No. 11: The Cruel Brother
[The plot of this ballad is based on an old custom of ancient ballad times that the bride must ask permission of the family and especially the brother to marry. The bride forgets to ask Brother John and after the wedding the offended brother helps her on her horse then stabs her. She rides for a while before the mortal wound takes her off the horse. Dying, she makes her will and leaves her family many fine things but to her Brother John she leaves, "a gallows tree to hang him on."
Once popular in Scotland this ballad nearly disappeared from tradition after the 1850s. It has been found rarely in the United States, collected by Sharp twice in North Carolina (c.1916) and again twice in North Carolina by Sutton for the Brown Collection in the 1920s. Two version were found in Boston in the early 1900s (1908, 1914) and one in Kentucky (circa 1900) and Tennessee (1937).
Bronson attributes it's disappearance on the lack of belief of the custom by folk-singers.
R. Matteson 2014]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote (added at the end of Child's Narration)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-O; (L, M and N were added later. D is an American text from an Irish grandmother. Changes for A b and G b found in End-Notes. An additional version is found in Additions and Corrections: In the handwriting of William Laidlaw (1780-1845); “from Jean Scott.” I've designated another text O, "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 22 a. In the handwriting of William Laidlaw; "from Jean Scott" supplied by Child in Additions and Corrections)
5. Endnotes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: The Cruel Brother
A. Roud Number 26: The Cruel Brother
2. Sheet Music: The Cruel Brother (Bronson's texts and some music examples)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-N with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative
A. '[The] Cruel Brother, or the Bride's Testament.'
a. Alex. Fraser Tytler's Brown Manuscript
b. Jamieson's Carols, Popular Ballads, I, 66.
B. [Fine Flowers of the Valley] The Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 21. 41.
C. 'Ther waur three ladies,' Harris Manuscript, p. lib.
D. a. Notes and Queries, 1st S., vi, 53. b. 2d S.. v 171.
E. Notes and Queries, 4th S., v, 105.
F. 'The Three Knights,' Gilbert's Ancient Christmas 2d ed., p. 68.
G. 'Fine Flowers of the Valley.'
a. Herd's Manuscripts, I,
b. Herd's Scottish Songs, 1776, I, 88.
H. Fragment appended to G. Version H
I. The Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 27.
J. As current in County Meath, Ireland, about 1860.
K. Notes and Queries, 4th S., iv, 517.
L. 'The King of Fairies,' Campbell MSS, II, 19. [added in volume 2]
M. 'The Roses grow sweet aye,' Campbell MSS, II, 26. [added in volume 2]
N. 'The Bride's Testamen,' Dr. Joseph Robertson's Note-Book, January 1, 1830, one stanza. [added in volume 2]
[Additional version (designated O): In the handwriting of William Laidlaw (1780-1845); “from Jean Scott.”]
A a was obtained directly from Mrs. Brown of Falkland, in 1800, by Alexander Fraser Tytler. Jamieson says that he gives b verbatim from the recitation of Mrs. Arrott; but it would seem that this must have been a slip of memory, for the two agree except in half a dozen words. B, C, I, J are now for the first time printed. G only was taken down earlier than the present century.
Aytoun remarks (1858): "This is, perhaps, the most popular of all the Scottish ballads, being commonly recited and sung even at the present day." The copy which he gives, I, 232, was "taken down fiom recitation," but is nevertheless a compound of G and A b, with a few unimportant variations, proceeding, no doubt, from imperfect recollection.[1] The copy in Dixon's Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs, p. 56, repeated in Bell's volume of the same title, p. 50, is Gilbert's P. Dixon informs us that the ballad was (in 1846) still popular amongst the peasantry in the west of England. Cunningham gives us a piece called 'The Three Ladies of Leithan Ha,' Songs of Scotland, II, 87, which he would fain have us believe that he did not know he had written himself." The common copies of this tragic lyric," he truly says, "differ very much from this; not so much in the story itself as in the way it is told."
All versions but K, which has pretty nearly lost all point, agree after the opening stanzas. A-E have three ladies and only one knight; F has three knights and one lady; G, I, J, K have three ladies and three knights [lords in G, "bonny boys" in I, the first line being caught from 'Sir Hugh.'] Three knights are to no purpose; only one knight has anything to do. The reason for three ladies is, of course, that the youngest may be preferred to the others, an intention somewhat obscured in B. The ladies are in colors in B, C, I, J, and this seems to be the better interpretation in the case of G, though a strict construction of the language would rather point to the other. The colors are transferred to the knights in P because there is only one lady. In K this is a part of the general depravation of the ballad.
'Rizzardo bello,' Wolf, Volkslieder aus Venetien, No 83, seems to be the same story, with a change of relations such as we often find in ballad poetry. Rizzardo is conducting his bride home, and on the way embraces and kisses her. Her brother witnesses "questo onore," and thrusts his sword into the happy bridegroom's heart. Rizzardo tells bis bride to come on slowly; he will go before to make preparation. He begs his mother to open the doors, for his bride is without, and he is wounded to death. They try to make the bride eat. She says she can neither eat nor drink: she must put her husband to bed. He gives her a ring, saying, Your brother has been the death of me; then another ring, in sign that she is to be wife of two brothers. She answers him as Guldborg answers Ribold, that she would die rather: "Rather die be tween two knives than be wife of two brothers." This ballad was obtained from a peasant woman of Castagnero. Another version, which unfortunately is not printed, was sung by a woman at Ostiglia on the Po.
Dr. Prior remarks that the offense given by not asking a brother's assent to his sister's marriage was in ballad: times regarded as unpardonable. Other cases which show the importance of this preliminary, and the some times fatal consequences of omitting it, are: 'Hr. Peder og Mettelille,' Grundtvig, No 78, II, 325, sts 4, 6; 'Jomfruen i Skoven,' Danske Viser, m, 99, st. 15; 'Jomfru Ellensborg og Hr. Olof,' ib., m, 316, st. 16; 'Iver Lang og hans Soster,' ib., iv, 87, st. 116; 'Herr Helmer Blaa,' ib., iv, 251, st. 8; 'Jomfru Giselmaar,' ib., iv, 309, st. 13. See Prior's Ancient Danish Ballads, m, 112, 232 f, 416.
