Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Additions and Corrections

65. Lady Maisry

P. 114. A. The variations in the Abbotsford Manuscript "Scottish Songs" are of the very slightest value; but as the Manuscript is in Scott's hand, and as Scott says that they were from his recollection of recitation in the south of Scotland, they may be given for what they are worth. (See the note, IV, 387.)

'Lady Maiserye,' fol. 34, back.

   12. Are a'.
14. she'll hae.
2, 3, wanting.
41,2. They woo'd her up, they woo'd her doun,
They woo'd her in the ha.
51. my lords, she said.
52. on me.
54. And I have na mair to gie.
61. father's wily page.
63. For he has awa to her bauld brother.
71. O are my father and mother.
72. brethren.
81. are weel.
82. Likewise your brethren.
84. But she's shamed thy name and thee.
91. true, thou little page.
92. A bluidy sight thou's see.
93. thou tells.
94. High hanged sail thou be.
101. O he has gane to.
104. Kaming.
11. A stanza with "modern" in the margin.
121. The lady turnd her round about.
122. The kame fell.
123,4.   The bluid ran backward to her heart
And left her cheek sae wan.
13.   'O bend nae sae, my dear brother,
Your vengefu look on me!
My love is laid on Lord William,
And he is married to me.'
141. ye hae gotten knights and lords.
142. Within.
143. drew.
151. your English love.
153. For shouldst think of him an hour langer.
154. Thy.
161. I wad gie up my English love.
163. or an hour.
After 16 this stanza, not marked "modern:"
  'Ah, faithless woman, trow nae sae
My just revenge to flee,
For a' your English lordling's power,
Our ancient enemy.'
171. where are a' my wight.
174. this strumpet.
182. at my.
191. and spake.
192. Stude weeping by her side. 198. wad rin this.
20 wanting.
211, 221. And when.
213. to grass growing.
221,5. yate.
222. bade na chap nor.
223. to his.
225. And er.
231. O are.
232. Or are.
233. Or has my lady gien to me.
234. A dear: or a.
241. biggins are na broken, lord.
242. Nor yet.
243. a' Scotlande.
244. This day for you.
251. to me the black horse.
252. O saddle to me.
253. Or saddle to me.
254. ere yet rode.
262. neeze.
263. your fire, my fierce.
264. no yet at.
271. And when: yate.
281,2.   And still, Mend up the fire, she cried,
And pour its rage round me.
284. will mend it soon for.
291. O had my hands.
292. Sae fast.
294. To save thy infant son.
301,3. for thee.
302. Thy sister and thy brother.
304. Thy father and thy mother.
311. for thee.
312. a' thy.
313. that I make.
314. I sail.

115. B. Variations of C.K. Sharpe's own Manuscript ("second collection"):

   24. on my (wrongly).
44. It's liars.
82. That's what I'll.
102. brother.
133. But when.
201, 211, 221. rode on.
224. Janet's excit (Motherwell, exite).
241. said.
274. mony one.

P. 112 f. In a Polish ballad a girl who has had a child irregularly is burned by her two brothers. Her paramour comes by when she is half burned, and she begs him to save her. (How can I? he says; your brothers are here. The brothers say, we have done wrong to burn her; we have left her child an orphan.) Kolberg, Lud, XVI, 291, No 476.

P. 114, st. 17.

  O whare is a' my merry young men,
Whom I gi meat and fee?

With this common-place compare:

Hvor ere nu de Kæmper, min Fader giver Brød (Løn), Grundtvig, D. g. F., No 184, G, 8, 9.

  Aquí, aquí, los mis doscientos,
Los que comeis el mi pan.

Wolf and Hofmann, Primavera, I, 39, 41 f., and Conde Claros, the same, II, 374.

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