14.

The auld beggar man was bound for the mill, But young Hind Horn for the king's hall.

15.

The auld beggar man was bound for to ride, But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.

16.

When he came to the king's gate, He sought a drink for Hind Horn's sake.

17.

The bride came down with a glass of wine, When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.

18.

'O got ye this by sea or land?

Or got ye it off a dead man's hand?'

19.

'I got not it by sea, I got it by land, And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.'

20.

'O I'll cast off my gowns of brown, And beg wi' you frae town to town.

21.

'O I'll cast off my gowns of red, And I'll beg wi' you to win my bread.'

22.

'Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown, For I'll make you lady o' many a town.

23.

'Ye needna cast off your gowns of red, It's only a sham, the begging o' my bread.'

24.

The bridegroom he had wedded the bride, But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.

[Footnote A: After stanza 2 there is a gap in the story. Other versions say that Hind Horn goes, or is sent, to sea.]

[Annotations: 10.2: The bride has lingered six weeks in hopes of Hind Horn's return.

12.1: 'rung,' staff.]

EDWARD

+The Text+ is that given by Percy in the _Reliques_ (1765), with the substitution of _w_ for initial _qu_, and _y_ for initial _z_, as in _Young Waters_ (see p. 146). In the fourth edition of the _Reliques_ Percy states that 'this curious song was transmitted to the editor by Sir David Dalrymple, Bart., late Lord Hailes.'

Percy's adoption of antique spelling in this ballad has caused some doubt to be thrown on its authenticity; but there is also a version _Son Davie_, given in his _Minstrelsy_ by Motherwell, who, in referring to the version in the _Reliques_, said there was reason for believing that Lord Hailes 'made a few slight verbal improvements in the copy he transmitted, and altered the hero's name to Edward, a name which, by the bye, never occurs in a Scottish ballad except where allusion is made to an English king.'

+The Story+ has a close parallel in Swedish, the form of the ballad remaining in dialogue.

Motherwell points out that the verses of which _Edward_ consists generally form the conclusion of the ballad of _The Twa Brothers_, and also of certain versions of _Lizie Wan_; and is inclined to regard _Edward_ as detached from one of those ballads. More probably the reverse is the case, that the story of _Edward_ has been attached to the other ballads.

The present version of the ballad exhibits an unusual amplification of the refrain. The story is told in two lines of each eight-lined stanza; but the lyrical effect added by the elaborate refrain is almost unique.

EDWARD

1.

'Why dois your brand sae drap wi' bluid, Edward, Edward?

Why dois your brand sae drap wi' bluid, And why sae sad gang yee, O?'

'O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, And I had nae mair bot hee, O.'

2.

'Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, Edward, Edward.

Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, My deir son I tell thee, O.'

'O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, That erst was sae fair and frie, O.'

3.

'Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Edward, Edward: Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Sum other dule ye drie, O.'

'O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Alas! and wae is mee, O!'

4.

'And whatten penance wul ye drie for that, Edward, Edward?

And whatten penance will ye drie for that.

My deir son, now tell me, O, 'Ile set my feit in yonder boat, Mither, mither: Ile set my feit in yonder boat, And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.'

5.

'And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha', Edward, Edward?

And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha', That were sae fair to see, O?'

'Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', Mither, mither: Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.'

6.

'And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Edward, Edward?

And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Whan ye gang ovir the sea, O?'

'The warldis room, late them beg thrae life, Mither, mither: The warldis room, let them beg thrae life, For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.'

7.

'And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir, Edward, Edward?

And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?

My deir son, now tell me, O.'

'The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Mither, mither: The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.'

[Annotations: 3.4: 'dule,' grief; 'drie,' suffer.

6.5,7: _i.e._ The world is wide.]