The rain rains on my yellow hair,And the dew drops oer my chin,And I hae my young son in my arms,I fear that his days are dune.'14With her fingers lang and smaShe lifted up the pin,And with her arms lang and smaReceived the baby in.15'Gae back, gae back now, Sweet Willie,And comfort your fair lady;For where ye had but ae nourice,Your young son shall hae three.'16Willie he was scarce awa,And the lady put to bed,Whan in and came her father dear:'Make haste, and busk the bride.'17'There's a sair pain in my head, father,There's a sair pain in my side;And ill, O ill, am I, father,This day for to be a bride.'18'O ye maun busk this bonny bride,And put a gay mantle on;For she shall wed this auld French lord,Gin she should die the morn.'19Some put on the gay green robes,And some put on the brown;But Janet put on the scarlet robes,To shine foremost throw the town.20And some they mounted the black steed,And some mounted the brown;But Janet mounted the milk-white steed,To ride foremost throw the town.21'O wha will guide your horse, Janet?O wha will guide him best?''O wha but Willie, my true-love?He kens I loe him best.'22And when they cam to Marie's kirk,To tye the haly ban,Fair Janet's cheek looked pale and wan,And her colour gaed an cam.23When dinner it was past and done,And dancing to begin,'O we'll go take the bride's maidens.And we'll go fill the ring.'24O ben than cam the auld French lord.Saying, Bride, will ye dance with me?'Awa, awa, ye auld French lord,Your face I downa see.'25O ben than cam now Sweet Willie,He cam with ane advance:'O I'll go tak the bride's maidens,And we'll go tak a dance.'26'I've seen ither days wi you, Willie,And so has mony mae,Ye would hae danced wi me mysel,Let a' my maidens gae.'27O ben than cam now Sweet Willie,Saying, Bride, will ye dance wi me?'Aye, by my sooth, and that I will,Gin my back should break in three.'28She had nae turned her throw the dance,Throw the dance but thrice,Whan she fell doun at Willie's feet,And up did never rise.29Willie's taen the key of his coffer,And gien it to his man:'Gae hame, and tell my mother dearMy horse he has me slain;Bid her be kind to my young son,For father he has nane.'30The tane was buried in Marie's kirk,And the tither in Marie's quire;Out of the tane there grew a birk,And the tither a bonny brier.

1'Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,Ye maun gang to him soon;Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,In case that his days are dune.'

2Janet's awa to her father,As fast as she could hie:'O what's your will wi me, father?O what's your will wi me?'

3'My will wi you, Fair Janet,' he said,'It is both bed and board;Some say that ye loe Sweet Willie,But ye maun wed a French lord.'

4'A French lord maun I wed, father?A French lord maun I wed?Then, by my sooth,' quo Fair Janet,'He's neer enter my bed.'

5Janet's awa to her chamber,As fast as she could go;Wha's the first ane that tapped there,But Sweet Willie her jo?

6'O we maun part this love, Willie,That has been lang between;There's a French lord coming oer the sea,To wed me wi a ring;There's a French lord coming oer the sea,To wed and tak me hame.'

7'If we maun part this love, Janet,It causeth mickle woe;If we maun part this love, Janet,It makes me into mourning go.'

8'But ye maun gang to your three sisters.Meg, Marion, and Jean;Tell them to come to Fair Janet,In case that her days are dune.'

9Willie's awa to his three sisters,Meg, Marion, and Jean:'O haste, and gang to Fair Janet,I fear that her days are dune.'

10Some drew to them their silken hose,Some drew to them their shoon,Some drew to them their silk manteils,Their coverings to put on,And they're awa to Fair Janet,By the hie light o the moon.

* * * * *

11'O I have born this babe, Willie,Wi mickle toil and pain;Take hame, take hame, your babe, Willie,For nurse I dare be nane.'

12He's tane his young son in his arms,And kisst him cheek and chin,And he's awa to his mother's bower,By the hie light o the moon.

13'O open, open, mother,' he says,'O open, and let me in;The rain rains on my yellow hair,And the dew drops oer my chin,And I hae my young son in my arms,I fear that his days are dune.'

14With her fingers lang and smaShe lifted up the pin,And with her arms lang and smaReceived the baby in.

15'Gae back, gae back now, Sweet Willie,And comfort your fair lady;For where ye had but ae nourice,Your young son shall hae three.'

16Willie he was scarce awa,And the lady put to bed,Whan in and came her father dear:'Make haste, and busk the bride.'

17'There's a sair pain in my head, father,There's a sair pain in my side;And ill, O ill, am I, father,This day for to be a bride.'

18'O ye maun busk this bonny bride,And put a gay mantle on;For she shall wed this auld French lord,Gin she should die the morn.'

19Some put on the gay green robes,And some put on the brown;But Janet put on the scarlet robes,To shine foremost throw the town.

20And some they mounted the black steed,And some mounted the brown;But Janet mounted the milk-white steed,To ride foremost throw the town.

21'O wha will guide your horse, Janet?O wha will guide him best?''O wha but Willie, my true-love?He kens I loe him best.'

22And when they cam to Marie's kirk,To tye the haly ban,Fair Janet's cheek looked pale and wan,And her colour gaed an cam.

23When dinner it was past and done,And dancing to begin,'O we'll go take the bride's maidens.And we'll go fill the ring.'

24O ben than cam the auld French lord.Saying, Bride, will ye dance with me?'Awa, awa, ye auld French lord,Your face I downa see.'

25O ben than cam now Sweet Willie,He cam with ane advance:'O I'll go tak the bride's maidens,And we'll go tak a dance.'

26'I've seen ither days wi you, Willie,And so has mony mae,Ye would hae danced wi me mysel,Let a' my maidens gae.'

27O ben than cam now Sweet Willie,Saying, Bride, will ye dance wi me?'Aye, by my sooth, and that I will,Gin my back should break in three.'

28She had nae turned her throw the dance,Throw the dance but thrice,Whan she fell doun at Willie's feet,And up did never rise.

29Willie's taen the key of his coffer,And gien it to his man:'Gae hame, and tell my mother dearMy horse he has me slain;Bid her be kind to my young son,For father he has nane.'

30The tane was buried in Marie's kirk,And the tither in Marie's quire;Out of the tane there grew a birk,And the tither a bonny brier.

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