[1] Scott describes the ballad as being written not in the common language of the time, but in the "old Scottish idiom" such as to produce a more literal translation.
[1] The Saturday Review praised Svend Dyring, arguing that the ballad, "with its combination of intense pathos and high imaginative power, stands alone, we are inclined to think, in the ballad-literature of Europe.
"[3] In Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights, Ellen (Nelly) Dean sings a portion of the ballad to Hareton Earnshaw, though the lyrics are somewhat different from those published by Scott.
[1] Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published a short story based on the ballad as The Spirit Mother.
Wi' her banes sae star a bowt she gae; She's riven baith wa' and marble gray.
"My mither was white, wi' cheek sae red; But thou art wan, and liker ane dead.
"Gin aft I come back to visit thee, Wae, dowy, and weary thy luck shall be."
Aye when they heard the dog nirr and bell, Sae ga'e they the bairnies bread and ale.
Aye whan the dog did wow, in haste They cross'd and sain'd themsells frae the ghast.
Svend Dyring han red da op under ø (Så fager da falder den rim) Han fæsted sig atter en anden mø (Fagre ord fryde så mangt et hjerte)
Om aftenen silde da børnene de græd (Så fager da falder den rim) Det hørte deres moder under mulden ned (Fagre ord fryde så mangt et hjerte)
Og der hun kom i stuen ind (Så fager da falder den rim) De små børn de stå med tårer på kind (Fagre ord fryde så mangt et hjerte)
I beder Svend Dyring gå til mig ind (Så fager da falder den rim) Hun talte til ham med vreden sind (Fagre ord fryde så mangt et hjerte)