There is a very common German ballad, 'Graf Friedrich,' in which a bride receives a mortal wound during the bringing-home, but accidentally, and from the bridegroom's hand. The marriage train is going up a hill; the way is narrow; they are crowded; Graf Friedrich's sword shoots from its sheath and wounds the bride. The bridegroom is exceedingly distressed; he tries to stop the bleeding with his shirt; she begs that they may ride slowly. When they reach the house there is a splendid feast, and everything is set before the bride; but she can neither eat nor drink, and only wishes to lie down. She dies in the night. Her father comes in the morning, and, learning what has happened, runs Graf Friedrich through, then drags his body at a horse's heels, and buries it in a bog. Three lilies sprang from the spot, with an inscription announcing that Graf Friedrich was in heaven, and a voice came from the sky commanding that the body should be disinterred. The bridegroom was then buried with his bride, and this act of reparation was attended with other miraculous manifestations. As the ballads stand now, the kinship of ' Graf Friedrich ' with 'The Cruel Brother ' is not close and cannot be insisted on; still an early connection is not improbable.
The versions of 'Graf Friedrich' are some what numerous, and there is a general agreement as to all essentials. They are: A, a Nuremberg broadside "of about 1535," which has not been made accessible by a reprint. B, a Swiss broadside of 1647, without place, "printed in Seckendorf's Musenalmanach für 1808, p. 19; " Uhland, No 122, p. 277; Mittler, No 108; Wunderhorn, II, 293 (1857); Erk's Liederhort, No 15, p. 42; Böhme, No 79, p. 166: also, in Wunderhorn, 1808, II, 289, with omission of five stanzas and with many changes; Simrock, No 11, p. 28, omitting four stanzas and with changes; as written down by Goethe for Herder, Düntzer u. Herder, Briefe Goethes, u.s.w., Aus Herder's Nachlass, I, 167, with the omission of eight stanzas and with some variations. C, Wunderhorn (1857), II, 299, from the Schwarzwald, = Erlach, iv, 291, Mittler, No 113. D, Taschenbuch fur Dichter, u. s. w., Theil VIII, 122, from Upper Lusatia, = Erlach, in, 448, Talvj, Charakteristik, p. 421. E, from the Kuhlandchen, Meinert, p. 23, = Mittler, No 109. F, Hoffmann u. Richter, Schlesische V. L., No 19, p. 35, = Mittler, No 112, Erk's Liederhort, No 15, p. 40. G, Zingerle, in Wolf's Zeitschrift fur deutsche Mythologie, I, 341, from Meran. H, from Uckermark, Brandenburg, Mittler, No 114. I, Hesse, from oral tradition, Mittler, No 111. J, Erk u. Irmer, II, 54, No 54, from the neighborhood of Halle, = Mittler, No 110. K, from Estedt, district of Magdeburg, Parisius, p. 31, No 9.
A Danish ballad, 'Den saarede Jomfru,' Grundtvig, No 244, IV, 474, has this slight resemblance with 'Graf Friedrich:' While a knight is dancing with a princess, his sword glides from the scabbard and cuts her hand. To save her partner from blame, she represents to her father that she had cut herself with her brother's sword. This considerateness so touches the knight (who is, of course, her equal in rank) that he offers her his hand. The Danish story is found also in Norwegian and in Färöe ballads.
The peculiar testament made by the bride in 'The Cruel Brother,' by which she bequeaths good things to her friends, but ill things to the author of her death, is highly characteristic of ballad poetry. It will be found again in 'Lord Ronald,' 'Edward,' and their analogues. Still other ballads with this kind of testament are: ' Frillens Haevn,' Grundtvig, No 208 C, 16-18, iv, 207; a young man, stabbed by his leman, whom he was about to give up in order to marry, leaves his lands to his father, his bride-bed to his sister, his gilded couch to his mother, and his knife to his leman, wishing it in her body. 'Møen paa Baalet,' Grundtvig, No 109 A, 18-21, II, 587; Ole, falsely accused by her brother, and condemned to be burned, gives her mother her silken sark, her sister her shoes, her father her horse, and her brother her knife, with the same wish. 'Kong Valdemar og' hans Søster,' Grundtvig, No 126, III, 97, has a testament in A-B and I; in I, 14-19 (III, 912), Liden Kirsten bequeaths her knife, with the same imprecation, to the queen, who, in the other copies, is her unrelenting foe: so Lillelin to Herr Adelbrand, Danske Viser, III, 386, No 162, 16-18, Kristensen, I, 262, No 100, A 20-23, having been dragged at a horse's heels in resentment of a taunt. 'Hustru og Mands Moder,' Grundtvig, No. 84, II, 404, has a testament in A, B, D, H, and in the 'last three a bequest of shoes or sark to a cruel mother-in-law or foster-mother, with the wish that she may have no peace or much pain in the wearing. ' Catarina de Lio,' Briz y Candi, Cansons de la Terra, I, 209, has been beaten by her mother-in-law while in a delicate state. When she is at the point of death, the mother-in-law asks what doctor she will have and what will she will make. "My will," says Catherine, "will not please you much. Send back my velvet dress to my father's; my gala dress give my sister; give my working dress to the maid, my jewels to the Virgin." " And what will you leave to me?" "What I leave you will not please you much: my husband to be hanged, my mother-in-law to be quartered, and my sister-in-law to be burned." 'Le Testament de Marion,' another version of this story from the south of France, Uchaud, Gard, Podsies pop. de la France, Manuscript, IV, fol. 283, bequeaths "my laces to my sister Marioun, my prettiest gowns to my sister Jeanneton; to my rascal of a husband three fine cords, and, if that is not enough (to hang him), the hem of his shirt." The Portuguese ballad of 'Dona Helena' rather implies than expresses the imprecation: Braga, C. P. do Archipelago Aqoriano, p. 225, No 15, p. 227, No 16; Almeida-Garrett, in, 56; Hartung, I, 233-43, No 18. Helena leaves her husband's house when near childbirth, out of fear of his mother. Her husband, who does not know her reason, goes after her, and compels her to re turn on horseback, though she has just borne a son. The consequences are what might be expected, and Helena desires to make her shrift and her will. She leaves one thing to her oldest sister, another to her youngest. "And your boy? " "To your bitch of a mother, cause of my woes." "Rather to yours," says the husband, "for I shall have to kill mine" (so Braga; Garrett differs somewhat). 'Die Frau zur Weissenburg ' (A), Uhland, p. 287, No 123 B, Scherer's Jungbrunnen, p. 94, No 29; 'Das Lied von der Löwenburg' (B), Simrock, p. 65, No 27; 'Hans Steutlinger' (C), Wunderhorn, II, 168 (1857), all one story, have a bitterly sarcastic testament. A lady instigates her paramour to kill her husband. The betrayed man is asked to whom he will leave his children [commit, A, bequeath, B, C]. "To God Almighty, for he knows who they are." "Your property?" "To the poor, for the rich have enough." "Your wife?" "To young Count Frederic, whom she always liked more than me (A)." "Your castle?" "To the flames."
