"It was na' in the ha', the ha',
Nor in the painted bower;
But it was in the gude greenwood,
Amang the lily flower."
Yet these rude English ballads have just claims on our regard. They stand our feet squarely upon the basal rock of Saxon ethics, they breathe a spirit of the sturdiest independence, and they draw, in a few strong strokes, so fresh a picture of the joyous, fearless life led under the green shadows of the deer-haunted forest by that memorable band, bold Robin and Little John, Friar Tuck and George a Green, Will Scarlett, Midge the Miller's Son, Maid Marian and the rest, that we gladly succumb to a charm recognized by Shakespeare himself: "They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England; they say many young gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time carelessly, as they did in the golden world."—As You Like It.
ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE. After Ritson. This ballad is first found in broadside copies of the latter half of the seventeenth century. Lin., pause.
ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH AND BURIAL. After Ritson, who made his version from a collation of two copies given in a York garland.
ANNIE OF LOCHROYAN. After Aytoun, who improves on Jamieson's version. This beautiful ballad is given in varying forms by Herd, Scott, Buchan, and others. Lochroyan, or Loch Ryan, is a bay on the south-west coast of Scotland. Jimp, slender. Gin, if. Greet, cry. Tirl'd, rattled. But and, and also. Warlock, wizard. Sinsyne, since then. Hooly, slowly. Deid, death. Syne, then.
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET. After Aytoun, who adds to the first twenty-four stanzas of the copy given in the Reliques a concluding fourteen taken from Jamieson's Sweet Willie and Fair Annie. The unfortunate lady elsewhere figures as The Nut-Brown Bride and Fair Ellinor. There are Norse ballads which relate something akin to the same story. Gif, if. Rede, counsel. Owsen, oxen. Billie, an affectionate term for brother. Byre, cow-house. Fadge, clumsy woman. Sheen, shoes. Tift, whiff. Gin, if. Cleiding, clothing. Bruik, enjoy. Kist, chest. Lee, lonesome. Till, to. Dowie, doleful. Sark, shroud. But and, and also. Birk, birch.
THE BANKS OF YARROW. After Allingham's collated version. There are many renderings of this ballad, which Scott declares to be a great favorite among the peasantry of the Ettrick forest, who firmly believe it founded on fact. The river Yarrow, so favored of the poets, flows through a valley in Selkirkshire and joins the Tweed above the town of Selkirk. The Tennies is a farm below the Yarrow kirk. Lawing, reckoning. Dawing, dawn. Marrow, mate. Dowie, doleful. Leafu', lawful. Binna, be not.
THE DOUGLAS TRAGEDY. After Scott. This ballad is likewise known under titles of Earl Brand, Lady Margaret and The Child of Ell. Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic ballads relate a kindred story, and the incident of the intertwining plants that spring from the graves of hapless lovers, occurs in the folk-lore of almost all peoples. Bugelet, a small bugle. Dighted, strove to stanch. Plat, intertwined.
FINE FLOWERS I' THE VALLEY. After Aytoun, his version, though taken down from recitation, being in reality a compound of Herd's and Jamieson's. Aytoun claims that "this is perhaps the most popular of all the Scottish ballads, being commonly recited and sung even at the present day." Different refrains are often employed, and the ballad is frequently given under title of The Cruel Brother. Stories similar to this are found in the balladry of both northern and southern Europe. Marrow, mate. Close, avenue leading from the door to the street. Loutiny, bowing. Its lane, alone.
THE GAY GOSS-HAWK. Mainly after Motherwell, although his version is entitled The Jolly Goshawk. The epithet Gay has the sanction of Scott and Jamieson. Buchan gives a rendering of this ballad under title of The Scottish Squire. Whin, furze. Bigly, spacious. Sark, shroud. Claith, cloth. Steeking, stitching. Gar'd, made. Chive, morsel. Skaith, harm.