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"The Dowie Dens of Yarrow", also known as "The Braes of Yarrow" is a Scottish border ballad (Child 214, Roud13). It exists in many variants (Child collected at least 18) and it has been printed as a broadside, as well as published in song collections. It is considered to be a folk standard, in that the original author is unknown, and versions have been performed by many artists. ==Synopsis== The song describes an unequal conflict between a group of men and one man, concerning a lady. This takes place in the vicinity of Yarrow. The one man succeeds on overcoming nearly all his opponents but is finally defeated by (usually) the last one of them. In some versions, the lady (who is not usually named) rejects a number (often nine) wealthy suitors, in preference for a servant or ploughman. The nine make a pact to kill the other man and they ambush him in the "Dens of Yarrow". :There lived a lady in the West, :I neer could find her marrow; :She was courted by nine gentlemen :And a ploughboy-lad in Yarrow. :These nine sat drinking at the wine, :Sat drinking wine in Yarrow; :They made a vow among themselves :To fight for her in Yarrow.〔Child version 214Q〕 In some versions it is unclear who the nine (or other number of men) are; in others, they are brothers or are men sent by the lady's father.〔Child version 214J〕 In the ensuing fight, eight of the attackers are generally killed or wounded, but the ninth (often identified as the lady's brother, John or Douglas) fatally wounds the victim of the plot, usually by running him through with a sword and often by a cowardly blow, delivered from behind. :Four he hurt, an five he slew, :Till down it fell himsell O; :There stood a fause lord him behin, :Who thrust his body thorrow.〔Child version 214I〕 The lady may see the events in a dream, either before or after they take place and usually has some sort of dialogue with her father about the merits of the man who has been ambushed and killed. :"O hold your tongue, my daughter dear, :An tak it not in sorrow; :I’ll wed you wi as good a lord :As you’ve lost this day in Yarrow." :"O haud your tongue, my father dear, :An wed your sons wi sorrow; :For a fairer flower neer sprang in May nor June :Nor I’ve lost this day in Yarrow."〔Child version 214B〕 Some versions of the song end with the lady grieving: in others she dies of grief.〔Child version 214D〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Dowie Dens o Yarrow」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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