Tam Lin in several version

I wad na gie my ain true-love For nae lord that ye hae. 39A.16 ‘The steed that my true-love rides on Is lighter than the wind; Wi siller he is shod before, Wi burning gowd behind.’ 39A.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. 39A.18 When she cam to Carterhaugh, Tam Lin was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsel. 39A.19 She has 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. 39A.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? 39A.21 ‘O tell me, tell me, Tam Lin,’ she says, ‘For’s sake that died on tree, If eer ye was in holy chapel, Or chirstendom did see?’ 39A.22 ‘Roxbrugh he was my grandfather, Took me with him to bide, And ance it fell upon a day That wae did me betide. 39A.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. 39A.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 hell; I am sae fair and fu o flesh, I’m feard it be mysel. 39A.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. 39A.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.’ 39A.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?’ 39A.28 ‘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. 39A.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. 39A.30 ‘My right hand will be glovd, lady, My left hand will be bare, Cockt up shall my bonnet be, And kaimd down shall my hair, And thae’s the takens I gie thee, Nae doubt I will be there. 39A.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. 39A.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. 39A.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. 39A.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. 39A.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.’ 39A.36 Gloomy, gloomy was the night, And eerie was the way, As fair Jenny in her green mantle To Miles Cross she did gae. 39A.37 About the middle o the night She heard the bridles ring; This lady was as glad at that As any earthly thing. 39A.38 First she let the black pass by, And syne she let the brown; But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed, And pu’d the rider down. 39A.39 Sae weel she minded whae he did say, And young Tam Lin did win; Syne coverd him wi her green mantle, As blythe’s a bird in spring. 39A.40 Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, Out of a bush o broom: ‘Them that has gotten young Tam Lin Has gotten a stately groom.’ 39A.41 Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, And an angry woman was she: ‘Shame betide her ill-far’d face, And an ill death may she die, For she’s taen awa the boniest knight In a’ my companie. 39A.42 ‘But had I kend, Tam Lin,’ she says, ‘What now this night I see, I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een, And put in twa een o tree.’ 39B: Tam Lin 39B.1 I FORBID ye, maidens a’, That wear goud on your gear, To come and gae by Carterhaugh, For young Tom Line is there. 39B.2 There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh But they leave him a wad. Either their things or green mantles, Or else their maidenhead. 39B.3 But Janet has kilted her green kirtle A little above her knee, And she has broded her yellow hair A little above her bree, And she has gaen for Carterhaugh, As fast as she can hie. 39B.4 When she came to Carterhaugh Tom Line was at the well, And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsell. 39B.5 She hadna pu’d a double rose, A rose but only twae, Till up then started young Tom Line, Says, Lady, thou’s pu nae mae. 39B.6 Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet? Why breaks thou the wand? Why comest thou to Carterhaugh Withouthen my command? 39B.7 ‘Fair Carterhaugh it is my ain, My daddy gave it me; I’ll come and gae by Carterhaugh, And ask nae leave at thee.’ * * * * * 39B.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 on to her father’s ha, As fast as she can hie. 39B.9 Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the ba, And out then came fair Janet, The flowr amang them a’. 39B.10 Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the chess, Out then came fair Janet, As green as ony glass. 39B.11 Out spak an auld grey-headed knight, Lay owre the castle wa, And says, Alas, fair Janet, For thee we’ll be blam’d a’. 39B.12 ‘Had your tongue, you auld grey knight, Some ill dead may ye die! Father my bairn on whom I will, I’ll father nane on thee.’ 39B.13 Out then spak her father dear, He spak baith thick and milde; ‘And ever alas, sweet Janet,’ he says, ‘I think ye gae wi childe.’ 