In some cases there is no trace of animosity towards the person who has caused the testator's death; as in 'El testamento de Amelia' (who has been poisoned by her mother), Mila, Observaciones, p. 103, No 5, Briz y Salt6, Cansons de la Terra, II, 197 (two copies); 'Herren Bald,' Afzelius, I, 76, No 16 (new ed. I, 59, No 15); a Swedish form of 'Frillens Hsevn,' Grundtvig, IV, 203; Reneé le Glaz' and 'Ervoanik Le Lintier,' Luzel, C. P. de la Basse Bretagne, I, 405, 539, 553. There are also simple testaments where there is no occasion for an ill remembrance, as in 'Ribold og Guldborg,' Grundtvig, No 82, I, K, L, U, X, AE, Kristensen, II, No 84 B; 'Pontplancoat,' Luzel, I, 383, 391. And, again, there are parodies of these wills. Thus the fox makes his will: Grundtvig, Gamle danske Minder, 1854, 'Mikkels Arvegods,' p. 24, and p. 25 a copy from a manuscript three hundred years old; Kristensen, Jyske Folkeviser, II, 324, No 90; 'Reven og Bjonnen,' 'Reven og Nils fiskar,' Landstad, Nos 85, 86, p. 637, 639: and the robin, Robin's Tesment,' Buchan, I, 273, Herd's Manuscripts, i, 154, and Scottish Songs (1776), II, 166, Chambers' Popular Rhymes, p. 38, "new edition.".
Translated in Grundtvig's Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, No 33, p. 212,FP, with use of A and G b; Aytoun's copy, with omissions, by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder der Vorzeit, No 17, p. 80; after Allingham and others, by Knortz, Lieder und Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 5, p. 16.
Footnote:
1. Aytoun, 1-8 = Herd, 1776, 1-8: 9-13 = Jamieson, 11- 15: 14, 15= Herd, 11,12: 16, 17 = Jamieson, 18, 19: 18, 19 = Herd, 13, 14: 20-24 = Jamieson, 21-25.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
This was formerly one of the most popular of Scottish ballads. There are many versions, most of which agree in all essentials. The point of the story is the mortal offense given by the neglect to ask the brother's consent to the marriage. The same idea occurs in a number of Scandinavian ballads. In a very common German ballad, 'Graf Friedrich ' (Uhland, No. 122), the bride receives a fatal wound during the bringing home, but accidentally, and from the bridegroom's hand. The peculiar testament made by the bride in 'The Cruel Brother,' by which she bequeaths good things to her friends, but ill things to the author of her death, is highly characteristic of ballad poetry. See 'Lord Randal' (No. 12) and 'Edward' (No. 13).
Child's Ballad Texts A-N
'The Cruel Brother'- Version A a; Child 11 The Cruel Brother
a. Alex. Fraser Tytler's Brown Manuscript
b. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 66, purporting to be from the recitation of Mrs. Arrot of Aberbrothick.
1 There was three ladies playd at the ba,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
There came a knight and played oer them a'.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
2 The eldest was baith tall and fair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But the youngest was beyond compare.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
3 The midmost had a graceful mien,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But the youngest lookd like beautie's queen.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
4 The knight bowd low to a' the three,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But to the youngest he bent his knee.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
5 The ladie turned her head aside,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
The knight he woo'd her to be his bride.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
6 The ladie blushd a rosy red,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And sayd, 'Sir knight, I'm too young to wed.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
7 'O ladie fair, give me your hand,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And I'll make you ladie of a' my land.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
8 'Sir knight, ere ye my favor win,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
You maun get consent frae a' my kin.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
9 He's got consent frae her parents dear,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And likewise frae her sisters fair.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
10 He's got consent frae her kin each one,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But forgot to spiek to her brother John.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
11 Now, when the wedding day was come,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
The knight would take his bonny bride home.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
12 And many a lord and many a knight
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
Came to behold that ladie bright.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
13 And there was nae man that did her see,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But wishd himself bridegroom to be.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
14 Her father dear led her down the stair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And her sisters twain they kissd her there.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
15 Her mother dear led her thro the closs,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And her brother John set her on her horse.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
16 She leand her oer the saddle-bow,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
To give him a kiss ere she did go.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
17 He has taen a knife, baith lang and sharp,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And stabbd that bonny bride to the heart.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
18 She hadno ridden half thro the town,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
Until her heart's blude staind her gown.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
19 'Ride softly on,' says the best young man,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'For I think our bonny bride looks pale and wan.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
20 'O lead me gently up yon hill,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And I'll there sit down, and make my will.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
21 'O what will you leave to your father dear?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The silver-shod steed that brought me here.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
22 'What will you leave to your mother dear?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'My velvet pall and my silken gear.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
23 'What will you leave your sister Anne?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'My silken scarf and my gowden fan.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
24 at will you leave to your sister Grace?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
My bloody cloaths to wash and dress.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
25 'What will you leave to your brother John?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
26 'What will you leave to your brother John's wife?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The wilderness to end her life.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
27 This ladie fair in her grave was laid,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And many a mass was oer her said.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
28 But it would have made your heart right sair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
To see the bridegroom rive his haire.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly
------------------------
['Fine Flowers of the Valley'] Version B- The Cruel Brother, Child 11
Kinloch's Manuscripts, I, 21, from Mary Barr, May, 1827, Clydesdale.
