'Glenlogie,' in Chambers' Popular Rhymes of Scotland, 1826, p. 200, is a repetition of B. F, the copy earliest taken down, is not pure and unvarnished tradition. The reconstructed copy in the Ballad Minstrelsy of Scotland, Glasgow, 1871, p. 506, was "based on a Manuscript version communicated to Mr. Buchan in a letter from Mr. Alexander Laing, dated Brechin, April 9th, 1829, and there given by him as taken down from the recitation of the amiable daughter of a clergyman in the North." G, from Laing's Manuscript, may be supposed to be the ballad sent to Buchan by Laing. I b has been touched up by one of "that parliament of gentle ladies," in Motherwell's phrase, who had charge of the literary part of Smith's Scotish Minstrel.
Jean of Bethelnie, A, C, E, F, Jean Melville, B, D, G, of the age of fifteen or sixteen, scarce seventeen, G, falls in love at sight with Glenlogie (Earl Ogie, F, Glenogie, I b), and opens her mind to him. Glenlogie, though much flattered, is obliged to say that he is already promised.[foot-note] Jean takes to her bed, determined to die. Her father (mother, A[foot-note]), as all too frequently happens at such conjunctures, proposes the miserable comfort of another and a better match, and, as usual, is told to hold his tongue. The chaplain of the family (the father himself is a king's chaplain in F) takes the business in hand, and writes a broad, long, and well-penned letter to Glenlogie, setting forth the desperate condition of the girl. Glenlogie is so much affected that he rides to Bethelnie with all haste and presents himself to Jean as her bridegroom, although promised awa.
The young lady is Jean Gordon in C. H has changed Bethelnie to Belhelvie, another Aberdeenshire town. I has Glenfeldy for Bethelnie.
Gerhard, p. 103, has translated E a; Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 15, Aytoun's copy that is, B.
This page most recently updated on 26-May-2011, 19:14:02. Return to main index
