Professor Gregorie married on the 4th September 1698, Barbara, a daughter of Charles Oliphant of Langton, and a sister of his brother David’s wife. A great gloom was cast upon their home life by the early death of one of his daughters. She had an unhappy love affair, and is said to have died of a broken heart. Whether this was so or not, her story furnished the subject of Mallet’s ballad, ‘William and Margaret.’ ‘Twas at the silent solemn hour, When night and morning meet; In glided Margaret’s grimly ghost, And stood at William’s feet. Her face was like an April morn, Clad in a wintry cloud: And clay cold was her lily hand That held her sable shroud. So shall the fairest face appear When youth and years are flown, Such is the robe that kings must wear When death has reft their crown. Her bloom was like the springing flower That sips the silver dew, The rose was budded in her cheek, Just opening to the view. But love had, like the canker worm, Consumed her early prime: The rose grew pale, and left her cheek; She died before her time. Awake, she cried, thy true love calls, Come from her midnight grave; Now let thy pity hear the maid Thy love refused to save. This is the dumb and dreary hour When injured ghosts complain; Now yawning graves give up their dead To haunt the faithless swain. Bethink thee, William, of thy fault, Thy pledge and broken oath; And give me back my maiden vow, And give me back my troth. Why did you promise love to me And not that promise keep? Why did you swear mine eyes were bright Yet leave those eyes to weep? How could you say my face was fair And yet that face forsake? How could you win my virgin heart Yet leave that heart to break? Why did you say my lip was sweet And made the scarlet pale? And why did I, young witless maid, Believe the flattering tale? That face alas no more is fair, These lips no longer red; Dark are my eyes, now closed in death, And every charm is fled. The hungry worm my sister is; This winding sheet I wear; And cold and weary lasts our night Till that last morn appear.