Chapter IX: Book I: 1. Thomas the Rhymer (1)

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True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank;
A ferlie[5] he spied wi’ his e’e;
And there he saw a ladye bright
Come riding down by the Eildon Tree.

Her skirt was o’ the grass-green silk,
Her mantle o’ the velvet fyne;
At ilka tett[6] o’ her horse’s mane
Hung fifty siller bells and nine.

III

True Thomas he pu’d aff his cap,
And louted low down on his knee:
‘Hail to thee, Mary, Queen of Heaven!
For thy peer on earth could never be.’

‘O no, O no, Thomas,’ she said,
‘That name does not belang to me;
I’m but the Queen o’ fair Elfland,
That am hither come to visit thee.

‘Harp and carp[7], Thomas,’ she said;
‘Harp and carp along wi’ me;
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your bodie I will be.’

‘Betide me weal, betide me woe,
That weird[8] shall never daunten me.’
Syne he has kiss’d her rosy lips,
All underneath the Eildon Tree.

VII

‘Now ye maun go wi’ me,’ she said,
‘True Thomas, ye maun go wi’ me;
And ye maun serve me seven years,
Thro’ weal or woe as may chance to be.’

VIII

She’s mounted on her milk-white steed,
She’s ta’en true Thomas up behind;
And aye, whene’er her bridle rang,
The steed gaed swifter than the wind.

O they rade on, and farther on,
The steed gaed swifter than the wind;
Until they reach’d a desert wide,
And living land was left behind.

‘Light down, light down now, true Thomas,
And lean your head upon my knee;
Abide ye there a little space,
And I will show you ferlies three.

‘O see ye not yon narrow road,
So thick beset wi’ thorns and briers?
That is the Path of Righteousness,
Though after it but few inquires.

XII

‘And see ye not yon braid, braid road,
That lies across the lily leven[9]?
That is the Path of Wickedness,
Though some call it the Road to Heaven.

XIII

‘And see ye not yon bonny road
That winds about the fernie brae?
That is the Road to fair Elfland,
Where thou and I this night maun gae.

XIV

‘But, Thomas, ye sall haud your tongue,
Whatever ye may hear or see;
For speak ye word in Elflyn-land,
Ye’ll ne’er win back to your ain countrie.’

O they rade on, and farther on,
And they waded rivers abune the knee;
And they saw neither sun nor moon,
But they heard the roaring of the sea.

XVI

It was mirk, mirk night, there was nae starlight,
They waded thro’ red blude to the knee;
For a’ the blude that’s shed on the earth
Rins through the springs o’ that countrie.

XVII

Syne they came to a garden green,
And she pu’d an apple frae a tree:
‘Take this for thy wages, true Thomas;
It will give thee the tongue that can never lee.’

XVIII

‘My tongue is my ain,’ true Thomas he said;
‘A gudely gift ye wad gie to me!
I neither dought[10] to buy or sell
At fair or tryst where I might be.

XIX

‘I dought neither speak to prince or peer,
Nor ask of grace from fair ladye!’--
‘Now haud thy peace, Thomas,’ she said,
‘For as I say, so must it be.’

He has gotten a coat of the even cloth[11],
And a pair o’ shoon of the velvet green;
And till seven years were gane and past,
True Thomas on earth was never seen.

FOOTNOTES:

[5] ferlie = marvel.

[6] tett = tuft.

[7] harp and carp = play and recite (as a minstrel).

[8] weird = doom.

[9] leven =? lawn.

[10] dought = could.

[11] even cloth = smooth cloth.

_2. Tam Lin_

‘O I forbid you, maidens a’,
That wear gowd on your hair,
To come or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tam Lin is there.

‘For even about that knight’s middle
O’ siller bells are nine;
And nae maid comes to Carterhaugh
And a maid returns again.’

III

Fair Janet sat in her bonny bower,
Sewing her silken seam,
And wish’d to be in Carterhaugh
Amang the leaves sae green.

She’s lat her seam fa’ to her feet,
The needle to her tae[12],
And she’s awa’ to Carterhaugh
As fast as she could gae.

And she has kilted her green kirtle
A little abune her knee;
And she has braided her yellow hair
A little abune her bree[13];
And she has gaen for Carterhaugh
As fast as she can hie.

She hadna pu’d a rose, a rose,
A rose but barely ane,
When up and started young Tam Lin;
Says, ‘Ladye, let alane.

VII

‘What gars ye pu’ the rose, Janet?
What gars ye break the tree?
What gars ye come to Carterhaugh
Without the leave o’ me?’

VIII

‘Weel may I pu’ the rose,’ she says,
‘And ask no leave at thee;
For Carterhaugh it is my ain,
My daddy gave it me.’

He’s ta’en her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
He’s led her to the fairy ground
At her he ask’d nae leave.

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

But when she came to her father’s ha’,
She look’d sae wan and pale,
They thought the lady had gotten a fright,
Or with sickness she did ail.

XII

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

XIII

Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess,
And out then came fair Janet
As green as onie glass.

XIV

Out then spak’ an auld grey knight
’Lay owre the Castle wa’,
And says, ‘Alas, fair Janet!
For thee we’ll be blamèd a’.’

‘Hauld your tongue, ye auld-faced knight,
Some ill death may ye die!
Father my bairn on whom I will,
I’ll father nane on thee.

XVI

‘O if my love were an earthly knight,
As he is an elfin gay,
I wadna gie my ain true-love
For nae laird that ye hae.

XVII

‘The steed that my true-love rides on
Is fleeter nor the wind;
Wi’ siller he is shod before,
Wi’ burning gold behind.’

XVIII

Out then spak’ her brither dear--
He meant to do her harm:
‘There grows an herb in Carterhaugh
Will twine[14] you an’ the bairn.’

XIX

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

She hadna pu’d a leaf, a leaf,
A leaf but only twae,
When up and started young Tam Lin,
Says, ‘Ladye, thou’s pu’ nae mae.

XXI

‘How dar’ ye pu’ a leaf?’ he says,
‘How dar’ ye break the tree?
How dar’ ye scathe[15] my babe,’ he says,
‘That’s between you and me?’

XXII

‘O tell me, tell me, Tam,’ she says,
‘For His sake that died on tree,
If ye were ever in holy chapel
Or sain’d[16] in Christentie?’

