Hi,

6. I also have a question about the marble stone, which some have associated with a tombstone. Do you see that association? In the Johnny Collins versions, the mermaid is now a "pretty fine maid" who is "washing a marble stone." The relationship between washing the sark on the stone (Child 42 A) and washing the marble stone (Johnny Collins) is unclear. I assume she originally was washing something on a marble stone, not washing the stone itself. So "washing on a marble stone" is an easy step from "washing a marble stone." What do you think?

7 The traditional Ballad index says this ballad (his death) is about his unfaithfulness to the mermaid. What do you think?

8. Is she a mermaid, a water sprite, a fairy lover??

Richie