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96 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS.
" O, who sits weeping on my grave And will not let me sleep ? "
" 'T is I, my love, sits on your grave And will not let you sleep ;
For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips, And that is all I seek."
" You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips, But your breath smells earthly strong ; If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips Your time will not be long."
'T is down in yonder garden green, Love, where we used to walk :
The finest flower that e'er was seen Is withered on the stalk.
The stalk is withered dry, my love,
So will our hearts decay : So make yourself content, my love,
Till God calls you away. |
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By far the larger number of the popular ballads had their origin in Scotland, and they are also of much finer quality than those of England. Even if the question of the origin of the ballad of Chevy Chace should be decided in favor of the latÂter, it would simply be localized upon the Border within the limit of Scottish influence. The English ballads are mostly heavy and dull, imperfect in form |
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