In 9.1, ‘Then’ is doubtless an interpolation, as are the words ‘Now Douglas’ in 11.1 But on the whole it is the best text of the fifteen or twenty variants.
The Story.—James Hogg and Sir Walter Scott referred the ballad to two different sources, the former legendary, and the latter historical. It has always been very popular in Scotland, and besides the variants there are in existence several imitations, such as the well-known poem of William Hamilton, ‘Busk ye, busk ye, my bonny bonny bride.’ This was printed in vol. ii. of Percy’s Reliques.
About half the known variants make the hero and heroine man and wife, the other half presenting them as unmarried lovers.
THE BRAES OF YARROW
1.
‘I dreamed a dreary dream this night,
That fills my heart wi’ sorrow;
I dreamed I was pouing the heather green
Upon the braes of Yarrow.
2.