XXIII

‘The truth I’ll tell to thee, Janet,
Ae word I winna lee;
A knight me got, and a lady me bore,
As well as they did thee.

XXIV

‘Roxburgh he was my grandfather,
Took me with him to bide;
And ance it fell upon a day,
As hunting I did ride,

XXV

‘There came a wind out o’ the north,
A sharp wind an’ a snell[17],
A dead sleep it came over me
And frae my horse I fell;
And the Queen o’ Fairies she took me
In yon green hill to dwell.

XXVI

‘And pleasant is the fairy land
For those that in it dwell,
But ay at end of seven years
They pay a teind[18] to hell;
I am sae fair and fu’ o’ flesh
I’m fear’d ’twill be mysell.

XXVII

‘But the night is Hallowe’en, Janet,
The morn is Hallowday;
Then win me, win me, an ye will,
For weel I wat ye may.

XXVIII

‘The night it is gude Hallowe’en,
The fairy folk do ride,
And they that wad their true-love win,
At Miles Cross they maun bide.’--

XXIX

‘But how should I you ken, Tam Lin,
How should I borrow[19] you,
Amang a pack of uncouth[20] knights
The like I never saw?’--

XXX

‘You’ll do you down to Miles Cross
Between twel’ hours and ane,
And fill your hands o’ the holy water
And cast your compass roun’.

XXXI

‘The first company that passes by,
Say na, and let them gae;
The neist company that passes by,
Say na, and do right sae;
The third company that passes by,
Then I’ll be ane o’ thae.

XXXII

‘O first let pass the black, ladye,
And syne let pass the brown;
But quickly run to the milk-white steed,
Pu’ ye his rider down.

XXXIII

‘For some ride on the black, ladye,
And some ride on the brown;
But I ride on a milk-white steed,
A gowd star on my crown:
Because I was an earthly knight
They gie me that renown.

XXXIV

‘My right hand will be gloved, ladye,
My left hand will be bare,
And thae’s the tokens I gie thee:
Nae doubt I will be there.

XXXV

‘Ye’ll tak’ my horse then by the head
And let the bridle fa’;
The Queen o’ Elfin she’ll cry out
“True Tam Lin he’s awa’!”

XXXVI

‘They’ll turn me in your arms, ladye,
An aske[21] but and a snake;
But hauld me fast, let me na gae,
To be your warldis make[22].

XXXVII

‘They’ll turn me in your arms, ladye,
But and a deer so wild;
But hauld me fast, let me na gae,
The father o’ your child.

XXXVIII

‘They’ll shape me in your arms, ladye,
A hot iron at the fire;
But hauld me fast, let me na go,
To be your heart’s desire.

XXXIX

‘They’ll shape me last in your arms, Janet,
A mother-naked man;
Cast your green mantle over me,
And sae will I be won.’

Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little abune the knee;
And she has snooded her yellow hair
A little abune her bree,
And she is on to Miles Cross
As fast as she can hie.

XLI

About the dead hour o’ the night
She heard the bridles ring;
And Janet was as glad at that
As any earthly thing.

XLII

And first gaed by the black, black steed,
And syne gaed by the brown;
But fast she gript the milk-white steed
And pu’d the rider down.

XLIII

She’s pu’d him frae the milk-white steed,
An’ loot[23] the bridle fa’,
And up there rase an eldritch[24] cry,
‘True Tam Lin he’s awa’!’

XLIV

They shaped him in her arms twa
An aske but and a snake;
But aye she grips and hau’ds him fast
To be her warldis make.

XLV

They shaped him in her arms twa
But and a deer sae wild;
But aye she grips and hau’ds him fast,
The father o’ her child.

XLVI

They shaped him in her arms twa
A hot iron at the fire;
But aye she grips and hau’ds him fast
To be her heart’s desire.

XLVII

They shaped him in her arms at last
A mother-naked man;
She cast her mantle over him,
And sae her love she wan.

XLVIII

Up then spak’ the Queen o’ Fairies,
Out o’ a bush o’ broom,
‘She that has borrow’d young Tam Lin
Has gotten a stately groom.’

XLIX

Out then spak’ the Queen o’ Fairies,
And an angry woman was she,
‘She’s ta’en awa’ the bonniest knight
In a’ my companie!

‘But what I ken this night, Tam Lin,
Gin I had kent yestreen,
I wad ta’en out thy heart o’ flesh,
And put in a heart o’ stane.

‘And adieu, Tam Lin! But gin I had kent
A ladye wad borrow’d thee,
I wad ta’en out thy twa grey e’en
Put in twa e’en o’ tree[25].

LII

‘And had I the wit yestreen, yestreen,
That I have coft[26] this day,
I’d paid my teind seven times to hell
Ere you had been won away!’

FOOTNOTES:

[12] tae = toe.

[13] bree = eye-brow.

[14] twine = part, sunder.

[15] scathe = harm.

[16] sain’d = blessed, baptised.

[17] snell = keen, cold.

[18] teind = tithe.

[19] borrow = ransom.

[20] uncouth = unknown.

[21] aske = newt, lizard.

[22] make = mate, husband.

[23] loot = let.

[24] eldritch = unearthly.

[25] tree = wood.

[26] coft = bought.

_3. Sir Cawline_

_Jesus, Lord mickle of might,
That dyed for us on roode,
So maintaine us in all our right
That loves true English blood!_

Sir Cawline [was an English knight]
Curteous and full hardye;
[And our King has lent him] forth to fight,
Into Ireland over the sea.

III

And in that land there dwells a King,
Over all the bell does beare;
And he hath a ladye to his daughter,
Of fashion[27] she hath no peere;
Knights and lordes they woo’d her both,
Trusted to have been her feere[28].

Sir Cawline loves her best of onie,
But nothing durst he say
To discreeve[29] his councell to no man,
But dearlye loved this may[30].

Till it befell upon a day,
Great dill[31] to him was dight[32];
The mayden’s love removed his mind,
To care-bed[33] went the knight.

One while he spread his armes him fro,
And cryed so pittyouslye:
‘For the mayden’s love that I have most minde
This day shall comfort mee,
Or else ere noone I shall be dead!’
Thus can Sir Cawline say.

