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From Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, (iii. 49.)

Scott changed the name of the hero of this piece from Lord Ronald to Lord Randal, on the authority of a single copy. The change is unimportant, but the reason will appear curious, if we remember that the Swedes and Germans have the ballad as well as the Scotch;—"because, though the circumstances are so very different, I think it not impossible, that the ballad may have originally regarded the death of Thomas Randolph, or Randal, Earl of Murray, nephew to Robert Bruce, and governor of Scotland."

"O where hae ye been Lord Randal, my son?

O where hae ye been, my handsome young man?"—

"I hae been to the wild wood; mother make my bed soon,

For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down."—

"Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?5

Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?"

"I dined wi' my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,

For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down."—

"What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?

What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?"—10

"I gat eels boil'd in broo; mother, make my bed soon,

For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down."—

"What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son?

What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?"—

"O they swell'd and they died; mother, make my bed soon,15

For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down."—

"O I fear ye are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son!

O I fear ye are poisoned, my handsome young man!"—

"O yes! I am poison'd; mother, make my bed soon,

For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down."20