The Oxford Book of Ballads
The traditional ballads of England and Scotland: Sir Patrick Spens, The Wife of Usher's Well, Edward, Tam Lin, the Border raids and the murder ballads, as Quiller-Couch gathered them.
Measured across the book
Across its 19,931 lines, 96% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 96% to 96%). Alliteration runs at 1.18 times what shuffling the words would give (0.24 observed against 0.20 expected). 20% of the lines have a feminine ending.
Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.
Contents
Thomas the Rhymeriambic tetrameter · 80 linesTam Lincommon measure · 218 linesSir Cawlinecommon measure · 132 linesSir Aldingarcommon measure · 207 linesCospatrickiambic tetrameter · AABB · 142 linesWilly’s Ladyiambic tetrameter · 96 linesThe Queen of Elfland’s Nouriceshort measure · 43 linesLady Isabel and the Elf-Knightiambic tetrameter · AABB · 52 linesThe Riddling Knightiambic tetrameter · AABB · 27 linesMay Colvincommon measure · 76 linesThe Wee Wee Maniambic tetrameter · 36 linesAlison Grossiambic pentameter · 52 linesKemp Owyneiambic tetrameter · 98 linesThe Laily Wormcommon measure · 68 linesKing Orfeoiambic tetrameter · 36 linesKing Henrycommon measure · 91 linesThe Boy and the Mantleshort measure · 174 linesKing Arthur and King Cornwalliambic tetrameter · 292 linesThe Marriage of Sir Gawaincommon measure · 208 linesBonnie Annieiambic hexameter · 34 linesBrown Robyn’s Confessioncommon measure · 34 linesThe Cruel Motheriambic tetrameter · 37 linesBinnorieiambic tetrameter · AABB · 60 linesThe Broomfield Hillcommon measure · 71 linesEarl Mar’s Daughtercommon measure · 140 linesProud Lady Margaretcommon measure · 44 linesClerk Saunderscommon measure · 128 linesThe Daemon Lovercommon measure · 80 linesClerk Colveniambic tetrameter · 55 linesYoung Huntingcommon measure · 137 linesThe Great Silkie of Sule Skerrietrochaic pentameter · 28 linesThe Wife of Usher’s Wellcommon measure · 52 linesA Lyke-Wake Dirgeiambic tetrameter · 36 linesThe Unquiet Gravecommon measure · ABAB · 28 linesHynd Horniambic pentameter · 72 linesHynd Etincommon measure · 188 linesErlintoniambic tetrameter · 76 linesEarl Brandiambic tetrameter · AABB · 64 linesThe Douglas Tragedyiambic tetrameter · 80 linesGlasgerioncommon measure · 92 linesKing Estmerecommon measure · 280 linesFair Anniecommon measure · 122 linesThe Lass of Lochroyancommon measure · 200 linesYoung Bekiecommon measure · 144 linesYoung Beichaniambic tetrameter · 152 linesChilde Waterscommon measure · 214 linesChilde Mauricecommon measure · 155 linesBrown Adamcommon measure · 60 linesJellon Gramecommon measure · 84 linesLittle Musgrave and Lady Barnardiambic tetrameter · 116 linesLord Ingram and Childe Vyetcommon measure · 124 linesFair Janetcommon measure · 118 linesOld Robin of Portingaleiambic tetrameter · 120 linesLord Thomas and Fair Annetcommon measure · 140 linesRose the Red and White Lilycommon measure · 211 linesLeesome Brandiambic tetrameter · AABB · 52 linesBabyloniambic tetrameter · AABB · 40 linesPrince Robertiambic tetrameter · 72 linesYoung Andrewiambic tetrameter · 121 linesThe Gay Goshawkcommon measure · 112 linesWillie’s Lyke-Wakeiambic pentameter · AABB · 28 linesFair Margaret and Sweet Williamcommon measure · 72 linesThe Twa Brotherscommon measure · 56 linesThe Cruel Brotheriambic tetrameter · AABB · 62 linesEdward, Edwardiambic tetrameter · 56 linesLord Randalunrhymed · 20 linesThe Twa Corbiesiambic tetrameter · AABB · 20 linesThe Three Ravensiambic tetrameter · AABB · 20 linesThe Nut-Brown Maidiambic trimeter · 360 linesFause Foodragecommon measure · 140 linesThe Fair Flower of Northumberlandtrochaic pentameter · ABAB · 96 linesYoung Johncommon measure · 56 linesLady Maisrycommon measure · 130 linesBonny Bee Ho’mcommon measure · 44 linesSir Patrick Spenscommon measure · 88 linesThe Lord of Lorniambic tetrameter · 243 linesEdom o’ Gordoncommon measure · 136 linesLamkinshort measure · 112 linesHugh of Lincolncommon measure · 70 linesThe Heir of Linnecommon measure · 128 linesFair Mary of Wallingtoncommon measure · 131 linesYoung Waterscommon measure · 56 linesThe Queen’s Mariecommon measure · 104 linesThe Outlaw Murrayiambic tetrameter · 302 linesGlenlogiealexandrines · AABB · 34 linesLady Elspatiambic tetrameter · 52 linesJamie Douglasiambic tetrameter · 104 linesKatharine Johnstonecommon measure · 80 linesJohnie Armstrongiambic tetrameter · 132 