The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #160787   Message #3815283
Posted By: Jim Carroll
18-Oct-16 - 05:21 AM
Thread Name: Death in the Child Ballads
Subject: RE: Death in the Child Ballads
"Which ones are by disembowelment?"
Not so much death by disembowelment, but in "Six Dukes Wen't a-Fishing" (a ballad not included in Child), the corpse has his bowels removed as part of the preparation for burial.
In Lady Diamond, the Lover's heart is ripped out and served up to the lady in a goblet.
Child Owlet is ripped apart by horses - don't suppose that would have done his bowels any good!
Jim Carroll