1 A gentleman cam oure the sea,
Fine flowers in the valley
And he has courted ladies three.
With the light green and the yellow
2 One o them was clad in red:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his bride.
With the light green and the yellow
3 One o them was clad in green:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his queen.
With the light green and the yellow
4 The last o them was clad in white:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his heart's delight.
With the light green and the yellow
5 'Ye may ga ask my father, the king:
Fine flowers in the valley
Sae maun ye ask my mither, the queen.
With the light green and the yellow
6 'Sae maun ye ask my sister Anne:
Fine flowers in the valley
And dinna forget my brither John.'
With the light green and the yellow
7 He has asked her father, the king:
Fine flowers in the valley
And sae did he her mither, the queen.
With the light green and the yellow
8 And he has asked her sister Anne:
Fine flowers in the valley
But he has forgot her brother John.
With the light green and the yellow
9 Her father led her through the ha,
Fine flowers in the valley
Her mither danced afore them a'.
With the light green and the yellow
10 Her sister Anne led her through the closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
Her brither John set her on her horse.
With the light green and the yellow
11 It's then he drew a little penknife,
Fine flowers in the valley
And he reft the fair maid o her life.
With the light green and the yellow
12 'Ride up, ride up,' said the foremost man;
Fine flowers in the valley
'I think our bride comes hooly on.'
With the light green and the yellow
13 'Ride up, ride up,' said the second man;
Fine flowers in the valley
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
With the light green and the yellow
14 Up than cam the gay bridegroom,
Fine flowers in the valley
And straucht unto the bride he cam.
With the light green and the yellow
15 'Does your side-saddle sit awry?
Fine flowers in the valley
Or does your steed . . .
With the light green and the yellow
16 'Or does the rain run in your glove?
Fine flowers in the valley
Or wad ye chuse anither love?'
With the light green and the yellow
17 'The rain runs not in my glove,
Fine flowers in the valley
Nor will I e'er chuse anither love.
With the light green and the yellow
18 'But O an I war at Saint Evron's well,
Fine flowers in the valley
There I wad licht, and drink my fill!
With the light green and the yellow
19 'Oh an I war at Saint Evron's closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
There I wad licht, and bait my horse!'
With the light green and the yellow
20 Whan she cam to Saint Evron's well,
Fine flowers in the valley
She dought na licht to drink her fill.
With the light green and the yellow
21 Whan she cam to Saint Evron's closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
The bonny bride fell aff her horse.
With the light green and the yellow
22 'What will ye leave to your father, the king?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The milk-white steed that I ride on.'
With the light green and the yellow
23 'What will ye leave to your mother, the queen?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The bluidy robes that I have on.'
With the light green and the yellow
24 'What will ye leave to your sister Anne?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'My gude lord, to be wedded on.'
With the light green and the yellow
25 'What will ye leave to your brither John?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The gallows pin to hang him on.'
With the light green and the yellow
26 'What will ye leave to your brither's wife?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'Grief and sorrow a' the days o her life.'
With the light green and the yellow
27 'What will ye leave to your brither's bairns?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The meal-pock to hang oure the arms.'
With the light green and the yellow
28 Now does she neither sigh nor groan:
Fine flowers in the valley
She lies aneath yon marble stone.
With the light green and the yellow
----------------------
'Ther Waur Three Ladies'- Version C- Child 11 The Cruel Brother
Harris Manuscript, p. 11 b, No 7.
1 There waur three ladies in a ha,
Hech hey an the lily gey
By cam a knicht, an he wooed them a'.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
2 The first ane she was cled in green;
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will you fancy me, an be my queen?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
3 'You may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither, wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
4 'You may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But no, no, no frae my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
5 The niest ane she was cled in yellow;
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will you fancy me, an be my marrow?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
6 'Ye may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither, wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
7 'Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But no, no, no frae my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
8 The niest ane she was cled in red:
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will ye fancy me, an be my bride?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
9 'Ye may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
10 'Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An dinna forget my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
11 He socht her frae her father, the king,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An he socht her frae her mither, the queen.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
12 He socht her frae her sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But he forgot her brither John.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
13 Her mither she put on her goun,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An her sister Anne preened the ribbons doun.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
14 Her father led her doon the close,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An her brither John set her on her horse.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
* * * * *
15 Up an spak our foremost man:
Hech hey an the lily gey
'I think our bonnie bride's pale an wan.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
* * * * *
16 'What will ye leave to your father dear?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My . . . . . an my . . . . . chair.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
17 'What will ye leave to your mither dear?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My silken screen I was wont to wear.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
18 'What will ye leave to your sister Anne?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My silken snood an my golden fan.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
19 'What will you leave to your brither John?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'The gallows tree to hang him on.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
----------------------
['There were three ladies playing at ball']- Version D; Child 11 The Cruel Brother
Notes and Queries, 1st S., VI, 53, 2d S., v, 171. As sung by a lady who was a native of County Kerry, Ireland.
1 There were three ladies playing at ball,
Farin-dan-dan and farin-dan-dee
There came a white knight, and he wooed them all.
With adieu, sweet honey, wherever you be
2 He courted the eldest with golden rings,
Farin-dan-dan and farin-dan-dee
And the others with many fine things.
And adieu, sweet honey, wherever you be
-----------------------
['There were three sisters'] Version E; Child 11- The Cruel Brother
Notes and Queries, 4th S., V, 105. From Forfarshire, W.F.
1. There were three sisters playin at the ba,
Wi a hech hey an a lillie gay
There cam a knicht an lockt ower the wa'.
An the primrose springs sae sweetly.
Sing Annet, an Marret, an fair Maisrie,
An the dew hangs i the wood, gay ladie.
----------------------
'The Three Knights'- Version F; Child 11 The Cruel Brother
Gilbert's Ancient Christmas Carols, 2d ed., p. 68, as remembered by the editor. West of England. 1823
1 There did three knights come from the west,
With the high and the lily oh
And these three knights courted one lady.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
2 The first knight came was all in white,
With the high and the lily oh
And asked of her, if she'd be his delight.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
3 The next knight came was all in green,
With the high and the lily oh
And asked of her, if she'd be his queen.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
4 The third knight came was all in red,
With the high and the lily oh
And asked of her, if she would wed.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
5 'Then have you asked of my father dear,
With the high and the lily oh
Likewise of her who did me bear?
