_

25.
The lasten tune that he play'd then,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Was, 'Wae to my sister, fair Ellen!'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

[Annotations:
8.3: 'jaw,' wave.
11.3: 'my world's make,' my earthly mate.]

YOUNG WATERS

+The Text+ is that of a copy mentioned by Percy, 'printed not long since
at Glasgow, in one sheet 8vo. The world was indebted for its publication
to the lady Jean Hume, sister to the Earle of Hume, who died lately at
Gibraltar.' The original edition, discovered by Mr. Macmath after
Professor Child's version (from the _Reliques_) was in print, is:--
'Young Waters, an Ancient Scottish Poem, never before printed. Glasgow,
printed and sold by Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1755.' This was also known
to Maidment. Hardly a word differs from Percy's version; but here I have
substituted the spellings 'wh' for Percy's 'quh,' in 'quhen,' etc., and
'y' for his 'z' in 'zoung, zou,' etc.

+The Story+ has had historical foundations suggested for it by Percy and
Chambers. Percy identified Young Waters with the Earl of Murray,
murdered, according to the chronicle of Sir James Balfour, on the 7th of
February 1592. Chambers, in 1829, relying on Buchan's version of the
ballad, had no doubt that Young Waters was one of the Scots nobles
executed by James I., and was very probably Walter Stuart, second son of
the Duke of Albany. Thirty years later, Chambers was equally certain
that the ballad was the composition of Lady Wardlaw.

In a Scandinavian ballad, Folke Lovmandson is a favourite at court;
a little wee page makes the fatal remark and excites the king's
jealousy. The innocent knight is rolled down a hill in a barrel set with
knives--a punishment common in Scandinavian folklore.

YOUNG WATERS

1.
About Yule, when the wind blew cule,
And the round tables began,
A there is cum to our king's court
Mony a well-favor'd man.

2.
The queen luikt owre the castle-wa',
Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw Young Waters
Cum riding to the town.

3.
His footmen they did rin before,
His horsemen rade behind;
Ane mantel of the burning gowd
Did keip him frae the wind.

4.
Gowden-graith'd his horse before,
And siller-shod behind;
The horse Young Waters rade upon
Was fleeter than the wind.

5.
Out then spack a wylie lord,
Unto the queen said he:
'O tell me wha 's the fairest face
Rides in t