“Young Allan”
Description
In a drunken gathering, Allan boasts of the speed of his ship. Challenged, he takes part in a race and is caught in a storm. Allan calls on a "bonny boy" to steer the ship (with offers of reward), then begs the ship to rescue him. Somehow, all survive
Notes
Child sees analogies between this ballad and mythical vessels which sailed at the will of their masters (e.g. the Phaeacian ships in _Odyssey_ viii.557 or the Scandinavian _Ellitha_). Given, however, the sorry state of the versions in Child, one may doubt how much of this is tradition and how much simply confusion. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Sir Patrick Spens" [Child 58] (lyrics)
References
- Child 245, "Young Allan" (5 texts)
- Bronson 245, "Young Allan" (16 versions)
- Ord, pp. 320-322, "Young Allan" (1 text)
- Leach, pp. 608-611, "Young Allan" (1 text)
- DBuchan 58, "Young Allan" (1 text)
- DT 245, YNGALAN* YNGALAN2*
- Roud #242
- BI, C245