The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Balladists, by John Geddie

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Title: The Balladists
Famous Scots Series

Author: John Geddie

Release Date: August 17, 2009 [EBook #29713]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE BALLADISTS

[Illustration:

THE BALLADISTS

BY
JOHN
GEDDIE

FAMOUS
.SCOTS.
.SERIES.

PUBLISHED BY
OLIPHANT ANDERSON
& FERRIER . EDINBURGH
AND LONDON

]

* * * * *

The designs and ornaments of this volume are by Mr. Joseph Brown, and
the printing from the press of Messrs. T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh.

* * * * *

PREFACE

Not much more has been attempted in these pages than to extract the
marrow of the Scottish Ballad Minstrelsy. They will have served their
purpose if they help to awaken, or to renew, a relish for the contents
of the Ballad Book. To know and love these grand old songs is its own
exceeding great reward; and it is also, alas! almost the only means now
left to us of knowing something concerning their nameless writers.

Questions involving literary or critical controversy as to the age and
genuineness of the ballads have been, as far as possible, avoided in
this popular presentation of their beauties and their qualities; and in
case any challenge may be made of the origin or authenticity of the
passages quoted, I may say that, in nearly every case, I have prudently,
and of purpose, refrained from giving the authority for my text, and
have taken that which best pleases my own ear or has clung most closely
to my memory.

J. G.

_July 1896._

CONTENTS

PAGE
CHAPTER I

BALLAD CHARACTERISTICS 9

CHAPTER II

BALLAD GROWTH AND BALLAD HISTORY 24

CHAPTER III

BALLAD STRUCTURE AND BALLAD STYLE 43

CHAPTER IV

THE MYTHOLOGICAL BALLAD