VII

When the parish mass that itt was done,
And the King was bowne[34] to dine,
Says, ‘Where is Sir Cawline, that was wont
To serve me with ale and wine?’

VIII

But then answer’d a curteous knight
Fast his hands wringìnge:
‘Sir Cawline’s sicke and like to be dead
Without and a good leechìnge[35].’

‘Feitch ye downe my daughter deere,
She is a leeche full fine;
Ay, and take you doe and the baken bread,
And [drinke he of] the wine soe red,
And looke no daynty’s for him too deare,
For full loth I wo’ld him tine[36].’

This ladye is gone to his chamber,
Her maydens following nye;
‘O well,’ she saith, ‘how doth my lord?’
‘O sicke!’ againe saith hee.

‘But rise up wightlye[37], man, for shame!
Ne’er lie here soe cowardlye!
Itt is told in my father’s hall
For my love you will dye.’--

XII

‘Itt is for your love, fayre ladye,
That all this dill I drie;
For if you wo’ld comfort me with a kisse,
Then were I brought from bale to bliss,
No longer here wo’ld I lye.’--

XIII

‘Alas! soe well you know, Sir Knight,
I cannot be your feere.’--
‘Yet some deeds of armes fain wo’ld I doe
To be your bacheleere.’--

XIV

‘On Eldritch Hill there grows a thorn,
Upon the mores[38] brodinge[39];
And wo’ld you, Sir Knight, wake there all night
To day of the other morninge?

‘For the Eldritch King, that is mickle of might,
Will examine[40] you beforne[41]:
There was never a man bare his life away
Since the day that I was born.’--

XVI

‘But I will for your sake, ladye,
Walk on the bents[42] soe browne,
And I’ll either bring you a readye token,
Or I’ll ne’er come to you again.’

XVII

But this ladye is gone to her chamber,
Her maydens following bright;
And Sir Cawline’s gone to the mores soe broad,
For to wake there all night.

XVIII

Unto midnight that the moone did rise
He walkèd up and downe,
And a lightsome bugle then heard he blow
Over the bents so browne;
Sayes he, ‘And if cryance[43] come to my heart,
I am farr from any good towne.’

XIX

And he spyèd, e’en a little him by,
A furyous king and a fell,
And a ladye bright his brydle led
[More] seemlye [than onie can tell].

Soe fast he call’d on Sir Cawline,
‘O man, I rede thee flye!
For if cryance come untill thy heart
I’m afeard lest thou maun dye!’--

XXI

He sayes, ‘No cryance comes to my heart,
Nor i’faith I fear not thee;
For because thou ming’d[44] not Christ before,
The lesse me dreadeth thee.’

XXII

But Sir Cawline then he shooke a speare;
The King was bold, and abode:
And the timber those two children bare
Soe soon in sunder slode[45]:
Forth they tooke and two good swords,
And they layden on good loade[46].

XXIII

The Eldritch King was mickle of might,
And stiffly to the ground did stand;
But Sir Cawline with an aukeward[47] stroke
He brought from him his hand--
Ay, and flying over his head so hye
It fell down of that lay land[48].

XXIV

His ladye stood a little thereby,
Fast her hands wringìnge:
‘For the mayden’s love that you have most minde,
Smyte you noe more [this King].

XXV

‘And he’s never[49] come upon Eldritch Hill
Him to sport, gammon or play,
And to meet no man of middle-earth[50]
That lives on Christ his lay[51].’

XXVI

But he then up, that Eldritch King,
Set him in his sadle againe,
And that Eldritch King and his ladye
To their castle are they gone.

XXVII

Sir Cawline took up that eldritch sword
As hard as any flynt,
Soe did he [the hand with] ringès five
Harder than fyer, and brent[52].

XXVIII

The watchmen cryed upon the walls
And sayd, ‘Sir Cawline’s slaine!’
Then the King’s daughter she fell downe,
‘For peerlesse is my payne!’--

XXIX

‘O peace, my ladye!’ sayes Sir Cawline,
‘I have bought thy love full deare;
O peace, my ladye!’ sayes Sir Cawline,
‘Peace, ladye, for I am heere!’

XXX

He’s presented to the King’s daughter
The hand, and then the sword
[And he has claimed the King’s daughter
According to her word].

XXXI

And the King has betaken[53] him his broad lands
And all his venison[54];
[Sayes] ‘Thou shalt have my daughter deare,
[And be my onelye son’].

FOOTNOTES:

[27] fashion = form, beauty.

[28] feere = mate, consort.

[29] discreeve = discover.

[30] may = maid.

[31] dill = dole, grief.

[32] dight = ordained.

[33] care-bed = sick-bed.

[34] bowne = made ready, gone.

[35] without and, &c. = unless he have a good leech, or physician.

[36] tine = lose.

[37] wightlye = briskly, stoutly.

[38] mores = moors.

[39] brodinge = growing, sprouting.

[40] examine = put to the test.

[41] beforne = before (morning).

[42] bents = rough grasses.

[43] cryance = yielding, cowardice.

[44] ming’d = mentioned, spoke the name of.

[45] slode = split.

[46] good loade = heavily.

[47] aukeward = back-handed.

[48] lay land = lea, land not under cultivation; here = ground.

[49] he’s never = he will never.

[50] middle-earth = this earth, as midway between heaven and hell.

[51] lay = law, faith.

[52] brent = smooth.

[53] betaken = given, made over.

[54] venison = i. e. deer-forests.

_4. Sir Aldingar_

Our King he kept a false steward,
Men call’d him Sir Aldingar;
[He would have woo’d our comely Queene
To be his paramour].

He would have woo’d our comely Queene,
Her deere worship to betray:
Our Queene she was a good woman
And evermore said him nay.

III

Sir Aldingar was offended in ’s mind,
With her he was ne’er content,
But he sought what meanès he could find
In a fyer to have her brent[55].

There came a lame lazar to the King’s gate,
A lazar ’was blind and lame;
He took the lazar upon his backe,
Upon the Queene’s bed did him lay.

Said, ‘Lye still, lazar, whereas thou lyest,
Looke thou goe not away;
I’le make thee a whole man and a sound
In two howres of a day.’

And then went forth Sir Aldingar
Our Queene for to betray,
And then he met with our comely King,
Says, ‘God you save and see!

