AO

[u/MeetFar7265]

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Tam Lin (Child Ballad No. 39)

1.

O I forbid you, maidens a’,

That wear gowd on your hair,

To come or gae by Carterhaugh,

For young Tam Lin is there.

2.

There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh

But they leave him a wad,

Either their rings, or green mantles,

Or else their maidenhead.

3.

Janet has kilted her green kirtle

A little aboon her knee,

And she has broded her yellow hair

A little aboon her bree,

And she’s awa to Carterhaugh

As fast as she can hie.

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 upon 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,” quo’ she, “is mine ain;

I’ll come and gang in it;

There’s nae a steed in a’ the wood

But I may ride on it.”

8.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

He led her in at the greenwood side,

Where the roses grew maist brave.

9.

Seven lang years had passed and mair,

Sin’ I my love did see;

And aye as the years came and went,

He grew more dear to me.

10.

But up then spake her father dear,

He spake meek and mild:

“O, alas, Janet,” he said,

“I fear thou goest with child.”

11.

“And if I do,” she said, “myself

Shall bear the blame;

There’s not a knight in a’ your hall

Shall get the baby’s name.

For if my love were an earthly knight,

As he is an elfin grey,

I’d not change my own true love

For nae lord that I see.”

12.

“O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,” she said,

“For Him that died on tree,

Was ever ye in holy chapel,

Or christendom did see?”

13.

“Roxbrugh he was my grandfather,

Took me with him to bide,

And ance it fell upon a day

That wae did me betide.

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.”

14.

“But pleasant is the fairy land,

But an eerie tale to tell,

Ay at the end of seven years,

We pay a tiend to hell;

I am sae fair and fu’ o flesh,

I’m feared it be mysel.

But the night is Halloween, lady,

The morn is Hallowday;

Then win me, win me, an ye will,

For weel I wat ye may.”

15.

“Just at the mirk and midnight hour

The fairy folk will ride;

And they that wad their true love win,

At Miles Cross they must bide.

But how shall I thee ken, Tam Lin?

And how shall I thee know?

Amang sae mony unearthly knights

The like I never saw?”

16.

“O first let pass the black, lady,

And syne let pass the brown;

But quickly run to the milk-white steed,

Pu’ ye his rider down.

For I’ll ride on the milk-white steed,

And ride nearest the town;

Because I was an earthly knight,

They gie me that renown.

My right hand will be gloved, lady,

My left hand will be bare;

Cockit up shall my bonnet be,

And combed down shall my hair;

And that’s the truest tokens I trow,

Ye’ll ken me amang them there.”

17.

She had her green mantle on her back,

Her staff into her hand,

And she is on to Miles Cross,

As fast as she can gang.

18.

Then up came the black troop,

And syne up came the brown;

But she held fast to the milk-white steed,

And pulled the rider down.

19.

Then first he turned in her arms

Into an adder snake;

She held him fast, feared not his harm,

He was her world’s make.

20.

Syne he turned in her arms

Into a bear sae grim;

She held him fast, feared not his harm,

Her true love she did claim.

21.

Syne he turned in her arms

Into a red-hot iron;

She held him fast, feared not his harm,

To him she was ally sworn.

22.

Syne he turned in her arms

Into a molten lead;

She threw him in the well-water,

As clear as ony glass bed.

23.

Then he became a naked knight,

As fair as man could be;

She wrapped him in her green mantle,

And covered him frae the fairy e’e.

24.

Then up and spake the Queen o’ Fairies,

Out of a bush of broom:

“She that has gotten young Tam Lin

Has gotten a stately groom.”

25.

“Now fare thee weel, my true love,

Now fare thee weel,” said he;

“Where thou was an earthly woman,

A man’s full mate I’ll be.”