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277
FAIR MARGARET AND SWEIT
WILLIAM.
As it fell out on a long summer day,
Two lovers they sat on a hill ;
They sat together that long summer day,
And could not take their fill.
" I see no harm by you, Margaret,
And you see none by me ;
been very kindly submitted to the editor by Mr J. H. Burton, of Aberdeen,
and which is in itself not the least meritorious of the three.
There is a remarkable resemblance between the concluding part of Mr
Jamieson's copy, which is here followed, and the conclusion of a ballad
published by Dr Percy, under the title of " Fair Margaret and Sweit Wil-
liam." The editor, therefore, thinks it necessary, as he gives " Fair Mar-
garet and Sweet William" in continuation, to give Dr Percy's version of the
conclusion of this ballad in the shape of a note ; leaving it to the reader to
adopt which he pleases :
" The bride she drew a long bodkin,
Frae out her gay head geir,
And strak fair Annet into the heart.
That word she never spak mair.
Lord Thomas he saw fair Annet wax pale.
And marvelit what mote be ;
But when he saw her dear heart's blude,
A wood-wroth waxed he.
He drew his dagger, that was sae sharp.
That was sae sharp and meet.
And drave 't into the nut-brown bride.
That fell deid at his feet.
* Now stay for me, dear Annet,' he sed,
' Now stay, my dear,' he cry'd ;
Then strak the dagger intill his heart.
And fell deid by her side.
Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa'.
Fair Annet within the quiere;
And o' the tane there grew a birk,
The other a bonny briere.
And ay they grew and ay they threw.
As they wad gain be neare ;
And by this ye may ken richt well.
They were twa lovers dear."
2 A