VII

‘If I had space, as I have grace,
A message I’d say to thee.’--
‘Say on, say on, Sir Aldingar,
Say thou on and unto me.’

VIII

‘I can shew you one of the grievous’t sights
Ever Christian King did see;
Our Queene hath chosen a new, new love,
She will have none of thee.

‘If she had chosen a right good knight,
The lesse had beene her shame;
But she hath chosen a lazar man
Which is both blind and lame.’--

‘If this be true, Sir Aldingar,
That thou dost tell to me,
Then will I make thee a rich knight
Both of gold and fee.

‘But if it be false, Sir Aldingar,
That thou dost tell to me,
Then looke thou for no other death
But to be hang’d on tree.’

XII

When the King came into the Queene’s chamber,
Standing her bed before,
‘There’s a lodly[56] lome[57],’ says Harry the King
For our dame Queene Elinor!

XIII

‘If thou were a man, as thou art none,
It is here thou shouldest dye;
But a paire of new gallowes shall be built,
Thou’st hang on them soe hye.

XIV

‘And a fayre fyer there shall be bett[58],
And brent our Queene shall been.’
Forth then walk’d our comely King,
And met with our comely Queene.

Saies, ‘God you save our Queene, Madam,
And Christ you save and see!
Here you have chosen a new, new love,
And you will have none of mee.

XVI

‘If you had chosen a right good knight,
The lesse had beene your shame;
But you have chosen a lazar man
That is both blind and lame.’

XVII

‘Ever alacke!’ said our comely Queene,
‘Sir Aldingar he is false;
But ever alacke!’ said our comely Queene,
‘And woe is me, and alas!

XVIII

‘I had thought swevens[59] had never been true
I have proved them true [today]:
I dream’d in my swevens on Thursday at even
In my bed wheras I lay,

XIX

‘I dreamèd a grype[60] and a grimlie beast
Had carried my crowne away,
My gorget and my kirtle of golde,
And all my heade-geare [gay].

‘He wo’ld have worryed me with his tush[61],
And borne me into his nest,
Saving there came a little hawke
Flying out of the east.

XXI

‘--Saving there came a little hawke
Which men call a merlion[62];
He stroke him downe untill the ground,
That deade he did fall downe.

XXII

‘Gif I were a man, as I am none,
A battell I wo’ld prove;
I wo’ld fight with that false traitor;
At him I cast my glove!

XXIII

‘Seeing I am able noe battell to make,
You must grant me, my liege, a knight,
To fight with that traitor, Sir Aldingar,
To maintaine me in my right.’

XXIV

‘I’le give thee forty dayes,’ said our King,
‘To seeke thee a man therein;
If thou find not a man in forty dayes,
In a hott fyer thou shalt brenn.’

XXV

Our Queene sent forth a messenger;
He rode fast into the south;
He rode the countryes through and through
Soe far unto Portsmouth.

XXVI

[But for all his riding ne’er sped he
To fetch help to our Queene;]
He co’ld find noe man in the south countrỳ
‘Wo’ld fight with the knight soe keene.

XXVII

The second messenger shee sent forth,
Rode far into the east;
But--blessèd be God ’made sunn and moone!--
He sped then all of the best.

XXVIII

As he rode then by one river side,
There he mett with a little Child;
He seemèd noe more in a man’s likenesse
Than a child of four yeeres old.

XXIX

He ask’d the messenger how far he rode;
Loth he was him to tell;
The little one was offended att him,
Bade him adieu, farewell.

XXX

Said, ‘Turne thou againe, thou messenger,
Greete our Queen well from me;
When bale[63] is at hyest, boote[64] is at nyest--
Helpe enough there may bee.

XXXI

‘Bid our Queene remember what she did dreame
In her bedd wheras shee lay;
She dreamèd the grype and the grimlie beast
Had carryed her crowne away;

XXXII

‘Her gorgett and her kirtle of gold,
Her head-geare [all soe drest]
He wo’ld have worryed her with his tush,
And borne her into his nest.

XXXIII

‘Saving there came a little hawke,
Men call him a merlion;
‘Did strike him downe untill the ground
That dead he did fall downe.

XXXIV

‘Bidd the Queene be merry att her heart,
Evermore light and glad;
When bale is at hyest, boote is at nyest,
Helpe enough [shall be had’].

XXXV

Then the Queen’s messenger rode backe,
A gladded man then was hee;
When that he came before our Queene,
A gladd woman then was shee.

XXXVI

She gave the messenger twenty pound,
O Lord, in gold and fee;
Saies, ‘Spend, nor spare while this doth last,
Then fetch thou more of me.’

XXXVII

Our Queene was put in a tunne[65] to burn;
She thought noe thing but death:
When they were ware of the Little One
’Came ryding forth of the east.

XXXVIII

With a mu[le and a bridle all of bells]
A lovelye child was hee;
When that he came to that fyér
He lighted the Queene full nigh.

XXXIX

Sayd, ‘Draw away these brands of fyer
’Lie burning before our Queene,
And fetch me hither Sir Aldingar
That is a knight soe keene.’

When Aldingar saw that Little One,
Full little of him hee thought;
If there had been halfe a hundred such
Of them he would not have wrought[66].

XLI

He sayd, ‘Come hither, Sir Aldingar,
Thou seemest as big as a fooder[67];
I trust God ere I have done with thee
God will send us an auger.’

XLII

Sayes, ‘The first stroke that’s given, Sir Aldingar,
I will give unto thee;
And if the second give thou may,
Looke then thou spare not mee.’

XLIII

This Little One pull’d forth a well good sword,
I wis it well all of gilte.
It cast a light there over that field,
It shone soe all of gilte.

XLIV

He stroke the first stroke at Aldingar;
[Noe second needed hee;
At the first stroke] he stroke away
His leggs [all] by the knee.

XLV

Sayes, ‘Stand up, stand up, thou false traitor,
And fight upon thy feete;
For, an thou thrive as thou begins,
Of a height we shall be meete[68].’

XLVI

‘A priest, a priest,’ sayes Aldingar,
‘Me for to housel and shrive!
A priest, a priest,’ sayes Aldingar,
‘While I am a man living alive!

