This romantic ballad is taken from Mr Herd’s MSS., with several corrections from a shorter and more imperfect copy, in the same volume, and one or two conjectural emendations in the arrangement of the stanzas.  The resemblance of the conclusion to the ballad, beginning, “There came a ghost to Margaret’s door,” will strike every reader.—­The tale is uncommonly wild and beautiful, and apparently very ancient.  The custom of the passing bell is still kept up in many villages of Scotland.  The sexton goes through the town, ringing a small bell, and announcing the death of the departed, and the time of the funeral.—­The three concluding verses have been recovered since the first edition of this work; and I am informed by the reciter, that it was usual to separate from the rest, that part of the ballad which follows the death of the lovers, as belonging to another story.  For this, however, there seems no necessity, as other authorities give the whole as a complete tale.

CLERK SAUNDERS.

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

  Clerk Saunders and may Margaret
   Walked ower yon garden green;
  And sad and heavy was the love
   That fell thir twa between.

  “A bed, a bed,” Clerk Saunders said,
   “A bed for you and me!”
  “Fye na, fye na,” said may Margaret,
   “Till anes we married be.

  “For in may come my seven bauld brothers,
   “Wi’ torches burning bright;
  “They’ll say—­’We hae but ae sister,
   “And behold she’s wi’ a knight!’

  “Then take the sword frae my scabbard,
   “And slowly lift the pin;
  “And you may swear, and safe your aith,
   “Ye never let Clerk Saunders in.

  “And take a napkin in your hand,
   “And tie up baith your bonny een;
  “And you may swear, and safe your aith,
   “Ye saw me na since late yestreen.”

  It was about the midnight hour,
   When they asleep were laid,
  When in and came her seven brothers,
   Wi’ torches burning red.

  When in and came her seven brothers,
   Wi’ torches shining bright;
  They said, “We hae but ae sister,
   “And behold her lying with a knight!”

  Then out and spake the first o’ them,
   “I bear the sword shall gar him die!”
  And out and spake the second o’ them,
   “His father has nae mair than he!”

  And out and spake the third o’ them,
   “I wot that they are lovers dear!”
  And out and spake the fourth o’ them,
   “They hae been in love this mony a year!”

  Then out and spake the fifth o’ them,
   “It were great sin true love to twain!”
  And out and spake the sixth o’ them,
   “It were shame to slay a sleeping man!”

  Then up and gat the seventh o’ them,
   And never a word spake he;
  But he has striped[A] his bright brown brand
   Out through Clerk Saunders’ fair bodye.