The Whummil Bore

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"The Whummil Bore" is Child ballad 27.[1] A whummil is a tool for drilling holes.

Synopsis[edit]

The narrator served the king seven years and "saw his daughter only once"—meaning saw her naked, through a whummil bore. She was being dressed by her maids.

Commentary[edit]

Only one variant of this ballad exists.[2] "Hind Horn" appears to contain a stanza from it.[3]

Recording[edit]

This is recorded on the Steeleye Span 2006 album Bloody Men.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Francis James Child, English and Scottish Popular Ballads, "The Whummil Bore"
  2. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 247, Dover Publications, New York 1965
  3. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 247, Dover Publications, New York 1965