E
a. “Got in the South County by Mr Pringle:” Kinloch’s MSS, I, 321. b. Kinloch’s MSS, VII, 2.
1
‘Why weep ye by the tide, ladye?
Why weep ye by the tide?
I’ll wed ye to my youngest son,
And ye sall be his bride.
And ye sall be his bride, ladye,
Sae comely to be seen;’
But aye she loot the tears down fa
For John o Hazelgreen.
2
‘O whaten a man is Hazelgreen?
I pray thee tell to me.’
‘O there’s not a handsomer gentleman
In a’ the South Countrie.
His arms are long, his shoulders broad,
Sae comely to be seen!’
And aye she loot the tears down fa
For John o Hazelgreen.
A.
15. she meant.
Sharpe’s transcript reads:
11. In for Into.
52. come for go.
86. Most for Right.
B.
52. thereat; changed to therein in printing. The line is run through in pencil.
64. raving. Cf. A 96.
Kinloch made some changes in printing.
C.
Written throughout in stanzas of four verses.
D. b.
Since Chambers in some measure adjusted phraseology with a view to “literary” effect, it is impossible to make out which of the variations in his ballad came from the copy which he took down from recitation. Upon extracting all his variations, they have not turned out to be important. A few, which seem the most likely to have belonged to his recited copy, are subjoined.
13. I spied a lady in a wood.
24. An auld knicht.
73,5. youngest for second.
105-8.
And he has coft her silken claes
Garred her look like a queen:
‘Ye surely now will sick nae mair
For Jock o Hazelgreen.’
137. And they have ridden far athort.
After 15.
For her sake I did vow a vow
I neer should wed but she;
Should this fair lady cruel prove,
I’ll lay me doun and dee.
163,4,5. sick for wae.
167,8.
And a’ she wants to heal her woe
Is Jock o Hazelgreen.
174. Ye’re lady ower.
E. b.
2.
‘What like a man is Haselgreen?
Lady, tell to me.’
‘He’s a handsome, proper youth
As ever my eyes did see.
With shoulders broad and arms long,
Most comely to be seen;’
And still she lout the tears doun fa
For Jock of Haselgreen.