The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #156593 Message #3691240
Posted By: Steve Gardham
03-Mar-15 - 06:14 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The 'gifts' bestowed; Barbara Allen
Subject: RE: Origins: The 'gifts' bestowed; Barbara Allen
Richie,
Harvard would have a copy because Child had the BL MSs copied out for him, but it isn't in the Harvard MSs that Kittredge bought after Child died.
Why should it come from another source outside Peter's head? But I agree with you, if any American version can be correlated with what is in the MSs, then that would certainly make it more interesting if these stanzas are not found in any other British versions.
Broadside hacks were fond of nicking stanzas from other ballads, but so were all of the Scottish editors.
Just a reminder, you are working on the ballad that is the most widespread and popular in the English-speaking world. It has been constantly in print and oral tradition for more than 300 years. It has been rewritten and reworked many times in both spheres and in both versions many times.