XLVII

‘I would have courted our comely Queene;
To it shee wo’ld never consent;
I thought to betray her to our King
In a fyer to have her brent.

XLVIII

‘There came a lame lazar to the King’s gate,
A lazar both blind and lame;
I took the lazar upon my back,
Upon the Queene’s bedd had him layn.

XLIX

‘I bade him, _Lye still, lazar_, where he lay,
Looke he went not away;
I wo’ld make him a whole man and a sound
In two houres of a day.

‘A priest, a priest,’ sayes Aldingar,
‘To shrive me cleane of hell!
Ever alacke!’ sayes Sir Aldingar,
‘Falsing never doth well.

‘Forgive, forgive me, Queene, Madam!
For Christ’s love forgive me!’--
‘God forgave his death, Aldingar,
And freely I forgive thee.’--

LII

‘Now take thy wife, thou King Harry,
And love her as thou sho’ld;
Thy wife shee is as true to thee
As stone lies in castle wall.’

LIII

The lazar under the gallow tree
[Grew] a pretty man and small:
The lazar under the gallow tree
Was made steward in King Harry’s hall.

FOOTNOTES:

[55] brent = burnt.

[56] lodly = loathly.

[57] lome = thing.

[58] bett = kindled.

[59] swevens = dreams.

[60] grype = gryphon.

[61] tush = tusk, beak.

[62] merlion = merlin, a small falcon.

[63] bale = evil, trouble.

[64] boote = help, remedy.

[65] tunne = barrel.

[66] wrought = recked.

[67] fooder = tun.

[68] meete = matched, equal.

_5. Cospatrick_

Cospatrick has sent o’er the faem:
Cospatrick brought his ladye hame.

Full seven score ships have come her wi’,
The ladye by the grene-wood tree.

III

There was twal’ and twal’ wi’ baken bread,
And twal’ and twal’ wi’ the goud sae red:

And twal’ and twal’ wi’ beer and wine,
And twal’ and twal’ wi’ muskadine:

And twal’ and twal’ wi’ bouted[69] flour,
And twal’ and twal’ wi’ paramour[70].

Sweet Willy was a Widow’s son,
And at her stirrup he did run.

VII

And she was clad in the finest pall[71],
But aye she let the tears down fall.

VIII

‘O lady, sits your saddle awry?
Or is your steed for you owre high?

‘Or are you mourning in your tide
That you suld be Cospatrick’s bride?’

‘I am not mourning at this tide
That I suld be Cospatrick’s bride:

‘But I am mourning in my mood
That ever I left my mother good.

XII

‘But, bonny boy, come tell to me
What is the custom o’ your countrie?’

XIII

‘The custom thereof, my dame,’ he says,
‘Will ill a gentle ladye please.

XIV

‘Seven King’s daughters has our lord wedded,
And seven King’s daughters has our lord bedded:

‘But he’s cutted their breasts frae their breast-bane,
And sent them mourning hame again.

XVI

‘But when you come to the palace yett[72],
His mother a gowden chair will set:

XVII

‘And be you maid or be you nane,
O sit you there till the day be dane.

XVIII

‘And gin you’re sure that you’re a maid,
Ye may gae safely him to wed:

XIX

‘But gif o’ that ye be na sure,
Then hire some damsel o’ your bour.’--

O when she came to the palace yett,
His mother a gowden chair did set:

XXI

The bonnie may was tired wi’ ridin’,
Gae’d sit her down ere she was bidden.

XXII

And was she maid or was she nane,
She sat in it till the day was dune.

XXIII

And she’s call’d on her bour-woman,
That waiting was into[73] her train:

XXIV

‘Five thousand marks I’ll gie to thee,
To sleep this night with my lord for me.’--

XXV

[‘But will it for my ladye plead,
I’se be the bride in my ladye’s stead.’]--

XXVI

When bells were rung and mass was sayne,
And a’ men unto bed were gane,

XXVII

Cospatrick and the bonny maid
Into ae chamber they were laid.

XXVIII

‘Now speak to me, blankets, and speak to me, bed,
And speak, thou sheet, inchanted web,

XXIX

‘And speak, my brown sword, that winna lee[74],
Is this a leal maiden that lies by me?’

XXX

‘It is not a maid that you hae wedded,
But it is a maid that you hae bedded:

XXXI

‘It is a leal maiden that lies by thee,
But not the maiden that it should be.’

XXXII

Then out he sprang o’ his bridal bed,
And wrathfully his claiths on did:

XXXIII

And he has ta’en him through the ha’,
And on his mother he did ca’.

XXXIV

‘I am the most unhappy man
That ever was in Christen land:

XXXV

‘I courted a maiden meik and mild,
And I’ve gat but a woman great wi’ child.’--

XXXVI

‘O stay, my son, into this ha’,
And sport ye wi’ your merry men a’.

XXXVII

‘And I’ll gang to your painted bour,
To see how it fares wi’ your paramour.’

XXXVIII

The carline[75] queen was stark and strang
She gar’d the door flee aff the ban[76].

XXXIX

‘O is your bairn to laird or loun[77],
Or is it to your father’s groom?’--

‘O hear me, mother, on my knee,
Till my sad story I tell to thee.

XLI

‘O we were sisters, sisters seven;
We were the fairest under heaven.

XLII

‘We had nae mair for our seven years’ wark
But to shape and sew the King’s son a sark.

XLIII

‘It fell on a summer’s afternoon,
When a’ our langsome task was done,

XLIV

‘We cast the kevils[78] us amang
To see which suld to the grene-wood gang.

XLV

‘Ohone, alas! for I was the youngest,
And aye my weird it was the hardest.

XLVI

‘The kevil it did on me fa’,
Which was the cause of a’ my wae.

XLVII

‘For to the grene-wood I must gae,
To pu’ the red rose and the slae;

XLVIII

‘To pu’ the red rose and the thyme
To deck my mother’s bour and mine.

XLIX

‘I hadna pu’d a flower but ane,
When by there came a gallant hende[79],

‘Wi’ high-coll’d[80] hose and laigh-coll’d shoon,
And he seem’d to be some Kingis son.

‘And be I a maid, or be I nae,
He kept me there till the close o’ day:

LII

‘And be I a maid or be I nane,
He kept me there till the day was done.

