| A. a. |
Fair Margaret's Misfortune, or,
Sweet William's Frightful Dreams on his Wedding Night.
With the Sudden Death and Burial of those Noble Lovers. ... Printed
for S. Bates, at the Sun and Bible, in GiltSpur Street.
Sarah Bates published about 1685. Chappell.
31. set.
41. lay.
54. Which causd him for to weep:
caught probably from 74.
See the quotation in Beaumont and Fletcher, and the
other broadside copies.
132. my kin.
181. channel. |
| b. |
11. out upon a day.
13. a long.
24. you shall.
34. a riding.
43. went away first from the.
44. more came.
54. And stood at William's bed-feet.
61. you true.
63. grass green.
64. I am.
94. thy bride-bed.
101. called his.
121. Then he.
123. she looks both.
141. the seven.
143, 151. brown dame.
162. Of white.
182. And William.
193. there they.
194. all the.
201. Then. |
| c. |
23. at eight.
24. you shall.
33. She spyed.
34. a riding.
44. more came.
53. There came.
54. And stood at William's feet.
61. you lovers true.
64. I'm.
94. And they.
121. Then he.
141. the seven.
17. William dyed.
182. And William.
193. there they.
194. Made all the folke.
201. Then. |
| d. |
Variations not found in c:
"Communicated by a lady of the first distinction, as she
had heard this song repeated in her infancy."
32. Combing her yellow hair.
33. There she spyed.
| 4. |
Then down she layd her ivory combe,
And braided her hair in twain;
She went alive out of her bower,
But neer came alive in 't again. |
| 6. |
'Are you awake, Sweet William?' shee said,
'Or, Sweet William, are you asleep?
God give you joy of your gay bride-bed,
And me of my winding-sheet.' |
113. And who so ready as her.
153. I neer made a vow to yonder poor corpse.
| 16. |
'Deal on, deal on, my merry men all,
Deal on your cake and your wine;
For whatever is dealt at her funeral today
Shall be dealt tomorrow at mine.' |
191. They grew till they grew unto the.
192. And then they.
193. they tyed.
194. the people. |
| C. |
"The ballad of Sweet William," writes Parsons to Percy,
"was the same as yours in the stanzas I have omitted. ... The person
from whom I took the thirty-fifth line
[thirty-first, here 43]
sang it thus:
My chamber was full of wild men's wine,
which is absolute nonsense, yet, if altered to
'wild men and swine,' is perfect sense." |
