Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

THE SCOTTISH BORDER. 127
THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST.
FART FIRST.
The following well-known and beautiful stanzas were
composed, many years ago, by a lady of family in Rox-
burghshire. The manner of the ancient minstrels is so
happily imitated, that it required the most positive evi-
dence to convince the editor that the song v/as of modern
date. Such evidence, however, he has been able to pro-
cure ; having been favoured, through the kind interven-
tion of Dr Somerville (well known to the literary world,
as the historian of King William, &c.,) with the follow-
ing authentic copy of the Flowers of the Forest.
From the same respectable authority, the editor is en-
abled to state, that the tune of the ballad is ancient, as
well as the two following lines of the first stanza
I've heard them lihing at the ewes milking,
Tlie flowers of the forest are a' wede awa)'.
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