THE CRUEL SISTER. THE earliest printed copy of this ballad is the curious piece in Wit Restor'd, (1658,) called The Miller and the King's Daughter, improperly said to be a parody, by Jamieson and others. (See Appendix.) Pinkerton inserted in his Tragic Ballads, (p. 72,) a ballad on the subject, which preserves many genuine lines, but is half his own composition. Complete versions were published by Scott and Jamieson, and more recently a third has been furnished in Sharpe's Ballad Book, and a fourth in Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland. The last is given at the end of this volMr. Sharpe's copy we have not seen. The burden of it is nearly the same as that of the Cruel Mother, post, p. 372. Jamieson's copy had also this burden, but he exchanged it for the more popular, and certainly more tasteful, Binnorie. The most remarkable similarity is exhibited by the Swedish ballads of the Two Sisters, and The Wonderful Harp, (Svenska FolkVisor, iii. 16, i. 81. A version from the Faroe Islands is subjoined to the last, at p. 86.) See also Arwidsson's Fornsånger, ii. 139. ume. Of the edition in the Border Minstrelsy, Scott gives the following account, (iii. 287.) "It is compiled from a copy in Mrs. Brown's MSS., intermixed with a beautiful fragment, of fourteen verses, transmitted to the Editor by J. C. Walker, Esq. the ingenious historian of the Irish bards. Mr. Walker, at the same time, favored the Editor with the following note: 'I am indebted to my departed friend, Miss Brook, for the foregoing pathetic fragment. Her account of it was as follows: This song was transscribed, several years ago, from the memory of an old woman, who had no recollection of the concluding verses; probably the beginning may also be lost, as it seems to commence abruptly.' The first verse and burden of the fragment ran thus :— THERE were two sisters sat in a bour; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. He courted the eldest with glove and ring, But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing; He courted the eldest with broach and knife, But he lo'ed the youngest abune his life; Binnorie, O Binnorie; The eldest she was vexed sair, And sore envied her sister fair; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The eldest said to the youngest ane, Binnorie, O Binnorie; 10 15 "Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. 20 She's ta'en her by the lily hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And led her down to the river strand; Binnorie, O Binnorie; 30 And dash'd her bonny back to the jaw; "O sister, sister, reach your hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And shall be heir of half ye my land." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "O sister, I'll not reach my hand, 35 Binnorie, O Binnorie ; And I'll be heir of all your land; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. 40 "Shame fa' the hand that I should take, Binnorie, O Binnorie; It's twin'd me and my world's make."- "O sister, reach me but your glove, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And sweet William shall be your love." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove! Binnorie, O Binnorie; And sweet William shall better be my love, "Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair, Binnorie, O Binnorie, Garr'd me gang maiden evermair." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. 45 59 55 Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam, Binnorie, O Binnorie; Until she cam to the miller's dam; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. co "O father, father, draw your dam! Binnorie, O Binnorie; There's either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The miller hasted and drew his dam, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And there he found a drown'd woman; 65 You could not see her yellow hair, Binnorie, O Binnorie; 70 For gowd and pearls that were so rare; Binnorie, O Binnorie; The sweet pale face he chanced to spy; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. so |