A was communicated to Scott "by Mr. Hamilton, music-seller, Edinburgh, with whose mother it had been a favorite." Two stanzas (sts. 6 and 11 of the present text) and one line were wanting, and were supplied by Scott "from a different ballad, having a plot somewhat similar." Later Hamilton sent Scott certain verses "to come in at the first break." There were still four lines, which should come before these, which he could not recollect. The present text is Scott's, with the insertion of the verses sent by Hamilton (sts. 7-8). A is plainly compounded of two ballads, the conclusion being derived from E. The lady's "looking oer her castle wa," her putting riddles, and her having "gard so mony die," make the supposition far from incredible that the Proud Lady Margaret of the first part of the ballad may have originally been one of the Perilous Princesses well-known in popular story (cf. No. 46).
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