+The Text+ is from Scott's _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_ (1803).
Other forms give the name as _Lord Ronald_, but Scott retains _Randal_
on the supposition that the ballad originated in the death of 'Thomas
Randolph, or Randal, Earl of Murray, nephew to Robert Bruce, and
governor of Scotland,' who died at Musselburgh in 1332.
+The Story+ of the ballad is found in Italian tradition nearly three
hundred years ago, and also occurs in Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish,
Magyar, Wendish, etc.
Certain variants of the ballad bear the title of _The Croodlin Doo_, and
the 'handsome young man' is changed for a child, and the poisoner is the
child's step-mother. Scott suggests that this change was made 'to excite
greater interest in the nursery.' In nearly all forms of the ballad, the
poisoning is done by the substitution of snakes ('eels') for fish, a
common method amongst the ancients of administering poison.
Child gives a collation of seven versions secured in America of late
years, in each of which the name of Lord Randal has become corrupted to
'Tiranti.'
The antiphonetic form of the ballad is popular, as being dramatic and
suitable for singing. Compare _Edward_, also a dialogue between mother
and son.