linesClyde Watercommon measure · 132 linesYoung Benjiecommon measure · 88 linesAnnan Wateriambic pentameter · 56 linesRare Willy drowned in Yarrowiambic tetrameter · 16 linesThe Duke of Gordon’s Daughtercommon measure · 123 linesThe Bonny Earl of Murrayiambic trimeter · 24 linesBonny George Campbelliambic trimeter · 24 linesJudasshort measure · 70 linesThe Maid and the Palmertrochaic tetrameter · 30 linesThe Falconiambic tetrameter · 18 linesThe Cherry-Tree Carolshort measure · 76 linesThe Carnal and the Craneshort measure · 120 linesJolly WatAABB · 63 linesI Saw Three Shipsiambic tetrameter · 20 linesThe Twelve Good Joysiambic trimeter · 66 linesThe Angel Gabrieliambic tetrameter · 48 linesThe Three Kingsiambic tetrameter · AABB · 70 linesThe Innocentsiambic tetrameter · 90 linesDives and Lazaruscommon measure · 64 linesThe Holy Wellcommon measure · 52 linesThe Seven Virginscommon measure · 44 linesRobyn and Gandelynshort measure · 76 linesThe Birth of Robin Hoodcommon measure · 72 linesAdam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudesleycommon measure · 682 linesA Little Geste of Robin Hood and his Meinycommon measure · 1829 linesRobin Hood and Guy of Gisbornecommon measure · 232 linesRobin Hood and the Monkcommon measure · 357 linesRobin Hood and the Curtal Friarcommon measure · 168 linesRobin Hood and the Butcheriambic tetrameter · 120 linesRobin Hood and the Bishop of Herefordiambic tetrameter · 90 linesRobin Hood and Alan a Daleiambic tetrameter · 108 linesRobin Hood and the Widow’s Three Sonsiambic tetrameter · 116 linesRobin Hood’s Golden Prizecommon measure · 96 linesThe Noble Fishermaniambic tetrameter · 112 linesThe Death of Robin Hoodcommon measure · 102 linesDurham Fieldcommon measure · 264 linesThe Battle of Otterburncommon measure · 301 linesChevy Chaseiambic tetrameter · 265 linesNorthumberland Betrayed by Douglasiambic tetrameter · 208 linesSir Andrew Bartoniambic pentameter · 321 linesThe ‘George-Aloe’ABAB · 92 linesThe ‘Golden Vanity’iambic heptameter · 32 linesJohn Doryiambic tetrameter · 36 linesWillie Macintoshtrochaic trimeter · 24 linesThe Bonnie House o’ Airlieiambic tetrameter · 40 linesJohnnie of Cockersleecommon measure · 120 linesKinmont Willieiambic tetrameter · 184 linesJock o’ the Sideiambic tetrameter · 148 linesHobbie Nobleiambic tetrameter · 140 linesArchie of Cawfieldiambic tetrameter · 136 linesJamie Telfer in the Fair Dodheadiambic tetrameter · 196 linesDick o’ the Cowiambic pentameter · 252 linesHughie the Graemeiambic tetrameter · 60 linesThe Lochmaben Harperiambic tetrameter · 80 linesThe Fire of Frendraughtcommon measure · 109 linesThe Death of Parcy Reediambic tetrameter · 170 linesBaby Livingstoncommon measure · 168 linesThe Gypsy Countessiambic tetrameter · 40 linesThe Baron of Brackleyanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 48 linesThe Dowie Houms of Yarrowiambic tetrameter · 60 linesLord Maxwell’s Last Goodnightcommon measure · 64 linesHelen of Kirconnelliambic tetrameter · 40 linesThe Lament of the Border Widowiambic tetrameter · AABB · 28 linesLady Aliceiambic tetrameter · 24 linesLord Loveltrochaic tetrameter · 40 linesThe Trees So Highiambic tetrameter · 64 linesThe Brown Girlcommon measure · 40 linesBarbara Allan’s Crueltyiambic tetrameter · 40 linesThe Gardenercommon measure · 36 linesThe Lowlands o’ Hollandiambic heptameter · AABB · 16 linesThe Spanish Lady’s Lovetrochaic tetrameter · 96 linesThe Bailiff’s Daughter of Islingtoncommon measure · 52 linesThe Blind Beggar’s Daughter of Bednall-Greenanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 268 linesThe Loving Ballad of Lord Batemaniambic pentameter · 84 linesMary Ambreeanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 80 linesThe Lady turned Serving-Maniambic tetrameter · AABB · 112 linesThe Simple Ploughboyiambic tetrameter · 42 linesCawsand Bayanapaestic tetrameter · 36 linesThe Greenland Fisheryiambic tetrameter · 50 linesThe Old Cloakiambic tetrameter · 64 linesWiddicombe Fair38 linesGet up and Bar the Doorcommon measure · 44 linesKing John and the Abbot of CanterburyAABB · 108 linesThe Children in the Woodiambic tetrameter · 160 linesThe Suffolk Miracleiambic tetrameter · AABB · 108 linesBessie Bell and Mary Grayiambic tetrameter · 16 lines
About this text
Public domain. Text from The Oxford Book of Ballads, Project Gutenberg ebook #44593. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.