THE
BALLADISTS

THE
BALLADISTS

BY
JOHN
GEDDIE

FAMOUS
·SCOTS·
·SERIES·

PUBLISHED BY
OLIPHANT ANDERSON
& FERRIER · EDINBURGH
AND LONDON

The designs and ornaments of this volume are by Mr. Joseph Brown, andthe printing from the press of Messrs. T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh.

PREFACE

Not much more has been attempted in these pages than to extract themarrow of the Scottish Ballad Minstrelsy. They will have served theirpurpose if they help to awaken, or to renew, a relish for the contentsof the Ballad Book. To know and love these grand old songs is its ownexceeding great reward; and it is also, alas! almost the only means nowleft to us of knowing something concerning their nameless writers.

Questions involving literary or critical controversy as to the age andgenuineness of the ballads have been, as far as possible, avoided inthis popular presentation of their beauties and their qualities; and incase any challenge may be made of the origin or authenticity of thepassages quoted, I may say that, in nearly every case, I have prudently,and of purpose, refrained from giving the authority for my text, andhave taken that which best pleases my own ear or has clung most closelyto my memory.

J. G.

July 1896.

CONTENTS