The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24012   Message #270956
Posted By: John Moulden
03-Aug-00 - 09:36 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The Weaver and the Factory Maid
Subject: RE: the weaver and the factory maid
Having now looked at the Bodleian ballad, I too am of the opinion that there are two songs on the sheet. Even the typography indicates this. There is a Large initial letter at "This damosel she was wondrous fair."

At your scarce songs site you suggest, Bruce, that in the lines of the song you give there: "her lilly white legs that lay so low were like two white hills covered with snow" "legs" should be breasts. This is inconsistent with the Bodleian version "Two pillars of white ivory" especially since there is a fountain between the pillars - as, in the other version, there is between the two hills.