Note 144 — 89 FAUSE FOODRAGE
Reading edition
"As far as he can remember, the old woman gave the story in fewer verses." Christie gives the ballad from Scott (omitting stanzas 10-18), "with slight alterations from the way she sung it." These alterations are: 11, has omitted. 41, Then some for O some. 263, fair castle for bonny castle (bonny in Scott, 1833; fair in Scott, 1802). 292, is right for was right. 294. Ere ever you for Or ever ye. Dean Christie's memory, it seems, retains the most inconsiderable variations, while it is not so good for larger things. See the note at Christie, I, 128, 'Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter,' in this volume, and other ballads.