Hi,

I'm looking at Child 74 "Fair Margaret and Sweet William" and have a few questions. Any help will be appreciated.

Child A the broadside- "Fair Margaret's Misfortune":

1) Chappell has the date as c.1685 and recently Atkinson has the date as c.1720. Anyone have info on this date?

2) Child has:

1    As it fell out on a long summer's day,
Two lovers they sat on a hill;
They sat together that long summer's day,
And could not talk their fill.

Shouldn't it be "take their fill." ? "talk" to me is not the right word.

3) Child has:

6    'God give you joy, you two true lovers,
In bride-bed fast asleep;
Loe I am going to my green grass grave,
And am in my winding-sheet.'

Shouldn't it be "green grass grove," ?

I know there are different broadsides but it seems like these 2 spots have been arbitrarily changed. By a printer?

4) It's also my contention that this broadside was printed from tradition-- part of which was established by the 1613 "Burning Pestle". Agree?

5) That Mallet's work (or the broadside it was based on) has little in common with the traditional ballad - other than one stanza, (the 5th in the broadside) which is similar to the stanza found in "Burning Pestle". Agree?

When it was grown to dark midnight,
And all were fast asleep,
In came Margaret's grimly ghost,
And stood at William's feet. [1613 Burning Pestle]

Ty in advance for your responses.

Richie