The Fire Of Frendraught Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B C D D EFCE DDDD GHD ICJ KDCD BLBD CMM BJDJ DNB DJDJ DJM DMJCO DJJJ MCPC MQP DQDC CCDC DDDD BRMR CCD MJJJ JMM CCPC BRM QCBJ BJC

The Text is from Motherwell's Minstrelsy He received the ballad from Charles Kirkpatrick Sharp In Maidment's North Countrie Garland there is a similar version with a number of small verbal differencesA
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The Story Frendraught in Aberdeenshire and Rothiemay in Banffshire lie on opposite sides of the Deveron which separates the counties A feud began as the result of a dispute over fishing rights between Crichton of Frendraught and Gordon of Rothiemay and in a fight on the first day of the year Rothiemay and others were killed Kinsmen of both parties were involved and though the broil was temporarily settled another soon sprang up The Lord John of the ballad was Viscount Melgum the second son of the Marquis of Huntly who was appealed to as a peacemaker between the factions of Leslie and Crichton Lord John and Rothiemay were sent by the Marquis to escort Frendraught to his home a precaution rendered necessary by the knowledge that the Leslies were in ambuscade Arrived at Frendraught the laird and lady entreated the two young men to remain the night and eventually prevailed on them to do soB
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However though it was long disputed whether the fire was an accident or not it seems that the ancient grudge against Rothiemay moved Frendraught to sacrifice 'a great quantity of silver both coined and uncoined ' in the firing of his house for the sake of burning RothiemayC
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Sophia Hay was the daughter of the Earl of Erroll and Viscount Melgum's wife The last two lines of the ballad are not easily explained as the lady is recorded to have been deeply attached to her husband but it is possible that they have been inserted from a similar stanza in some other balladD
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THE FIRE OF FRENDRAUGHTD
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The eighteenth of OctoberE
A dismal tale to hearF
How good Lord John and RothiemayC
Was both burnt in the fireE
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When steeds was saddled and well bridledD
And ready for to rideD
Then out it came her false FrendraughtD
Inviting them to bideD
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Said 'Stay this night untill we supG
The morn untill we dineH
'Twill be a token of good 'greementD
'Twixt your good Lord and mine '-
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'We'll turn again ' said good Lord JohnI
'But no ' said RothiemayC
'My steed's trapan'd my bridle's brokenJ
I fear the day I'm fey '-
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When mass was sung and bells was rungK
And all men bound for bedD
Then good Lord John and RothiemayC
In one chamber was laidD
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They had not long cast off their cloathsB
And were but now asleepL
When the weary smoke began to riseB
Likewise the scorching heatD
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'O waken waken RothiemayC
O waken brother dearM
And turn you to our SaviourM
There is strong treason here '-
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When they were dressed in their cloathsB
And ready for to bounJ
The doors and windows was all securedD
The roof tree burning downJ
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He did him to the wire windowD
As fast as he could gangN
Says 'Wae to the hands put in the stancheonsB
For out we'll never win '-
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When he stood at the wire windowD
Most doleful to be seenJ
He did espy her Lady FrendraughtD
Who stood upon the greenJ
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Cried 'Mercy mercy Lady FrendraughtD
Will ye not sink with sinJ
For first your husband killed my fatherM
And now you burn his son '-
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O then out spoke her Lady FrendraughtD
And loudly did she cryM
'It were great pity for good Lord JohnJ
But none for RothiemayC
But the keys are casten in the deep draw wellO
Ye cannot get away '-
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While he stood in this dreadful plightD
Most piteous to be seenJ
There called out his servant GordonJ
As he had frantic beenJ
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'O loup O loup my dear masterM
O loup and come to meC
I'll catch you in my arms twoP
One foot I will not fleeC
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'O loup O loup my dear masterM
O loup and come awayQ
I'll catch you in my arms twoP
But Rothiemay may lie '-
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'The fish shall never swim in the floodD
Nor corn grow through the clayQ
Nor the fiercest fire that was ever kindledD
Twin me and RothiemayC
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'But I cannot loup I cannot comeC
I cannot win to theeC
My head's fast in the wire windowD
My feet burning from meC
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'My eyes are seething in my headD
My flesh roasting alsoD
My bowels are boiling with my bloodD
Is not that a woeful woeD
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'Take here the rings from my white fingersB
That are so long and smallR
And give them to my lady fairM
Where she sits in her hallR
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'So I cannot loup I cannot comeC
I cannot loup to theeC
My earthly part is all consumedD
My spirit but speaks to thee '-
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Wringing her hands tearing her hairM
His lady she was seenJ
And thus addressed his servant GordonJ
Where he stood on the greenJ
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'O wae be to you George GordonJ
An ill death may you dieM
So safe and sound as you stand thereM
And my lord bereaved from me '-
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'I bad him loup I bad him comeC
I bad him loup to meC
I'd catch him in my arms twoP
A foot I should not fleeC
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'He threw me the rings from his white fingersB
Which were so long and smallR
To give to you his lady fairM
Where you sat in your hall '-
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Sophia Hay Sophia HayQ
O bonny Sophia was her nameC
Her waiting maid put on her cloathsB
But I wot she tore them off againJ
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And aft she cried 'Ohon alas alasB
A sair heart's ill to winJ
I wan a sair heart when I married himC
And the day it's well return'd again '-

Frank Sidgwick



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The Fire Of Frendraught is a poem by Frank Sidgwick. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.



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