+The Story+ has a close parallel in Swedish, the form of the ballad remaining in dialogue. Motherwell points out that the verses of which _Edward_ consists generally form the conclusion of the ballad of _The Twa Brothers_, and also of certain versions of _Lizie Wan_; and is inclined to regard _Edward_ as detached from one of those ballads. More probably the reverse is the case, that the story of _Edward_ has been attached to the other ballads. The present version of the ballad exhibits an unusual amplification of the refrain. The story is told in two lines of each eight-lined stanza; but the lyrical effect added by the elaborate refrain is almost unique. EDWARD 1. ‘Why dois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid, Edward, Edward? Why dois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid, And why sae sad gang yee, O?’ ‘O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, And I had nae mair bot hee, O.’ 2. ‘Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, Edward, Edward. Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, My deir son I tell thee, O.’ ‘O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, That erst was sae fair and frie, O.’ 3. ‘Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Edward, Edward: Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Sum other dule ye drie, O.’ ‘O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Alas! and wae is mee, O!’ 4. ‘And whatten penance wul ye drie for that, Edward, Edward? And whatten penance will ye drie for that. My deir son, now tell me, O, ‘Ile set my feit in yonder boat, Mither, mither: Ile set my feit in yonder boat, And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.’ 5. ‘And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’, Edward, Edward? And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’, That were sae fair to see, O?’ ‘Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’, Mither, mither: Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’, For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.’ 6. ‘And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Edward, Edward? And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Whan ye gang ovir the sea, O?’ ‘The warldis room, late them beg thrae life, Mither, mither: The warldis room, let them beg thrae life, For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.’ 7. ‘And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir, Edward, Edward? And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir? My deir son, now tell me, O.’ ‘The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Mither, mither: The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.’