Ballads of Romance and Chivalry

Traditional English and Scottish ballads carry stories of love, family conflict and chivalry in this collection selected and edited by Frank Sidgwick. Its contents include Barbara Allan, Lord Randal, The Marriage of Sir Gawaine and other narrative poems passed down through oral tradition. The excerpt from Lady Maisry follows a woman whose choice of an English lord brings her into conflict with her brother, while a young messenger races to seek help.

Sidgwick's preface explains how he chose among surviving versions, aiming for a complete story while recording the sources of his texts. Notes explain older words and identify recurring ballad phrases. Alongside the verse, the introduction, glossary and list of books for further study offer a way into the language and history of these poems. Readers interested in traditional storytelling can compare the swift action of the ballads with the editor's account of how they were preserved.