LIII

‘He gae me a lock o’ his yellow hair,
And bade me keep it for ever mair:

LIV

‘He gae me a carknet[81] o’ bonny beads,
And bade me keep it against my needs.

‘He gae to me a gay gold ring,
And bade me keep it abune a’ thing.

LVI

‘He gae to me a little pen-knife,
And bade me keep it as my life.’--

LVII

‘What did you wi’ the tokens rare
That ye got frae that gallant there?’--

LVIII

‘O bring that coffer here to me,
And a’ the tokens ye sall see.’

LIX

And aye she sought, and aye she flang[82]
Until these four things cam’ to her hand.

‘Now stay here, daughter, your bour within,
Till I gae parley with my son.’

LXI

O she has ta’en her thro’ the ha’,
And on her son began to ca’.

LXII

‘What did you wi’ that gay gold ring
I bade you keep abune a’ thing?

LXIII

‘What did you wi’ that little pen-knife
I bade you keep while you had life?

LXIV

‘What did you wi’ the bonny beads
I bade you keep against your needs?’--

LXV

‘I gae them to a ladye gay
I met i’ the grene-wood on a day.

LXVI

‘But I wad gie a’ my ha’s and tours,
I had that bright burd in my bours:

LXVII

‘But I wad gie my very life
I had that ladye to my wife!’

LXVIII

‘Now keep, my son, your ha’s and tours;
Ye have that bright burd in your bours.

LXIX

‘And keep, my son, your very life,
Ye have that ladye to your wife.’

LXX

Now, or a month was come and gane,
The ladye bore him a bonny son.

LXXI

And it was well written on his breast-bane,
‘Cospatrick is my father’s name.’

LXXII

_O rowe[83] my ladye in satin and silk,
And wash my son in the morning milk!_

FOOTNOTES:

[69] bouted = bolted, sifted.

[70] paramour = _meaning here uncertain_.

[71] pall = fine cloth.

[72] yett = gate.

[73] into = in.

[74] lee = lie.

[75] carline = old woman.

[76] ban = band, hinge.

[77] laird or loun = squire or common fellow.

[78] kevils = lots.

[79] hende = courteous youth.

[80] high-coll’d, laigh-coll’d = high-cut, low-cut.

[81] carknet = necklace.

[82] flang = flung about, rummaged violently.

[83] rowe = roll, wrap.

_6. Willy’s Lady_

Sweet Willy’s ta’en him o’er the faem,
He’s woo’d a wife and brought her hame.

He’s woo’d her for her yellow hair,
But his mither wrought her mickle care;

III

And mickle dolour gar’d her drie[84],
For lighter[85] she can never be.

But in her bower she sits wi’ pain,
And Willy mourns o’er her in vain.

And to his mither he has gane;
That vile rank witch of vilest kind.

He says: ‘My ladie has a cup
Wi’ gowd and silver set about.

VII

‘This goodlie gift shall be your ain,
And let her be lighter o’ her young bairn.’--

VIII

‘Of her young bairn she’ll ne’er be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter:

‘But she shall die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed another may.’--

‘Another may I’ll marry nane,
Another may I’ll ne’er bring hame.’

But sighing says his bonnie wife,
‘I wish this was an end o’ my life!

XII

‘Yet gae ye unto your mither again,
That vile rank witch of vilest kind.

XIII

‘And say: My ladie has a steed,
The like o’ him ’s no in the lands of Leed.

XIV

‘For at ilka tett[86] o’ that horse’s mane
There’s a golden chess[87] and a bell ringíng.

‘This goodlie gift shall be your ain,
And let her be lighter o’ her young bairn.’--

XVI

‘O’ her young bairn she’ll ne’er be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter;

XVII

‘But she shall die and turn to clay,
And ye shall wed another may.’--

XVIII

‘Another may I’ll marry nane,
Another may I’ll ne’er bring hame.’

XIX

But sighing says his bonnie wife,
‘I wish this was an end o’ my life!

‘Yet gae ye unto your mither again,
That vile rank witch of vilest kind:

XXI

‘And say: My ladie has a girdle,
It’s a’ red gowd unto the middle.

XXII

‘And ay at every silver hem
Hangs fifty silver bells and ten.

XXIII

‘That goodlie gift shall be your ain,
But let her be lighter o’ her young bairn.’--

XXIV

‘O’ her young bairn she’s ne’er be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter:

XXV

‘But she shall die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed another may.’--

XXVI

‘Another may I’ll never wed nane,
Another may I’ll never bring hame.’

XXVII

But sighing says his bonnie wife,
‘I wish this was an end o’ my life!’

XXVIII

Then out and spake the Billy Blind[88]--
He spake aye in a good time;

XXIX

‘Ye doe ye to the market-place,
And there buy ye a loaf o’ wax;

XXX

‘Ye shape it bairn and bairnly like,
And in twa glasses e’en ye’ll pit[89].

XXXI

‘And do ye to your mither then,
And bid her come to your boy’s christ’nen,

XXXII

‘For dear’s the boy he’s been to you:
Then notice weel what she shall do:

XXXIII

‘And do you stand a little away,
And listen weel what she shall say.’

XXXIV

He did him to the market-place,
And there he bought a loaf o’ wax.

XXXV

He shaped it bairn and bairnly-like,
And in ’t twa glasses e’en he pat[90].

XXXVI

He did him till his mither then,
And bade her to his boy’s christ’nen.

XXXVII

And he did stand a little forbye[91],
And noticed well what she did say.

XXXVIII

‘O wha has loosed the nine witch-knots
That was among that ladie’s locks?

XXXIX

‘And wha has ta’en out the kaims[92] o’ care
That hangs among that ladie’s hair?

‘And wha’s ta’en down the bush o’ woodbine
That hangs atween her bower and mine?

XLI

‘And wha has kill’d the master kid
That ran aneath that ladie’s bed?

XLII

‘And wha has loosed her left-foot shee[93]
And letten that ladie lighter be?’

XLIII

Syne Willy has loosed the nine witch-knots
That was among his ladie’s locks:

XLIV

And Willy’s ta’en out the kaims o’ care
That hang among his ladie’s hair:

XLV

And Willy’s ta’en down the bush o’ woodbine
That hang atween her bower and thine:

XLVI

And Willy has kill’d the master kid
That ran aneath his ladie’s bed:

XLVII

And Willy has loosed her left-foot shee,
And letten his ladie lighter be.

