Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Part 12

4.

When she came to Carterhaugh Tam Lin was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsel'.

5.

She had na pu'd a double rose, A rose but only twa, Till up then started young Tam Lin, Says, 'Lady, thou's pu' nae mae.

6.

'Why pu's thou the rose, Janet, And why breaks thou the wand?

Or why comes thou to Carterhaugh Withoutten my command?'

7.

'Carterhaugh, it is my ain, My daddie gave it me; I'll come and gang by Carterhaugh, And ask nae leave at thee.'

8.

Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little aboon her knee, And she has snooded her yellow hair A little aboon her bree, And she is to her father's ha', As fast as she can hie.

9.

Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the ba', And out then cam' the fair Janet, Ance the flower amang them a'.

10.

Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the chess, And out then cam' the fair Janet, As green as onie gla.s.s.

11.

Out then spak an auld grey knight, Lay o'er the castle wa', And says, 'Alas, fair Janet, for thee But we'll be blamed a'.'

12.

'Haud your tongue, ye auld fac'd knight, Some ill death may ye die!

Father my bairn on whom I will, I'll father nane on thee.'

13.

Out then spak her father dear, And he spak meek and mild; 'And ever alas, sweet Janet,' he says, 'I think thou gaes wi' child.'

14.

'If that I gae wi' child, father, Mysel' maun bear the blame; There's ne'er a laird about your ha'

Shall get the bairn's name.

15.

'If my love were an earthly knight, As he's an elfin grey, I wadna gie my ain true-love For nae lord that ye hae.

16.

'The steed that my true-love rides on Is lighter than the wind; Wi' siller he is shod before, Wi' burning gowd behind.'

17.

Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little aboon her knee, And she has snooded her yellow hair A little aboon her bree, And she's awa' to Carterhaugh, As fast as she can hie.

18.

When she cam' to Carterhaugh, Tam Lin was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsel'.

19.

She had na pu'd a double rose, A rose but only twa, Till up then started young Tam Lin, Says, 'Lady, thou pu's nae mae.

20.

'Why pu's thou the rose, Janet, Amang the groves sae green, And a' to kill the bonie babe That we gat us between?'

21.

'O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,' she says, 'For's sake that died on tree, If e'er ye was in holy chapel, Or christendom did see?'

22.

'Roxbrugh he was my grandfather, Took me with him to bide, And ance it fell upon a day That wae did me betide.

23.

'And ance it fell upon a day, A cauld day and a snell, When we were frae the hunting come, That frae my horse I fell; The Queen o' Fairies she caught me, In yon green hill to dwell.

24.

'And pleasant is the fairy land, But, an eerie tale to tell, Ay at the end of seven years We pay a tiend to h.e.l.l; I am sae fair and fu' o' flesh, I'm fear'd it be mysel'.

25.

'But the night is Halloween, lady, The morn is Hallowday; Then win me, win me, an ye will, For weel I wat ye may.

26.

'Just at the mirk and midnight hour The fairy folk will ride, And they that wad their true-love win, At Miles Cross they maun bide.'

27.

'But how shall I thee ken, Tam Lin, Or how my true-love know, Amang sae mony unco knights The like I never saw?'

28.

'O first let pa.s.s the black, lady, And syne let pa.s.s the brown, But quickly run to the milk-white steed, Pu' ye his rider down.

29.

'For I'll ride on the milk-white steed, And ay nearest the town; Because I was an earthly knight They gie me that renown.

30.

'My right hand will be glov'd, lady, My left hand will be bare, c.o.c.kt up shall my bonnet be, And kaim'd down shall my hair; And thae's the takens I gie thee, Nae doubt I will be there.

31.

'They'll turn me in your arms, lady, Into an esk and adder; But hold me fast, and fear me not, I am your bairn's father.

32.

'They'll turn me to a bear sae grim, And then a lion bold; But hold me fast, and fear me not, As ye shall love your child.

33.

'Again they'll turn me in your arms To a red het gaud of airn; But hold me fast, and fear me not, I'll do to you nae harm.

34.

'And last they'll turn me in your arms Into the burning gleed; Then throw me into well water, O throw me in wi' speed.

35.

'And then I'll be your ain true-love, I'll turn a naked knight; Then cover me wi' your green mantle, And cover me out o' sight.'