Public-domain ebook
The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 2 (of 5)
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Subjects
In: Mythology, Legends & Folklore·British Literature
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #47692.
About this book
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume II, is a scholarly edition of fifty‑plus traditional narrative songs collected by Francis James Child in the late‑19th century. The work opens with a meticulous front matter that explains the presence of multiple languages, dialect spellings, and the editor’s decision to preserve original orthography, noting only typographical corrections and a list of footnotes that run to 187 entries. After the introductory notices, the volume presents the ballads themselves, each introduced by a numbered title and accompanied by “Additions and Corrections” references that link back to Child’s earlier parts. The first ballad, “The Cherry‑Tree Carol,” is reproduced with extensive scholarly annotations, variant readings, and cross‑references to other collections, illustrating the book’s aim to be both a faithful text and a critical resource.
The language reflects the Victorian‑era academic tone of Child’s original publications, retaining archaic spellings, dialect forms, and a dense apparatus of symbols for italics, bold, and small caps. Readers who enjoy detailed textual scholarship, comparative folklore, or the study of early English and Scots verse will find this volume rewarding. It especially appeals to students of literary history, folklorists, and anyone fascinated by the raw, un‑modernized voice of the ballad tradition.
Characters in The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 2 (of 5)
- Francis James ChildMiddle‑aged Victorian scholar, dark hair, beard, round spectacles, waistcoat and cravat
The opening · free to read
Numbers 83-113
Upon concluding this Fourth Part, I have to express warm thanks to Mr JAMES BARCLAY MURDOCH for a punctilious recollation of MOTHERWELL'S manuscript, and to Mr MALCOLM COLQUHOUN THOMSON for again granting the use of the volume. Miss MARY FRASER TYTLER, to remove a doubt about a few readings, has generously taken the trouble to make a fac-simile copy of ALEXANDER FRASER TYTLER'S BROWN manuscript. Mr MACMATH, whose accuracy is not surpassed by photographic reproduction, has done me favors of a like kind, and of many kinds. Rev. Professor SKEAT, with all his engagements, has been prompt to render his peculiarly valuable help at the libraries of Cambridge; and Mr F. H. STODDARD, late of Oxford, now of the University of California, has allowed me to call upon him freely for copies and collations at the Bodleian Library. The notes which Dr REINHOLD KÖHLER, Professor FELIX LIEBRICHT, Professor C. R. LANMAN, and Mr GEORGE LYMAN KITTREDGE have contributed, in the way of Additions and Corrections, will speak for themselves. Miss ISABEL FLORENCE HAPGOOD, translator of the Epic Songs of Russia, has given me much assistance in Slavic popular poetry, and Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. PRIDEAUX, of Calcutta, Mr FRANK KIDSON, of Leeds, and Mr P. Z. ROUND, of London, have made obliging communications as to English ballads.
F. J. C.
NOVEMBER, 1886.
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