| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
|
|||
|
272 |
MAX COLVIN. |
||
|
|
|||
|
The story of this ballad has apparently some connection with Bluebeard, but it is hard to say what the connection is. (See Fitchers Vogel in the Grimms' K. u. H.-Marchen, No. 46, and notes.) The versions of the ballad in other languages are all but innumerable: e. g. Rofvaren Rymer, Rofvaren Brun, Svenska F.-V., No. 82, 83 ; Den Falske Riddaren, Arwidsson, No. 44; Ulrich und Aennchen, SchSn Ulrich «. Roth-Aenn-chen, Schon Ulrich und Rautendelein, Ulinger, Herr Halewyn, etc., in Wunderhorn, i. 274 ; Uhland, 141-157 (four copies); Erk, Liederhort, 91, 93; Erlach, iii. 450; Zuccalmaglio, Deutsche Volkslieder, No. 15; Hoffmann, Schlesische Volkslieder, No. 12, 13, and Niederldndische Volkslieder, No. 9, 10; etc. etc. A very brief Italian ballad will be found in the Appendix, p. 391, which seems to have the same theme. In some of the ballads the treacherous seducer is an enchanter, who prevails upon the maid to go with him by the power of a spell.
May Colvin was first published in Herd's Collection, vol. i. 153. The copy here given is one obtained from recitation by Motherwell, (Minstrelsy, p. 67,) collated by him with that of Herd. It is defective at the end. The other versions in Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 45, and Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 45, though they are provided with some sort of conclusion, are not worth reprinting. A modernized version, styled The Outlandish Knight, is inserted in the Notes to Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, Percy Society, vol. xvii. 101.
Carlton Castle, on the coast of Carrick, is affirmed by the country people, according to Mr. Chambers, to have been the residence of the perfidious knight, and |
|||
|
|
|||