XI. Waly, Waly, Love be Bonny. A SCOTTISH SONG. THIS is a very ancient song, but we could, O wherfore shuld I busk my head? only give it from a modern copy. Some editions instead of the four last lines in the second stanza have these, which have too much merit to be wholly suppressed: Or wherfore shuld I kame my hair? Tis not the frost, that freezes fell, Nor blawing snaws inclemencìe; We were a comely sight to see, My love was cled in black velvet, But had I wist, before I kisst, That love had been sae ill to win; 15 20 25 30 335 40 GIVEN from two ancient copies, one in black- | print, in the Pepys Collection, the other in the Editor's folio MS. Each of these contained a stanza not found in the other. What seemed the best readings were selected from both. This song is quoted as very popular in "Walton's Compleat Angler," chap. 2. It is more ancient than the ballad of "Robin Good-Fellow" printed below, which yet is supposed to have been written by Ben Jonson. As at noone Dulcina rested In her sweete and shady bower, In her lapp to sleepe an hour. A wounde he tooke Soe deepe, that for a further boone The nymph he prayes. 5 Wherto shee sayes, Or for the sight Of lingering night Foregoe the present joyes of noone? Though ne'er soe faire Her speeches were, 35 Forgoe me now, come to mee soone. 40 How, at last, agreed these lovers? Shee was fayre, and he was young: The tongue may tell what th' eye discovers; Joyes unseene are never sung. Did shee consent, Or he relent; 45 Accepts he night, or grants shee noone; Left he her a mayd, Or not; she sayd Forgoe me now, come to me soone. 50 XIV. The Lady Isabella's Tragedy. THIS ballad is given from an old blackletter copy in the Pepys Collection, collated with another in the British Museum, H. 263, folio. It is there entitled, "The Lady Isabella's Tragedy, or the Step-Mother's Cruelty: being a relation of a lamentable and cruel murther, committed on the body of the Lady Isabella, the only daughter of a noble Duke, &c. To the tune of, The Lady's Fall." To some copies are annexed eight more modern stanzas, entitled, "The Dutchess's and Cook's Lamentation." This lord he had a daughter deare, |