That that part of the ballad which follows the death of the lovers is an independent story, is obvious both from internal evidence, and from the separate existence of those concluding stanzas in a variety of forms: as, _Sweet William's Ghost_, (_Tea-Table Miscellany_, ii. 142,) _Sweet William and May Margaret_, (Kinloch, p. 241,) _William and Marjorie_, (Motherwell, p. 186.) Of this second part, Motherwell observes, that it is often made the tail-piece to other ballads where a deceased lover appears to his mistress. The two were, however, combined by Sir Walter Scott, and the present Editor has contented himself with indicating distinctly the close of the proper story. An inferior copy of _Clerk Saunders_, published by Jamieson, is inserted in the Appendix, for the sake of a few valuable stanzas. It resembles the Swedish ballad of _The Cruel Brother_, (_Svenska Folk-Visor_, iii. 107,) which, however, is much shorter. The edition of Buchan, (i. 160,) is entirely worthless. A North-Country version of the First Part is given by Kinloch, _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, 233. PART FIRST. Clerk Saunders and may Margaret, Walked ower yon garden green; And sad and heavy was the love That fell thir twa between. "A bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders said, 5 "A bed for you and me!"-- "Fye na, fye na," said may Margaret, "Till anes we married be; "For in may come my seven bauld brothers, Wi' torches burning bright; 10 They'll say--'We hae but ae sister, And behold she's wi' a knight!'"-- "Then take the sword from my scabbard, And slowly lift the pin; And you may swear, and safe your aith, 15 Ye never let Clerk Saunders in. "And take a napkin in your hand, And tie up baith your bonny een; And you may swear, and safe your aith, Ye saw me na since late yestreen."[L20] 20 It was about the midnight hour, When they asleep were laid, When in and came her seven brothers, Wi' torches burning red. When in and came her seven brothers, 25 Wi' torches burning bright; They said, "We hae but ae sister, And behold her lying with a knight!" Then out and spake the first o' them, "I bear the sword shall gar him die!" 30 And out and spake the second o' them, "His father has nae mair than he!" And out and spake the third o' them, "I wot that they are lovers dear!" And out and spake the fourth o' them, 35 "They hae been in love this mony a year!" Then out and spake the fifth o' them, "It were great sin true love to twain!" And out and spake the sixth of them, "It were shame to slay a sleeping man!" 40