It begins, "Is there ne'er a man in
fair Scotland?" Do you know if this is in print, Mr. Scott? In the
Tale of Tomlin the whole of the interlude about the horse and the
hawk is a distinct song altogether. {30a} Clerk Saunders is nearly
the same with my mother's, until that stanza [xvi.] which ends, "was
in the tower last night wi' me," then with another verse or two which
are not in yours, ends Clerk Saunders. All the rest of the song in
your edition is another song altogether, which my mother hath mostly
likewise, and I am persuaded from the change in the stile that she is
right, for it is scarce consistent with the forepart of the ballad.
I have made several additions and variations out, to the printed
songs, for your inspection, but only when they could be inserted
without disjointing the songs as they are at present; to have written
all the variations would scarcely be possible, and I thought would
embarrass you exceedingly. I HAVE RECOVERED ANOTHER HALF VERSE OF
OLD MAITLAN, AND HAVE RHYMED IT THUS -
REMEMBER FIERY OF THE SCOT
HATH COWR'D ANEATH THY HAND;
For ilka drap o' Maitlen's blood
I'll gie THEE rigs o' land.
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