Young Benjie [Child 86]

DESCRIPTION: Benjie quarrels with his lover, who vows to seek another. He drowns her. During the night watch over the corpse [lykewake] she reveals to her three brothers who killed her. They ask whether they should behead or hang him. She bids them put out his eyes.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1803 (Scott)
KEYWORDS: lover corpse funeral brother injury revenge ghost
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
Child 86, "Young Benjie" (2 texts)
Bronson 86, "Young Benjie" (1 version)
Bronson-SingingTraditionOfChildsPopularBallads 86, "Young Benjie" (1 version)
Barry/Eckstorm/Smyth-BritishBalladsFromMaine p. 453, "Young Benjie" (notes only)
Leach-TheBalladBook, pp. 280-283, "Young Benjie" (1 text)
Quiller-Couch-OxfordBookOfBallads 91, "Young Benjie" (1 text)
Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads, pp. 169-170, "Bondsey and Maisry"; pp. 199-201, "Young Benjie" (2 texts)
DT 81, YNGBENJI*
Roud #3911
File: C086

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