_The copy in Kinloch MSS, V, 339, #b#, seems to be a revision of the other. The two portions of that which is apparently the earlier, #a#, became separated by some accident or oversight. For stanzas 18-37 I have not the original, but a transcript. After 1, #b# inserts Jamieson's second stanza, #E# 2._ 4. _~ye merry~ twice._ 5^3. _altered to ~What's metter, son Willie~, to conform to 6^3: #b#, ~And what's the matter~._ 12^1. Ye'll tell her to come. 12^3. Yer bidden come. 13^1. Yer forbidden. _Anticipating 14, 15. Corrected in #b# as here, and partly in #a#._ 18^2. #a#, gold engraved, #b#, golden graved: _cf. #H#, 16, 20._ 22^3. Oh is it: _corrected in #b#._ 25^3. _~She has by far~ struck out and ~Fair Annie~ written above: #b#, ~Fair Annie hes oer~._ #G.# _The division of stanzas and of verses has in some cases required regulation. The handwriting is in places difficult, and I cannot be sure that the spelling in every case is what the writer intended._ 7^4. mann? 16^5. Willie. 20^2. fett? 21^3. ser brunt (?) 21^4. faett? 23^1. Whan. 25^3. _perhaps ~dreams~._ 28^1. _~deal~ illegible, a conjecture._ 29^3. grave? [113] I have been enabled to restore the original readings by the ever ready kindness of Professor Skeat. [114] London, printed for W. T[hackeray], T. P[assenger], and W. W. [Whitwood?]. This impression is therefore contemporary with the other. [115] In #D#, #E# she borrows the fine things of her sister. Minute particulars are given in #D#. We all wonder how Fair Annet, whose face should be her fortune, comes by so much. Her horse's shoes and bells would have made her a nice little dowry; and then she has, #F# 20, as much gold above her brow as would buy an earldom, like the oriental Susie Py. This comes of a reckless use of commonplaces, without regard to keeping. [116] Some of the versions have traits of 'Fair Annie.' In #F# the woman is a king's sister, and is not living with Sir Peter. [117] Herre Per vaknað inki för dá at login leikað i Áselitis hár. Herre Per springe han up af si seng, dá ság han liti Kersti pá gata geng. 'Aa kære liti Kersti, no hjölper du meg! en annen sinn skal eg hjölpe deg.' Og deð var liti Kersti, sá högt hon lóg: 'eg veit du helde sá vel dit órð!' Landstad, 33-36. Upon which the good pastor, who loved the things nevertheless, remarks, What a culpable style of life, what moral depravation, many of these ballads depict! 74 FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM