The piece has not a perceptible globule of old blood in it, yet it has had the distinction of being more than once translated as a specimen of Scottish popular ballads. ‘Monie’ in 22 may be plausibly read, or understood, ‘menie,’ retinue; still the antecedent presumption in favor of nonsense in ballads of this class makes one hesitate. 73,4 is unnatural; no dissembling would be required to induce the young men to drink. In 83, ‘birled them wi the beer’ is what we should expect, not ‘birled wi them.’
Translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder der Vorzeit, p. 57, No 13; by Gerhard, p. 154.
1
‘There is a fashion in this land,
And even come to this country,
That every lady should meet her lord
When he is newly come frae sea:
2
‘Some wi hawks, and some wi hounds,