As the rose was so sweetly blown
6 'And have you asked of my brother John?
With the high and the lily oh
And also of my sister Anne?'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
7 'Yes, I have asked of your father dear,
With the high and the lily oh
Likewise of her who did you bear.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
8 'And I have asked of your sister Anne,
With the high and the lily oh
But I've not asked of your brother John.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
9 Far on the road as they rode along,
With the high and the lily oh
There did they meet with her brother John.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
10 She stooped low to kiss him sweet,
With the high and the lily oh
He to her heart did a dagger meet.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
11 'Ride on, ride on,' cried the serving man,
With the high and the lily oh
'Methinks your bride she looks wondrous wan.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
12 'I wish I were on yonder stile,
With the high and the lily oh
For there I would sit and bleed awhile.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
13 'I wish I were on yonder hill,
With the high and the lily oh
There I'd alight and make my will.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
14 'What would you give to your father dear?'
With the high and the lily oh
'The gallant steed which doth me bear.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
15 'What would you give to your mother dear?'
With the high and the lily oh
'My wedding shift which I do wear.
As the rose was so sweetly blown
16 'But she must wash it very clean,
With the high and the lily oh
For my heart's blood sticks in evry seam.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
17 'What would you give to your sister Anne?'
With the high and the lily oh
'My gay gold ring and my feathered fan.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
18 'What would you give to your brother John?'
With the high and the lily oh
'A rope and gallows to hang him on.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
19 'What would you give to your brother John's wife?'
With the high and the lily oh
'A widow's weeds, and a quiet life.'
As the rose was so sweetly blown
----------------------------
'Fine Flowers of the Valley'- Version G a; Child 11 The Cruel Brother;
a. Herd's Manuscripts, I, 41.
b. Herd's Scottish Songs, 1776, 88.
1 There was three ladys in a ha,
Fine flowers i the valley
There came three lords amang them a',
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
2 The first of them was clad in red:
Fine flowers i the valley
'O lady fair, will you be my bride?'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
3 The second of them was clad in green:
Fine flowers i the valley
'O lady fair, will you be my queen?'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
4 The third of them was clad in yellow:
Fine flowers i the valley
'O lady fair, will you be my marrow?'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
5 'You must ask my father dear,
Fine flowers i the valley
Likewise the mother that did me bear.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
6 'You must ask my sister Ann,
Fine flowers i the valley
And not forget my brother John.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
7 'I have askt thy father dear,
Fine flowers i the valley
Likewise thy mother that did thee bear.
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
8 'I have askt thy sister Ann,
Fine flowers i the valley
But I forgot thy brother John.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
9 Her father led her through the ha,
Fine flowers i the valley
Her mother dancd before them a'.
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
10 Her sister Ann led her through the closs,
Fine flowers i the valley
Her brother John put her on her horse.
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
11 'You are high and I am low;
Fine flowers i the valley
Let me have a kiss before you go.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
12 She was louting down to kiss him sweet,
Fine flowers i the valley
Wi his penknife he wounded her deep.
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
* * * * *
13 'O lead me over into yon stile,
Fine flowers i the valley
That I may stop and braeth a while.
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
14 'O lead me over to yon stair,
Fine flowers i the valley
For there I'll ly and bleed ne mair.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
15 'O what will you leave your father dear?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'That milk-white steed that brought me here.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
16 'O what will you leave your mother dear?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'The silken gown that I did wear.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
17 'What will you leave your sister Ann?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'My silken snood and golden fan.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
18 'What will you leave your brother John?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'The highest gallows to hang him on.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
19 'What will you leave your brother John's wife?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'Grief and sorrow to end her life.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
20 'What will ye leave your brother John's bairns?'
Fine flowers i the valley
'The world wide for them to range.'
Wi the red, green, and the yellow
--------------------------
' Fine Flowers of the Valley' (2)- Version H; Child 11- The Cruel Brother;
Fragment from Herd's Manuscripts, I, 44, II, 75; Scottish Songs, 1776, I, 90; appended to G.
1 She louted down to gie a kiss,
With a hey and a lilly gay
He stuck his penknife in her hass.
And the rose it smells so sweetly
2 Ride up, ride up,' cry'd the foremost man;
With a hey and a lilly gay
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
And the rose it smells so sweetly
------------------------
'There War Three Bonnie Boys'- Version I: Child 11- The Cruel Brother;
Kinloch's Manuscripts, I, 27. From Mrs. Bouchart, an old lady native of Forfarshire.
1 There war three bonnie boys playing at the ba,
Hech hey and a lily gay
There cam three ladies to view them a'.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
2 The first ane was clad in red:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my bride.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
3 The next o them was clad in green:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my queen.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
4 The tither o them was clad in yellow:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my marrow.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
5 'Ye maun gang to my father's bouer,
Hech hey and a lily gay
To see gin your bride he'll let me be.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
6 Her father led her doun the stair,
Hech hey and a lily gay
Her mither at her back did bear.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
7 Her sister Jess led her out the closs,
Hech hey and a lily gay
Her brother John set her on the horse.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
8 She loutit doun to gie him a kiss;
Hech hey and a lily gay
He struck his penknife thro her breist.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
9 'Ride on, ride on,' says the foremaist man;
Hech hey and a lily gay
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
10 'Ride on, ride on,' says the merry bride-groom;
Hech hey and a lily gay
'I think my bride's blude is rinnin doun.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
11 'O gin I war at yon bonnie hill,
Hech hey and a lily gay
I wad lie doun and bleed my fill!
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
12 'O gin I war at yon bonnie kirk-yard,
Hech hey and a lily gay
I wad mak my testament there!'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
13 'What will ye leave to your father dear?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The milk-white steed that brocht me here.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
14 'What will ye leave to your mother dear?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The bluidy robes that I do wear.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
15 'What will ye leave to your sister Ann?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'My silken snood and gowden fan.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
16 'What will ye leave to your sister Jess?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The bonnie lad that I loe best.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
17 'What will ye leave to your brother John?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The gallows pin to hang him on.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
18 'What will ye leave to your brother John's wife?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'Sorrow and trouble a' her life.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
19 'What will ye leave to your brother's bairns?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The warld's wide, and let them beg.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie.
