Thnks Noreen and DanMulligan. I THOUGHT I'd heard it as the page being female. I haven't had time to listen again yet.

One thing we need to keep firmly in mind is that the incidents depicted in the song have a role in changing the society. People are affected by the song and it impacts their perception of the society around them. And slowly, over the centuries, things are changed. A lot of Matties and Lady Donalds have had to die in the interim but it is now illegal to kill an adulterous couple no matter who you are.

Little Hawk - You commented on Horatio Hornblower. Have you read O'Brian yet? Are you familiar with Aubrey and Maturin?