Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

XI
different versions of ballads already given to
the public, yet, in general, the difference is so
marked and essential, that, in some instances,
were it not for the similarity of story, they might
almost rank as separate and distinct composi-
tions. The same remark applies to many En-
glish ballads current in Scotland, which have
assumed a dress and character so different from
their own, that, but for some striking peculia-
rities, it would be scarcely possible to discover
to which country they had originally belonged.
Such discrepancies, however, are inseparable
from ballad poetry handed down by tradition,
more especially when we consider the source
from which it is generally derived; the common
people being the usual depositaries of
our " legendary lore," who are apt to alter the
structure and detail of ballads, by interpolating
stanzas, curtailing what they do not under-
stand, and substituting whatever may please
their own fancy or caprice, in order to suit the
dialect, or other circumstances, of local situation.
But in a work of this kind, where it was the
Editor's chief intention, to form a collection