---------------------
['There were three sisters playing ball']- Version J: Child 11- The Cruel Brother
From Miss Margaret Reburn, as current in County Meath, Ireland, about 1860.
1 There were three sisters playing ball,
With the high and the lily O
And there came three knights to court them all.
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
2 The eldest of them was drest in green:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to be my queen.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
3 The second of them was drest in red:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to grace my bed.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
4 The youngest of them was drest in white:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to be my wife.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
5 'Did ye ask my father brave?
With the high and the lily O
Or did ye ask my mother fair?
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
6 'Or did ye ask my brother John?
With the high and the lily O
For without his will I dare not move on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
7 'I did ask your parents dear,
With the high and the lily O
But I did not see your brother John.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
* * * * *
8 'Ride on, ride on,' said the first man,
With the high and the lily O
'For I fear the bride comes slowly on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
9 'Ride on, ride on,' said the next man,
With the high and the lily O
'For lo! the bride she comes bleeding on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
* * * * *
10 'What will you leave your mother dear?'
With the high and the lily O
'My heart's best love for ever and aye.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
11 'What will ye leave your sister Anne?'
With the high and the lily O
'This wedding garment that I have on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
12 'What will ye leave your brother John's wife?'
With the high and the lily O
'Grief and sorrow all the days of her life.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
13 'What will ye leave your brother John?'
With the high and the lily O
'The highest gallows to hang him on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
14 'What will ye leave your brother John's son?'
With the high and the lily O
'The grace of God to make him a man.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
-----------------------
['There were three ladies'] Version K: Child 11; The Cruel Brother;
Notes and Queries, 4th S., IV, 517, as "sung in Cheshire amongst the people" in the last century. T.W.
1 There were three ladies playing at ball,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
There came three knights and looked over the wall.
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
2 The first young knight, he was clothed in red,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And he said, 'Gentle lady, with me will you wed?'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
3 The second young knight, he was clothed in blue,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And he said, 'To my love I shall ever be true.'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
4 The third young knight, he was clothed in green,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And he said, 'Fairest maiden, will you be my queen?'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
5 The lady thus spoke to the knight in red,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
'With you, sir knight, I never can wed.'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
6 The lady then spoke to the knight in blue,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And she said, 'Little faith I can have in you.'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
7 The lady then spoke to the knight in green,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And she said, ''Tis at court you must seek for a queen.'
Sing O the red rose and the white lilly
8 The three young knights then rode away,
Gilliver, Gentle, and Rosemary
And the ladies they laughed, and went back to their play.
Singing O the red rose and the white lilly
-----------------------
'The King of Fairies'- Version L - Child 11- The Cruel Brother; (Added in Volume 2)
Campbell Manuscripts, II, 19.
1 There were three ladies playing at the ba',
With a hey and a lilly gay
When the King o Fairies rode by them a'.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
2 The foremost one was clad in blue;
With a hey and a lilly gay
He askd at her if she'd be his doo.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
3 The second of them was clad in red;
With a hey and a lilly gay
He asked at her if she'd be his bride.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
4 The next of them was clad in green;
With a hey and a lilly gay
He askd at her if she'd be his queen.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
5 'Go you ask at my father then,
With a hey and a lilly gay
And you may ask at my mother then.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
6 'You may ask at my sister Ann,
With a hey and a lilly gay
And not forget my brother John.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
7 'O I have askd at your father then,
With a hey and a lilly gay
And I have askd at your mother then.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
8 'And I have askd at your sister Ann,
With a hey and a lilly gay
But I've quite forgot your brother John.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
9 Her father led her down the stair,
With a hey and a lilly gay
Her mother combd down her yellow hair.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
10 Her sister Ann led her to the cross,
With a hey and a lilly gay
And her brother John set her on her horse.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
11 'Now you are high and I am low,
With a hey and a lilly gay
Give me a kiss before ye go.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
12 She's lootit down to gie him a kiss,
With a hey and a lilly gay
He gave her a deep wound and didna miss.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
13 And with a penknife as sharp as a dart,
With a hey and a lilly gay
And he has stabbit her to the heart.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
14 'Ride up, ride up,' says the foremost man,
With a hey and a lilly gay
'I think our bride looks pale an wan.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
15 'Ride up, ride up,' says the middle man,
With a hey and a lilly gay
'I see her heart's blude trinkling down.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
16 'Ride on, ride,' says the Fairy King,
With a hey and a lilly gay
'She will be dead lang ere we win hame.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
17 'O I wish I was at yonder cross,
With a hey and a lilly gay
Where my brother John put me on my horse.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
18 'I wish I was at yonder thorn,
With a hey and a lilly gay
I wad curse the day that ere I was born.
And the roses they grow sweetlie
19 'I wish I was at yon green hill,
With a hey and a lilly gay
Then I wad sit and bleed my fill.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
20 'What will you leave your father then?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'The milk-white steed that I ride on.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
21 'What will you leave your mother then?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'My silver Bible and my golden fan.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
22 'What will ye leave your sister Ann?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'My good lord, to be married on.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
23 'What will ye leave your sister Pegg?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'The world wide to go and beg.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
24 'What will you leave your brother John?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
25 'What will you leave your brother's wife?'
With a hey and a lilly gay
'Grief and sorrow to end her life.'
And the roses they grow sweetlie
-----------------------------
'The Roses Grow Sweet Aye'- Version M Child 11- The Cruel Brother (added in Volume 2)
Campbell Manuscripts, II, 26.
1 There was three ladies playing at the ba,
With a hay and a lilly gay
A gentleman cam amang them a'.
And the roses grow sweet aye
2 The first of them was clad in yellow,
With a hay and a lilly gay
And he askd at her gin she'd be his marrow.
And the roses grow sweet aye
3 The next o them was clad in green;
With a hay and a lilly gay
He askd at her gin she'd be his queen.
And the roses grow sweet aye
4 The last o them [was] clad in red;
With a hay and a lilly gay
He askd at her gin she'd be his bride.
And the roses grow sweet aye
5 'Have ye asked at my father dear?
With a hay and a lilly gay
Or have ye asked my mother dear?
And the roses grow sweet aye
6 'Have ye asked my sister Ann?
