Prince Robert

Prince Robert is Child ballad number 87, existing in several variants, and a murder ballad. [Francis James Child, "English and Scottish Popular Ballads", [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch087.htm "Prince Robert"] ]

ynopsis

Prince (or Earl or Lord) Robert married against his mother's wishes and went to beg her blessing. She prepared a wine cup with poison, put it to her lips without drinking, and gave it to her son. He died. The bride was summoned on the pretext of a meal and told the news, and that she will get nothing of his property. She wants none of his property but the ring on his finger that was promised to her, but even that is denied her. She dies, and they are buried together.

Motifs

Francis James Child noted that other ballads included a mother who poisoned her son over a match, but considered none to compare to this one. [Francis James Child, "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads", v 2, p 279, Dover Publications, New York 1965]

"Willie's Lady" also revolves about the mother's hostility.

The poisoner who feigns drinking her own poison is also found in the Scottish fairy tale "Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree".

References