Four #Färöe# versions are known: #A#, 'Hörpuríma,' "in Svabo's MS., No 16, I, 291," incorrectly printed by Afzelius, I, 86, and accurately, from a copy furnished by Grundtvig, in Bergström's edition of Afzelius, II, 69; #B#, a compound of two versions taken down by Pastor Lyngbye and by Pastor Schröter, in Nyeste Skilderie af Kjøbenhavn, 1821, col. 997 ff; #C#, a transcript from recitation by Hammershaimb (Grundtvig); #D#, "in Fugloyjarbók, No 31." #Swedish# versions are: #A#, 'Den underbara Harpan,' Afzelius, No 17, I, 81, new ed., No 16, 1, I, 72: #B#, 'De två Systrarne,' Afzelius, No 69, III, 16, new ed., No 16, 2, I, 74: #C#, #D#, #E#, unprinted copies in Cavallius and Stephens's collection: #F#, 'De två Systrarne,' Arwidsson, No 99, II, 139: #G#, 'Systermordet,' E. Wigström, Skånska Visor, p. 4, and the same, Folkdiktning, etc., No 7, p. 19: #H#, Rancken, Några Prof af Folksång, No 3, p. 10. Afzelius, moreover, gives variations from four other copies which he had collected, III, 20 ff, new ed., II, 74 ff; and Rancken from three others. Both of the editors of the new Afzelius have recently obtained excellent copies from singers. The ballad has also been found in Finnish, Bergström's Afzelius, II, 79. There is a remarkable agreement between the Norse and English ballads till we approach the conclusion of the story, with a natural diversity as to some of the minuter details. The sisters are king's daughters in English #A#, #B#, #C#, #H#, #O# (?), #P#, #Q#, #R a#, and in Swedish #B# and two others of Afzelius's versions. They are an earl's daughters in Swedish #F#, and sink to farmer's daughters in English #R b#, #c#,[129] Swedish #A#, #G#, Norwegian #C#. It is a thing made much of in most of the Norse ballads that the younger sister is fair and the older dark; the younger is bright as the sun, as white as ermine or as milk, the elder black as soot, black as the earth, Icelandic #A#, Swedish #A#, #B#, #G#, Danish #A#, #D#, etc.; and this difference is often made the ground for very unhandsome taunts, which qualify our compassion for the younger; such as Wash all day, and you will be no whiter than God made you, Wash as white as you please, you will never get a lover, Färöe #A#, #B#, Norwegian #A#, #C#, etc. This contrast may possibly be implied in "the youngest was the fairest flower," English #F#, #G#, #Q# ["sweetest," #D#], but is expressed only in #M#, "Ye was fair and I was din" (dun), and in #P a#, "The old was black and the young are fair."