With a hay and a lilly gay
Or have ye asked my brother John?'
And the roses grow sweet aye
7 'I have asked yer father dear,
With a hay and a lilly gay
And I have asked yer mother dear.
And the roses grow sweet aye
8 'I have asked yer sister Ann,
With a hay and a lilly gay
But I've quite forgot your brother John.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
9 Her father dear led her thro them a',
With a hay and a lilly gay
Her mother dear led her thro the ha.
And the roses grow sweet aye
10 Her sister Ann led her thro the closs,
With a hay and a lilly gay
And her brother John stabbed her on her horse.
And the roses grow sweet aye
11 'Ride up, ride up,' says the foremost man,
With a hay and a lilly gay
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
12 'Ride up,' cries the bonny bridegroom,
With a hay and a lilly gay
'I think the bride be bleeding.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
13 'This is the bludy month of May,
With a hay and a lilly gay
Me and my horse bleeds night and day.
And the roses grow sweet aye
14 'O an I were at yon green hill,
With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad ly down and bleed a while.
And the roses grow sweet aye
15 'O gin I was at yon red cross,
With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad light down and corn my horse.
And the roses grow sweet aye
16 'O an I were at yon kirk-style,
With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad lye down and soon be weel.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
17 When she cam to yon green hill,
With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lay down and bled a while.
And the roses grow sweet aye
18 And when she cam to yon red cross,
With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lighted and corned her horse.
And the roses grow sweet aye
19 'What will ye leave your father dear?'
With a hay and a lilly gay
'My milk-white steed, which cost me dear.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
20 'What will ye leave your mother dear?'
With a hay and a lilly gay
'The bludy clothes that I do wear.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
21 'What will ye leave your sister Ann?'
With a hay and a lilly gay
'My silver bridle and my golden fan.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
22 'What will ye leave your brother John?'
With a hay and a lilly gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
23 'What will ye leave to your sister Pegg?'
With a hay and a lilly gay
'The wide world for to go and beg.'
And the roses grow sweet aye
24 When she came to yon kirk-style,
With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lay down, and soon was weel.
And the roses grow sweet aye
----------------
The Brides Testamen- Version N: Child 11 The Cruel Brother
Dr. Joseph Robertson's Note-Book, January 1, 1830, No 4.
1. Then out bespak the foremost priest:
Wi a heigh ho and a lilly gay
I think she's bleedin at the breast.
The flowers they spring so sweetly
End Notes:
A. b. 62. oer young.
102. spear at.
172. the bonny.
191. said.
231. And what will ye.
251. This fair lady.
252. And a mass.
Variations of Aytoun's copy, sts. 9-13, 16, 17, 20-24:
111. omits And;
121, 131 omit dear;
132 omits And;
161, through half for half thro;
172, omits For, bonny;
212, pearlin for silken;
221 omits And;
222, My silken gown that stands its lane;
232, shirt for cloaths;
241, And what;
242, The gates o hell to let him in.
B. "I have seen a fragment of another copy in which [the burden is]
The red rose and the lily
And the roses spring fu sweetly."
Kinloch, p. 19.
F. 91. For on the road.
G. a. 1. Burden2. The red, green, etc.:
afterwards, Wi the red, etc.
22. Manuscript also, He askt of me if I 'd be his bride.
32. Manuscript also, He askt of me if I 'd be his queen.
42. Manuscript also, He askt me if I'd be his marrow.
152. Manuscript also, The gold and silver that I have here.
162. Manuscript also, The silken garment.
172. Manuscript also, My satine hat.
202, Manuscript also, The world wide, let them go beg.
b. 72. the mother.
b. 141. into yon stair.
Variations of Aytoun's copy, sts. 1-8, 14, 15, 18, 19 from Herd, 1776:
11, three sisters;
22, 32, 42 omit fair;
51, O ye maun;
61, And ye;
71, O I have,
81, And I have ask'd your sister;
82, your brother;
142, Give me a kiss;
152, When wi his knife.
H. "I have heard this song, to a very good tune not in any collection, with the above variations the chorus, of the whole as in the above two verses." Herd's note in his manuscripts.
Additions and Corrections:
P. 141. B. I. Insert the title, 'The Cruel Brother.'
Add: L. 'The King of Fairies,' Campbell Manuscripts, II, 19.
M. 'The Roses grow sweet aye,' Campbell Manuscripts, II, 26.
N. 'The Bride's Testamen,' Dr. Joseph Robertson's Note-Book, January 1, 1830, one stanza.
142 b, second paragraph, lines 5, 6. Say: on the way kisses her arm, neck, and mouth.
Add, as varieties of 'Rizzardo bello:'
B. 'Luggieri,' Contado aretino, communicated by Giulio Salvatori to the Rassegna Settimanale, Rome, 1879, June 22, No 77, p. 485; reprinted in Romania, XI, 391, note.
C. 'Rizzôl d'Amor,' Guerrini, Alcuni Canti p. romagnoli, p. 3, 1880.
D. 'La Canzóne de 'Nucénzie,' Pitré e Salomone-Marino, Archivio per Tradizioni popolari, I, 213, 1882.
143. Slavic ballads resembling 'Graf Friedrich.'
Moravian, Sušil, 'Nešt'astna svatba,' 'The Unhappy Wedding,' No 89, c, d, pp 85 f. A bridegroom is bringing home his bride; his sword slips from the sheath and wounds the bride in the side. He binds up the wound, and begs her to hold out till she comes to the house. The bride can eat nothing, and dies in the night. Her mother comes in the morning with loads of cloth and feathers, is put off when she asks for her daughter, reproaches the bridegroom for having killed her; he pleads his innocence.
Servian. Karadshitch, I, 309, No 421, 'Jani and Milenko,' belongs to this class, though mixed with portions of at least one other ballad ('Earl Brand'). Milenko wooes the fair Jani, and is favored by her mother and by all her brothers but the youngest. This brother goes hunting, and bids Jani open to nobody while he is away, but Milenko carries her off on his horse. As they are riding over a green hill, a branch of a tree catches in Jani's dress. Milenko attempts to cut the branch off with his knife, but in so doing wounds Jani in the head. Jani binds up the wound, and they go on, and presently meet the youngest brother, who hails Milenko, asks where he got the fair maid, discovers the maid to be his sister, but bids her godspeed. On reachine his mother's house, Milenko asks that a bed may be prepared for Jani, who is in need of repose. Jani dies in the night, Milenko in the morning. They are buried in one grave; a rose is planted over her, a grape-vine over him, and these intertwine, "as it were Jani with Milenko."
