Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Part 3

THE LAILY WORM AND THE MACHREL OF THE SEA

+The Text+ of this mutilated ballad is taken from the Skene MS., where it was written down from recitation in the North of Scotland about 1802.

+The Story+ is of a double transformation of a sister and brother by a stepmother. Compare the story of _The Marriage of Sir Gawaine_ (First Series, p. 108). _Allison Gross_ should be compared closely with this ballad. The combing of hair seems to be a favourite method of expressing affection, not only in these ballads, but also in Scandinavian folklore.

It is needless to take exception to the attribution either of hair to a worm, or of knees to a machrel: though we may note that in one version of _Dives and Lazarus_ Dives 'has a place prepared in h.e.l.l to sit on a serpent's knee.' However, it is probable that a part of the ballad, now lost, stated that the machrel (whatever it may be) rea.s.sumed human shape 'every Sat.u.r.day at noon.'

THE LAILY WORM AND THE MACHREL OF THE SEA

1.

'I was but seven year auld When my mither she did die; My father married the ae warst woman The warld did ever see.

2.

'For she has made me the laily worm, That lies at the fit o' the tree, An' my sister Masery she's made The machrel of the sea.

3.

'An' every Sat.u.r.day at noon The machrel comes to me, An' she takes my laily head An' lays it on her knee, She kaims it wi' a siller kaim, An' washes 't in the sea.

4.

'Seven knights hae I slain, Sin I lay at the fit of the tree, An' ye war na my ain father, The eight ane ye should be.'

5.

'Sing on your song, ye laily worm, That ye did sing to me:'

'I never sung that song but what I would sing it to thee.

6.

'I was but seven year auld, When my mither she did die; My father married the ae warst woman The warld did ever see.

7.

'For she changed me to the laily worm, That lies at the fit o' the tree, And my sister Masery To the machrel of the sea.

8.

'And every Sat.u.r.day at noon The machrel comes to me, An' she takes my laily head An' lays it on her knee, An' kames it wi' a siller kame, An' washes it i' the sea.

9.

'Seven knights hae I slain Sin I lay at the fit o' the tree; An' ye war na my ain father, The eighth ane ye shoud be.'

10.

He sent for his lady, As fast as send could he: 'Whar is my son that ye sent frae me, And my daughter, Lady Masery?'

11.

'Your son is at our king's court, Serving for meat an' fee, An' your daughter's at our queen's court, ... ... ...'

12.

'Ye lie, ye ill woman, Sae loud as I hear ye lie; My son's the laily worm, That lies at the fit o' the tree, And my daughter, Lady Masery, Is the machrel of the sea!'

13.

She has tane a siller wan', An' gi'en him strokes three, And he has started up the bravest knight That ever your eyes did see.

14.

She has ta'en a small horn, An' loud an' shrill blew she, An' a' the fish came her untill But the proud machrel of the sea: 'Ye shapeit me ance an unseemly shape, An' ye's never mare shape me.'

15.

He has sent to the wood For whins and for hawthorn, An' he has ta'en that gay lady, An' there he did her burn.

[Annotation: 2.1 etc.: 'laily' = laidly, loathly.]

KEMP OWYNE

+The Text+ is that given (nearly _literatim_) by Buchan and Motherwell, and also in the MSS. of the latter.

+The Story.+--This adventure of Owyne (Owain, 'the King's son Urien,'

Ywaine, etc.), with the subsequent transformation, has a parallel in an Icelandic saga. Rehabilitation in human shape by means of a kiss is a common tale in the Scandinavian area; occasionally three kisses are necessary.

A similar ballad, now lost, but re-written by the contributor, from sc.r.a.ps of recitation by an old woman in Berwickshire, localises the story of the fire-drake ('the laidly worm') near Bamborough in Northumberland; and Kinloch said that the term 'Childe o' Wane' was still applied by disconsolate damsels of Bamborough to any youth who champions them. However, Mr. R. W. Clark of Bamborough, who has kindly made inquiries for me, could find no survival of this use.

The ballad is also called 'Kempion.'

KEMP OWYNE

1.

Her mother died when she was young, Which gave her cause to make great moan; Her father married the warst woman That ever lived in Christendom.

2.

She served her with foot and hand, In every thing that she could dee, Till once, in an unlucky time, She threw her in ower Craigy's sea.

3.

Says, 'Lie you there, dove Isabel, And all my sorrows lie with thee; Till Kemp Owyne come ower the sea, And borrow you with kisses three, Let all the warld do what they will, Oh borrowed shall you never be!'

4.

Her breath grew strang, her hair grew lang, And twisted thrice about the tree, And all the people, far and near, Thought that a savage beast was she.

5.

These news did come to Kemp Owyne, Where he lived, far beyond the sea; He hasted him to Craigy's sea, And on the savage beast look'd he.

6.

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang, And twisted was about the tree, And with a swing she came about: 'Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with me.