XLVIII

And now he’s gotten a bonny young son,
And mickle grace be him upon!

FOOTNOTES:

[84] gar’d her drie = caused her to suffer.

[85] lighter = i. e. delivered of her child.

[86] tett = tuft.

[87] chess =? jess, strap.

[88] Billy Blind = a Brownie, or friendly House-spirit.

[89] pit = put.

[90] pat = did put.

[91] forbye = aside.

[92] kaims = combs.

[93] shee = shoe.

_7. The Queen of Elfland’s Nourice_

_‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,
And a cow low down in yon glen:
Lang, lang will my young son greet[94]
Or his mither bid him come ben[95]!_

_‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,
And a cow low down in yon fauld:
Lang, lang will my young son greet
Or his mither take him frae cauld!’_

III

[The Queen of Elfan’s nourice[96]
She sits and sings her lane]
‘Waken, Queen of Elfan
And hear your nourice moan.’--

‘O moan ye for your meat,
Or moan ye for your fee,
Or moan ye for the ither bounties
That ladies are wont to gie?’--

‘I moan na for my meat,
Nor moan I for my fee,
Nor moan I for the ither bounties
That ladies are wont to gie.

[‘But I heard a bonnie cow
Low down in yonder fauld]
And I moan for my young son
I left in four nights auld.

VII

‘I moan na for my meat,
Nor yet for my fee;
But I moan for Christen land;
It’s there I fain would be.’

VIII

‘O nurse my bairn, nourice,
Till he stan’ at your knee,
An ye’s win hame to Christen land
Whar fain it’s ye wad be.

‘O keep my bairn, nourice,
Till he gang by the hauld[97],
An ye’s win hame to your young son
Ye left in four nights auld.

‘O nourice lay your head
[Here] upo’ my knee:
See ye not that narrow road
Up by yonder tree?

[‘See ye not the narrow road
By yon lillie leven?]
That’s the road the righteous goes
And that’s the road to heaven.

XII

‘An’ see na ye that braid road
Down by yon sunny fell?
Yon’s the road the wicked gae,
An’ that’s the road to hell.

XIII

[‘An’ see na ye that bonny road
About the fernie brae?
That wins back frae Elfland
Where you must wait to gae.’]

FOOTNOTES:

[94] _greet_ = cry.

[95] _ben_ = to the inner room.

[96] nourice = nurse.

[97] gang by the hauld = walk by holding on to the hand.

_8. Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight_

_My plaid awa’, my plaid awa’,
And o’er the hill and far awa’;
And far awa’ to Norrowa’,
My plaid shall not be blown awa’!_

Lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,
_Aye as the gowans[98] grow gay_--
She heard an elf-knight his horn blawing,
The first morning in May.

III

The elfin-knight sits on yon hill,
He blaws his horn baith loud and shrill.

He blaws it east, he blaws it west,
He blaws it where he lyketh best.

‘I wish that horn were in my kist[99],
Yea, and the knight in my arms niest[100].’

She had no sooner these words said,
When that knight came to her bed.

VII

‘Thou art owre young a maid,’ quoth he,
‘Married with me thou ill wouldst be.’--

VIII

‘I have a sister younger than I,
And she was married yesterday.’--

‘Married with me if thou wouldst be,
A courtesie thou must do to me.

‘For thou must shape a sark[101] to me
Without any cut or hem,’ quoth he.

‘It’s ye maun shape it knife-and-shurlesse,
And also sew it needle-threedlesse.

XII

‘And ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Where the dew never wat[102] nor the rain never fell.

XIII

‘And ye maun dry it upon a thorn
That never budded sin Adam was born.’--

XIV

‘Now sin ye have asked some things o’ me,
It’s right I ask as mony o’ thee.

‘My father he ask’d me an acre o’ land
Between the saut sea and the strand.

XVI

‘And ye maun are[103] it wi’ your blawin’ horn,
And ye maun sow it wi’ pepper corn.

XVII

‘And ye maun harrow it with ae tyne[104],
And ye maun shear it with ae horse bane.

XVIII

‘And ye maun stack it in yon mouse-hole,
And ye maun thresh it in yon shoe-sole.

XIX

‘And ye maun winnow it in your loof[105],
And ye maun sack it in your glove.

‘And ye maun bring it owre the sea,
Fair and clean and dry to me.

XXI

‘And when ye’ve done an’ finish’d your wark,
Come to me, love, an’ get your sark.’

XXII

‘It’s I’ll not quit my plaid for my life;
It haps my seven bairns and my wife.’
_The wind sall not blaw my plaid awa’:_
‘And it’s I will keep me a maiden still,
Let the elfin knight do what he will’--
_The wind has not blawn my plaid awa’!_

FOOTNOTES:

[98] _gowans_ = daisies.

[99] kist = chest.

[100] niest = next.

[101] sark = shirt.

[102] wat = wetted.

[103] are = plough.

[104] ae tyne = one harrow-point.

[105] loof = palm.

_9. The Riddling Knight_

There were three sisters fair and bright,
_Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary_,
And they three loved one valiant knight--
_As the dow[106] flies over the mulberry-tree_.

The eldest sister let him in,
And barr’d the door with a silver pin.

III

The second sister made his bed,
And placed soft pillows under his head.

The youngest sister that same night
Was resolved for to wed wi’ this valiant knight.

‘And if you can answer questions three,
O then, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee.

‘O what is louder nor a horn,
Or what is sharper nor a thorn?

VII

‘Or what is heavier nor the lead,
Or what is better nor the bread?

VIII

‘Or what is longer nor the way,
Or what is deeper nor the sea?’--

‘O shame is louder nor a horn,
And hunger is sharper nor a thorn.

‘O sin is heavier nor the lead,
The blessing’s better nor the bread.

‘O the wind is longer nor the way
And love is deeper nor the sea.’

XII

[‘You have answer’d aright my questions three,]
_Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary;_
And now, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee,
_As the dow flies over the mulberry-tree._

FOOTNOTES:

[106] _dow_ = dove.

