Hi,

I'm work on US/Canadian version of Child ballads and naturally you need to know everything about a ballad before you can understand the source of the these ballads so--

The Cherry Tree Carol analogue appears to be the N-Town plays based on the Gospel. I've tried quickly to translate this and need suggestions. I've started examining the ballad and put it on my site here: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/54-the-cherry-tree-carol.aspx

Here it is:

Play 15: The Nativity [This text was prepared by comparing Peter Meredith and Stanley J. Kahrl' s The N-Town Plays: A Facsimile of British Library MS Cotton Vespasian D VIII (Leeds, 1977) with Stephen Spector's The N-Town Play: Cotton MS Vespasian D. 8 (EETS: Oxford, 1991)].

22 Now latt us forth wende as fast as we may,         
23 And almyghty God spede us in oure jurnay.         

24 MARIA A, my swete husbond, wolde 3e telle to me
25 What tre is 3on standynge vpon 3on hylle?            
26 JOSEPH Forsothe, Mary, it is clepyd a chery tre;
27 In tyme of 3ere 3e myght fede 3ow þeron 3oure fylle.

28 Turne ageyn, husbond, and beholde 3on tre,
29 How þat it blomyght now so swetly.
30 JOSEPH Cum on, Mary, þat we worn at 3on cyté,
31 Or ellys we may be blamyd, I telle 3ow lythly.

32 MARIA Now, my spowse, I pray 3ow to behold
33 How þe cheryes growyn vpon 3on tre.
34 For to haue þerof ryght fayn I wold,
35 And it plesyd 3ow to labore so mech for me.

36 JOSEPH 3oure desyre to fulfylle I xal assay, sekyrly.
37 Ow! To plucke 3ow of these cheries, it is a werk wylde!
38 For þe tre is so hy3 it wol not be lyghtly--
39 þerfore lete hym pluk 3ow cheryes begatt 3ow with childe!

40 Now, good Lord, I pray the, graunt me þis boun,
41 To haue of þese cheries and it be 3oure wylle.
42 Now I thank it God, þis tre bowyth to me down!
43 I may now gaderyn anowe and etyn my fylle.

44 JOSEPH Ow! I know wey! I haue offendyd my God in Trinyté
45 Spekyng to my spowse these vnkynde wurdys.
46 For now I beleve wel it may non other be
47 But þat my spowse beryght þe Kyngys Son of Blys;
48 He help us now at oure nede.

I've roughly translated:
22 Now let us go forth, traveling as fast as we can,
23 And Almighty God speed us on our journey.

24 MARY: O my sweet husband would you tell me,
25 What is that tree standing upon yon hill?
26 JOSEPH In truth, Mary, it is called a cherry tree;
27 In the right season you might find berries and eat your fill

28 MARY: Turn again, husband, and behold yon tree,   
29 How that it blooms now so sweetly.
30 JOSEPH: Come on Mary, what we learn at your sight,
31 Or else we may not be blamed, I tell you loathly.

32 MARY: Now my spouse, I pray you to behold,
33 How the cherries grow on yon tree.
34 To have ripe berries, I willingly would,
35 And it pleased you to labor so much for me.

36 To fulfill your desires I will know secretly,
37 Ow! to pluck one of these berries, it's difficult work
38 For the tree is so high, it would not be possible
39 Therefore let him pluck cherries, who fathered your child.

40 MARY Now dear Lord grant me this wish
41 To have these cherries, and be it your will
42 Now I thank you God, this tree bows down to me,
43 I may now gather all, and eat my fill.

44 JOSEPH Ow! I understand! I have offended God and [the] Trinity
45 Speaking to my spouse these unkind words.
46 For I believe now and it may not be otherwise,
47 But that my spouse will birth the Son of Bliss
48 Help us now in our time of need.

Any mistakes in translation? Also why do researchers (Child etc.) expect people to understand old English or for that matter foreign analogues? It seems kinda silly to put give ballad text in Danish without translating it- lazy?

If anyone has anything to add about the Cherry Tree Carol, Child 54 let me know- I've just started working on it.

Richie