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THE CRUEL BROTHER: |
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OR, THE BRIDE'S TESTAMENT.
Of this ballad, which is still commonly recited and sung in Scotland, four copies have been published. The following is from Jamieson's collection, i. 66, where it was printed verbatim after the recitation of Mrs. Arrott. A copy from Aytoun's collection is subjoined, which is nearly the same as a less perfect one in Herd, i. 149, and the fourth, from Gilbert's Ancient Christmas Carols, Sec., is in the Appendix to this volume.
The conclusion, or testamentary part, occurs very frequently in ballads, e. g. Den Ellas Testamente, Sven-ska Folk-Visor, No. 68, translated in the Appendix to this volume, the end of Den onde Svigermoder, Danske Viser, i. 261, translated in Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 344, Moen paa Baalet, Grundtvig, No. 109, A, st. 18-21, and Kong Valdemar og hans Sos-ter, Grundtvig, No. 126, A, st. 101-105. See also Edward, and Lord Donald, p. 225, p. 244.
There was three ladies play'd at the ba', With a heigh-ho ! and a lily gay;
There came a knight, and play'd o'er them a', As the primrose spreads so sweetly. |
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