31. ‘An’ I’ll gar burn for you, Maisry, The chief of a’ your kin; An’ the last bonfire that I come to, Mysel’ I will cast in.’ [Annotations: 5.1: ‘ha’d’ = _haud_, hold. 9.2: ‘mailison,’ curse. 11.1: ‘is aught,’ owns. 15.4: ‘forlorn,’ forfeit. 20.2: _i.e._ in driving wind and rain. 21: A stock ballad-stanza. 22.2: ‘baed,’ stayed; ‘chap,’ knock. 22.4: ‘lap,’ leapt. 23.1: ‘biggins,’ buildings. 29.3: ‘gleed,’ burning coal, fire. 30.1: ‘gar,’ make, cause.] [Illustration] THE CRUEL BROTHER +The Text+ is that obtained in 1800 by Alexander Fraser Tytler from Mrs. Brown of Falkland, and by him committed to writing. The first ten and the last two stanzas show corruption, but the rest of the ballad is in the best style. +The Story+ emphasises the necessity of asking the consent of a brother to the marriage of his sister, and therefore the title _The Cruel Brother_ is a misnomer. In ballad-times, the brother would have been well within his rights; it was rather a fatal oversight of the bridegroom that caused the tragedy. Danish and German ballads echo the story, though in the commonest German ballad, _Graf Friedrich_, the bride receives an _accidental_ wound, and that from the bridegroom’s own hand. The testament of the bride, by which she benefits her friends and leaves curses on her enemies, is very characteristic of the ballad-style, and is found in other ballads, as _Lord Ronald_ and _Edward, Edward_. In the present case, ‘sister Grace’ obtains what would seem to be a very doubtful benefit. THE CRUEL BROTHER 1. There was three ladies play’d at the ba’, _With a hey ho and a lillie gay_ There came a knight and played o’er them a’, _As the primrose spreads so sweetly_. 2. The eldest was baith tall and fair, But the youngest was beyond compare. 3. The midmost had a graceful mien, But the youngest look’d like beautie’s queen. 4. The knight bow’d low to a’ the three, But to the youngest he bent his knee. 5. The ladie turned her head aside; The knight he woo’d her to be his bride. 6. The ladie blush’d a rosy red, And say’d, ‘Sir knight, I’m too young to wed.’ 7. ‘O ladie fair, give me your hand, And I’ll make you ladie of a’ my land.’ 8. ‘Sir knight, ere ye my favour win, You maun get consent frae a’ my kin.’ 9. He’s got consent frae her parents dear, And likewise frae her sisters fair. 10. He’s got consent frae her kin each one, But forgot to spiek to her brother John. 11. Now, when the wedding day was come, The knight would take his bonny bride home. 12. And many a lord and many a knight Came to behold that ladie bright. 13. And there was nae man that did her see, But wish’d himself bridegroom to be. 14. Her father dear led her down the stair, And her sisters twain they kiss’d her there. 15. Her mother dear led her thro’ the closs, And her brother John set her on her horse.