_10. May Colvin_

False Sir John a-wooing came
To a maid of beauty fair;
May Colvin was this lady’s name,
Her father’s only heir.

He woo’d her but[107], he woo’d her ben,
He woo’d her in the ha’;
Until he got the lady’s consent
To mount and ride awa’.

III

‘Go fetch me some of your father’s gold,
And some of your mother’s fee,
And I’ll carry you into the north land,
And there I’ll marry thee.’

She’s gane to her father’s coffers
Where all his money lay,
And she’s taken the red, and she’s left the white,
And so lightly she’s tripp’d away.

She’s gane to her father’s stable
Where all the steeds did stand,
And she’s taken the best, and she’s left the warst
That was in her father’s land.

She’s mounted on a milk-white steed,
And he on a dapple-grey,
And on they rade to a lonesome part,
A rock beside the sea.

VII

‘Loup[108] off the steed,’ says false Sir John,
‘Your bridal bed you see;
Seven ladies I have drownèd here,
And the eight’ one you shall be.

VIII

‘Cast off, cast off your silks so fine
And lay them on a stone,
For they are too fine and costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.

‘Cast off, cast off your silken stays,
For and your broider’d shoon,
For they are too fine and costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.

‘Cast off, cast off your Holland smock
That’s border’d with the lawn,
For it is too fine and costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.’--

‘O turn about, thou false Sir John,
And look to the leaf o’ the tree;
For it never became a gentleman
A naked woman to see.’

XII

He turn’d himself straight round about
To look to the leaf o’ the tree;
She’s twined her arms about his waist
And thrown him into the sea.

XIII

‘O hold a grip o’ me, May Colvín,
For fear that I should drown;
I’ll take you home to your father’s bower
And safe I’ll set you down.’

XIV

‘No help, no help, thou false Sir John,
No help, no pity thee!
For you lie not in a caulder bed
Than you thought to lay me.’

She mounted on her milk-white steed,
And led the dapple-grey,
And she rode till she reach’d her father’s gate,
At the breakin’ o’ the day.

XVI

Up then spake the pretty parrot,
‘May Colvin, where have you been?
What has become o’ false Sir John
That went with you yestreen?’--

XVII

‘O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot!
Nor tell no tales o’ me;
Your cage shall be made o’ the beaten gold
And the spokes o’ ivorie.’

XVIII

Up then spake her father dear,
In the bed-chamber where he lay;
‘What ails the pretty parrot,
That prattles so long ere day?’--

XIX

‘There came a cat to my cage, master,
I thought ’t would have worried me,
And I was calling to May Colvín
To take the cat from me.’

FOOTNOTES:

[107] but, ben = both in the outer and inner rooms.

[108] loup = leap.

_11. The Wee Wee Man_

As I was walking mine alane
Atween a water and a wa’,
There I spied a wee wee man,
And he was the least that ere I saw.

His legs were scant a shathmont’s[109] length,
And thick and thimber[110] was his thie[111];
Atween his brows there was a span,
And atween his shoulders there was three.

III

He’s ta’en and flung a meikle stane,
And he flang ’t as far as I could see;
Though I had been a Wallace wight
I couldna liften ’t to my knee.

‘O wee wee man, but ye be strang!
O tell me where your dwelling be?’
‘My dwelling’s down by yon bonny bower;
Fair lady, come wi’ me and see.’

On we lap[112], and awa’ we rade,
Till we came to yon bonny green;
We lighted down to bait our steed,
And out there came a lady sheen[113];

Wi’ four and twenty at her back
A’ comely clad in glisterin’ green;
Tho’ the King of Scotland had been there,
The warst o’ them might ha’ been his queen.

VII

On we lap, and awa’ we rade,
Till we came to a bonny ha’;
The roof was o’ the beaten gowd,
And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.

VIII

When we came to the stair-foot,
Ladies were dancing jimp[114] and sma’,
But in the twinkling of an eie
My wee wee man was clean awa’.

Out gat the lights, on came the mist,
Ladies nor mannie mair cou’d I see:
I turn’d about, and gae a look
Just at the foot o’ Benachie.

FOOTNOTES:

[109] shathmont = measure from the point of the extended thumb to the extremity of the palm, six inches.

[110] thimber = stout.

[111] thie = thigh.

[112] lap = leapt.

[113] sheen = shining, beautiful.

[114] jimp = slim, slender.

_12. Alison Gross_

O Alison Gross, that lives in yon tow’r,
The ugliest witch i’ the north countrie,
Has trysted[115] me ae day up till her bow’r
And mony fair speeches she made to me.

She straik’d my head an’ she kaim’d my hair,
An’ she set me down saftly on her knee;
Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,
Sae mony braw things as I would you gie!’

III

She show’d me a mantle o’ red scarlét,
Wi’ gouden flowers an’ fringes fine;
Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman[116] sae true,
This gudely gift it sall be thine.’--

‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,
Haud[117] far awa’, an’ lat me be!
I never will be your lemman sae true,
An’ I wish I were out o’ your company.’

She neist brought a sark o’ the saftest silk,
Well wrought wi’ pearls about the band;
Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,
This gudely gift ye sall command.’

She show’d me a cup o’ the good red gowd,
Well set wi’ jewels sae fair to see;
Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,
This gudely gift I will you gie.’--

VII

‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,
Haud far awa’, an’ lat me be!
For I wouldna once kiss your ugly mouth
For a’ the gifts that ye could gie.’

VIII

She’s turn’d her right an’ roun’ about,
An’ thrice she blaw on a grass-green horn;
An’ she sware by the moon an’ the stars abune
That she’d gar me rue the day I was born.

Then out has she ta’en a silver wand,
An’ she’s turn’d her three times roun’ and roun’;
She mutter’d sic words till my strength it fail’d,
An’ I fell down senseless upon the groun’.

She’s turn’d me into an ugly worm,
And gar’d me toddle about the tree;
An’ ay, on ilka Saturday’s night,
My sister Maisry came to me,

Wi’ silver bason an’ silver kaim
To kaim my headie upon her knee;
But or I had kiss’d [wi’ Alison Gross]
I’d sooner ha’ toddled about the tree.

XII

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The Oxford Book of BalladsChapter IX: Book I: 1. Thomas the Rhymer (1)

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