Child Ballads - Additions and Corrections

294. Dugal Quin

P. 165. Dugald Gunn, Mr. Macmath suggests, may have been a mistaken reading of Scott's difficult handwriting on the part of the editor of the Ballad Book; as is certainly the case with regard to The Stirrup of Northumberland, V, 207 b, No 9, G.

I unhappily forgot Buchan's 'Donald M'Queen's Flight wi Lizie Menzie,' Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 117, which, though I think it corrupted at the end, removes the principal verbal difficulties in the Old Lady's copy. Mr. Walker of Aberdeen has reminded me of Buchan's ballad, and he had previously suggested to me that Dunfermline was proprietor of Fyvie, and this fact had disposed me to read Fyvie where the text already given has farei, farie. Of the rightfulness of this reading there can now be no doubt, though information is desirable as to the tempting cheese of Fyvie, of which I have not found mention elsewhere.

Buchan, II, 319, makes the following note on his copy: —

"Donald M'Queen, the hero of this ballad, was one of the servants of Baron Seaton of Fyvie, who, with his master, had fled to France after the rebellion in 1715. Baron Seaton having died in France, Donald, his man, returned to Fyvie with one of his master's best horses, and procured a love potion, alias 'the tempting cheese of Fyvie,' which had the effect of bewitching, or, in other words, casting the glamour oer his mistress, Lizie Menzie, the Lady of Fyvie. Some years afterwards this lady went through the country as a common pauper, when, being much fatigued, and in a forlorn condition, she fell fast asleep in the mill of Fyvie, whither she had gone to solicit an alms (charity): on her awakening, she declared that she had just now slept as soun a sleep with the meal-pock beneath her head, as ever she had done on the best down-bed of Fyvie. This information I had from James Rankin, an old blind man, who is well acquainted with the traditions of the country."

Alexander Seaton acquired Fyvie, it is said, in 1596, and in 1606 was created Earl of Dunfermline. Castle and title were forfeited in 1689, and the property was purchased of the crown in 1726 by the Earl of Aberdeen. Dunfermline had no horses for Dugald or Donald to take after 1689. The whole story of Lizie Menzie, Baroness of Seaton, seems to be a fiction as sheer as it is vulgar. Lizie Menzie's forsaking her husband for a footman is refuted by the well-informed Rankin himself, who tells us that the husband had died in France before his man " returned to Fyvie with one of his master's best horses." The conclusion is borrowed mostly from 'The Gypsy Laddie,' where even the drinking of one's own brewage is to be found; but 'The Gypsy Laddie' is not to be reproached with the foolish last stanza.

1	Donald, he's come to this town, And he's been lang awa, And he is on to Lizie's bedside, Wi his tartan trews and a'.
2	'How woud you like me, Lizie,' he said, 'An I ware a' your ain, Wi tartan coat upo my back, And single-soled sheen, A blue bonnetie on my head, And my twa winking een?'
3	'Weel woud I like you, Donald,' she said, 'An ye ware a' my ain, Wi tartan coat upo your back, And single-soled sheen, And little blue bonnetie on your head, And blessings on your een.
4	'But how woud ye like me, Donald,' she said, 'An I ware a* your ain, Wi a siller snood into my head, A gowd fan in my hand, And maidens clad in green satins, To be at my command?'
5	'Weel woud I like you, Lizie,' he said, 'And ye ware a' my ain, Wi a siller snood into your head, A gowd fan in your hand, But nane o your maidens clad in green, To be at your command.'
6	Then but it speaks her mither dear, Says, 'Lizie, I maun cross you; To gang alang wi this young man, We'd think we had but lost you.'
7	'O had your tongue, my mither dear, And dinna think to break me; For I will gang wi this young man, If it is his will to take me.'
8	Donald M'Queen rade up the green, On ane o Dumfermline's horses, And Lizie Menzie followed him, Thro a' her father's forces.
9	'O follow me, Lizie, my heart's delight, And follow me for you please; Kype well the grounds o my pouches, And ye'll get tempting cheese.'
10	'O wae mat worth you, Donald M'Queen! Alas, that ever I saw thee! The first love-token ye gae me Was the tempting cheese o Fyvie.
11	'O wae be to the tempting cheese, The tempting cheese o Fyvie, Gart me forsake my ain gudeman And follow a footman-laddie!
12	'But lat me drink a hearty browst, Just sic as I did brew! On Seton brave I turnd my back, A' for the sake o you.'
13	She didna wear the silken gowns Were made into Dumbarton, But she is to the Highlands gane, To wear the weeds o tartan.
14	She's casten aff the high-heeM sheen, Made o the Turkey leather, And she's put on the single brogues, To skip amo the heather.
15	Well can Donald hunt the buck, And well can Lizie sew; Whan ither trades begin to fail, They can take their bowies and brew.

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