19.
Ther was na mare seen of
that guid lord bat his hat
frae his head ther was na
mare seen of that lady bat
her comb an her sneed.
20^1. Doun _stands at the beginning of the next line_.
#A# 14–16 _might perhaps be better put after the drowning, as in_
#C#.
#B.#
_Readings inserted by Motherwell in a copy of his Minstrelsy._
4^{3,4}.
My malison and deidly curse
Shall bear ye companie.
_After 7_:
He swam high, and he swam low,
And he swam to and fro,
Until he gript a hazel-bush,
That brung him to the brow.
9^4. _Var._ But his mother answered him.
10.
O rise, O rise, May Marget, h[e says],
(_cut away by the binder_)
O rise and let me in,
For the very steed that I came on
Does tremble at every limb.
11^3. mither and father’s baith awauk.
12.
O hae ye neer a stable, he says,
Or hae ye neer a barn,
Or hae ye neer a wild-guse house,
Where I might rest till morn?
14^1. My barn is.
14^2. My stable is.
14^3. The house is fu o wild, wild gees.
14^4. They canna be moved.
15^4. Rides in my companie.
16^1. his milk-white.
16^2. And who could ride like him.
16^4. ’Twas far outowre the brim.
_After 16_:
He swam high, and he swam low,
And he swam to and fro,
But he neer could spy the hazel-bush
That would bring him to the brow.
_Comment_: The mother was a witch; made responses for Margaret;
met him in a green habit on his return home. He inquired for the
ford; she directed him to the deepest linn. When he got into the
water, two hounds seized on his horse, and left him to struggle
with the current.
_Willie’s mother had transferred herself to Margaret’s house
according to the variation in 9^4; so she is the witch._
_All this is very paltry. The mother’s curse was enough to drown
Willie without her bestirring herself further._
217