143 b, after the first paragraph. A pallikar, who is bringing home his bride, is detained on the way in consequence of his whole train leaving him to go after a stag. The young man, who has never seen his bride's face, reaches over his horse to give her a kiss; his knife disengages itself and wounds her. She begs him to staunch the blood with his handkerchief, praying only to live to see her bridegroom's house. This wish is alllowed her; she withdraws the handkerchief from the wound and expires. Dozon, Chansons p. bulgares, 'Le baiser fatal, ' p. 270, No 49.
143 b, sixth line of the third paragraph. Read: 'Lord Randal.'
144 a, line 4. 'Catarina de Lió;' in Milá, Romancerillo Catalan, 2d ed., No 307, p. 291, 'Trato feroz,' seven versions.
Line 15. Cf. Bladé, Poésies p. de la Gascogne, II, 51.
144 b, first paragraph. A mother, not liking her son's wife, puts before him a glass of mead, and poison before the wife. God exchanges them, and the sib drinks the poison. The son makes his will. To his brother he leaves four black horses, to his sister four cows and four calves, to his wife a house. "And to me?" the mother asks. "To you that big stone and the deep Danube, because you have poisoned me and parted me from my beloved." Sušil, 'Matka travička,' pp 154, 155, No 157, two versions.
144 b, second paragraph. 'EI testamento de Amelia,' No 220, p. 185, of the second edition of Romancerillo Catalan, with readings of eleven other copies, A-F, A1-F1. In B1 only have we an ill bequest to the mother. After leaving her mother a rosary, upon the mother's asking again, What for me? the dying lady says, I will leave you my chopines, clogs, so that when you come downstairs they may break your neck.
There are testaments in good will also in 'Elveskud,' Grundtvig, No 47, IV, 836 ff, L 14, 15, M 17, O 17-19.
Add versions L, M, N.
L. Burden in all but 1, 2, 13, lilly hey;
in 16, 17, 18, spring sweetlie;
in 22, smell sweetlie.
M. 151. green cross.
172. bleed.
P. 143 b, line 27. Add D 3, and the Swedish ballad at p. 203, stanzas 14-17.
Pp. 142 b, 496 a. 'Rizzardo bello,' E, 'Ruggiero,' in Mazzatinti, Canti p. umbri, p. 286, Bologna, 1883. 143 b. 'Hr. Adelbrant og jomfru Lindelil,' with a testament, again in Skattegraveren, I, 5, No I, and V, 17, No 12.
144 a, 496 b. Testaments. A wife who has been gone from home in pursuit of her pleasure is so beaten by her husband on her return that she dies. She leaves valuable legacies to her children and a rope to him. Nigra, No 25, 'Testamento della Moglie,' p. 159.
144 b. 'Raevens Arvegods,' Kristensen, Skattegraveren, II, 192 ff, Nos 774-78, and VIII, 209, No 810.
P. 142 b, 496 a, III, 499 a. B was repeated by Salvadori in Giornale di Filologia Romanza, II, 197; and E was first published by Mazzatinti in IV, 69, of the same.
142 f. A variety of 'Graf Friedrich' in Hruschka u. Toischer, Deutsche Volkslieder aus Böhmen, p. 101, No 25.
143 b. in, 499. Testament. 'Hr. Adelbrand,' Kristensen, Jyske Folkeminder, X, 227, 232, No 54, A, 20 ff., F, 10 ff. = 'Herr Radibrand och lilla Lena,' 'Skön Helena och riddaren Hildebrand,' Lagus, Nylandska Folkvisor, I, 89, No 25, a, b.
'Adelbrand' is No 311 of Danmarks gamle Folkeviser, V, II, 297, ed. Olrik, of which the versions that have been cited in this book are B, K e, G e, F, K b, I. There is a testament in other copies of the same. Also in No 320, not yet published.
145 ff. "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 22 a. In the handwriting of William Laidlaw; "from Jean Scott."
There was three ladies playd at the ba,
With a hey hey an a lilly gay
Bye cam three lords an woo'd them a'.
Whan the roses smelld sae sweetly
The first o them was clad in yellow:
'O fair may, will ye be my marrow?'
Whan the roses smell, etc.
The niest o them was clad i ried:
'O fair may, will ye be my bride?'
The thrid o them was clad i green:
He said, O fair may, will ye be my queen?
P. 142 b, 496 a, III, 499 a, IV, 449 a. Add a ballad of Rissiald, Canti popolari Emiliani, Maria Carmi, Archivio, XII, 185, No 7.
144 a, 1. 18. 'Le Testament de Marion.' Another version, 'La belo Marioun,' Laroche, Folklore du Lauraguais, p. 247.
144 b, 2d paragraph. Add at the end: the (she) ass, Testament de l'Ane, Buchon, Noels et Chants pop. de la Franche-Comté, p. 89, No 28; and elsewhere.
147. E. For this stanza we find, whatever may be the explanation, the following in Findlay Manuscripts, I, 146. "From Miss Butchart, Arbroath."
There were three sisters livd in a bouer,
With a hech hey an a lillie gay
There cam a knicht to be their wooer.
An the primrose springs sae sweetly
Sing An net, an Marrot, an fair Maisrie,
An the dew hangs in the wood, gay ladie.
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P. 144 a. For 'Frau von Weissenburg,' 'Frau von der Löwenburg,' 'Junker Hans Steutlinger,' see Erk, ed. Böhme, Nos. 102, 103, I, 360 ff.
144 b, 2d paragraph, V, 208 b. Add: 'Le Testament du Chien,' Bédier, Les Fabliaux, 2d ed., p. 473; 'Testament de la vieille Jument,' 'de la vieille Truie,' 'de la Chèvre,' Luzel, Chansons pop. de la Basse-Bretagne, II, 88-97. 'The Robin's Last Will,' Miss M.H. Mason's Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs, p. 41.