Percy, Reliques, 1765, n, 309 (1794, n, 128), revised and completed A by "the insertion of supplemental stanzas," "suggested by a modern ballad on a similar subject." In fact, Percy made a new ballad, and a very good one, which since his day has passed for 'The Heir of Linne.' The modern ballad on a similar subject used by Percy was 'The Drunkard's Legacy,' an inexpressibly pitiable ditty, from which Percy did not and could not take a line, but only, as he says, a suggestion for the improvement of the story.
There are several Oriental stories which closely resemble that of 'The Drunkard's Legacy,' or of Percy's 'Heir of Linne.' Such are the tale of Sinadab (Gueulette. Contes Tartares. Cabinet des Fées, xxi, 66 ff., 89 ff.); The Forty Vezirs, Gibb, p. 244; Arabian Nights. Habicht, von der Hagen u. Schall, 1840, xiv, 65 ff., etc. Cf . also the Greek Anthology, ix, 44, 45 (translated by Ausonius, Epigrammata, 22, 23); Giraldi Cinthio, Hecatommithi, 1565, n, 563; the Greek Syntipas, ^Esop, ed. Coray, p. 246, No, 384; Anvar-i Suhaill, Eastwick, p. 74.
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