39B.14 ‘If that I gae wi child, father, Mysell bears a’ the blame; There’s not a laird about your ha Shall get the bairnie’s name. 39B.15 ‘If my lord were an earthly knight, As he’s an elfish grey, I wad na gie my ain true-love For nae lord that ye hae.’ 39B.16 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 away to Carterhaugh, As fast as she can hie. 39B.17 When she came to Carterhaugh, Tom Line was at the well, And there she faund his steed standing, But away was himsell. 39B.18 She hadna pu’d a double rose, A rose but only twae, Till up then started young Tom Line, Says, Lady, thou’s pu na mae. 39B.19 Why pu’s thou the rose, Janet, Out owr yon groves sae green, And a’ to kill your bonny babe, That we gat us between? 39B.20 ‘O tell me, tell me, Tom,’ she says, ‘For’s sake who died on tree, If eer ye were in holy chapel, Or christendom did see.’ 39B.21 ‘Roxburgh he was my grandfather, Took me with him to bide, And ance it fell upon a day That wae did me betide. 39B.22 ‘Ance it fell upon a day, A cauld day and a snell, When we were frae the hunting come, That from my horse I fell. 39B.23 ‘The Queen of Fairies she came by, Took me wi her to dwell, Evn where she has a pleasant land For those that in it dwell, But at the end o seven years, They pay their teind to hell. 39B.24 ‘The night it is gude Halloween, The fairie folk do ride, And they that wad their true-love win, At Miles Cross they maun bide.’ 39B.25 ‘But how shall I thee ken, Thomas, Or how shall I thee knaw, Amang a pack o uncouth knights The like I never saw?’ 39B.26 ‘The first company that passes by, Say na, and let them gae; The next company that passes by, Say na, and do right sae; The third company that passes by, Then I’ll be ane o thae. 39B.27 ‘Some ride upon a black, lady, And some ride on a brown, But I ride on a milk-white steed, And ay nearest the town: Because I was an earthly knight They gae me that renown. 39B.28 ‘My right hand will be glovd, lady, My left hand will be bare, And thae’s the tokens I gie thee, Nae doubt I will be there. 39B.29 ‘Then hie thee to the milk-white steed, And pu me quickly down, Cast thy green kirtle owr me, And keep me frae the rain. 39B.30 ‘They’ll turn me in thy arms, lady, An adder and a snake; But hold me fast, let me na gae, To be your warldly mate. 39B.31 ‘They’ll turn me in your arms, lady, A grey greyhound to girn; But hald me fast, let me na gae, The father o your bairn. 39B.32 ‘They’ll turn me in your arms, lady, A red het gad o iron; Then haud me fast, and be na feard, I’ll do to you nae harm. 39B.33 ‘They’ll turn me in your arms, lady, A mother-naked man; Cast your green kirtle owr me, To keep me frae the rain. 39B.34 ‘First dip me in a stand o milk, And then a stand o water; Haud me fast, let me na gae, I’ll be your bairnie’s father.’ 39B.35 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 on to Miles Cross, As fast as she can hie. 39B.36 The first company that passd by, She said na, and let them gae; The next company that passed by, She said na, and did right sae; The third company that passed by, Then he was ane o thae. 39B.37 She hied her to the milk-white steed, And pu’d him quickly down; She cast her green kirtle owr him, To keep him frae the rain; Then she did all was orderd her, And sae recoverd him. 39B.38 Then out then spak the Queen o Fairies, Out o a bush o broom: ‘They that hae gotten young Tom Line Hae got a stately groom.’ 39B.39 Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, Out o a bush of rye: ‘Them that has gotten young Tom Line Has the best knight in my company. 39B.40 ‘Had I kend, Thomas,’ she says, ‘A lady wad hae borrowd thee, I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een, Put in twa een o tree. 39B.41 ‘Had I but kend, Thomas,’ she says, ‘Before I came frae hame, I had taen out that heart o flesh, Put in a heart o stane.’ 39C: Tam Lin 39C.1 * * * * SHERR’rrS prickt hersell and prind hersell, By the ae light o the moon, And she’s awa to Kertonha, As fast as she can gang. 39C.2 ‘What gars ye pu the rose, Jennet? What gars ye break the tree? What gars you gang to Kertonha Without the leave of me?’ 39C.3 ‘Yes, I will pu the rose, Thomas, And I will break the tree; For Kertonha shoud be my ain, Nor ask I leave of thee.’ 39C.4 ‘Full pleasant is the fairy land, And happy there to dwell; I am a fairy, lyth and limb, Fair maiden, view me well. 39C.5 ‘O pleasant is the fairy land, How happy there to dwell! But ay at every seven years end We’re a’ dung down to hell. 39C.6 ‘The morn is good Halloween, And our court a’ will ride; If ony maiden wins her man, Then she may be his bride. 39C.7 ‘But first ye’ll let the black gae by, And then ye’ll let the brown; Then I’ll ride on a milk-white steed, You’ll pu me to the ground. 39C.8 ‘And first, I’ll grow into your arms An esk but and an edder; Had me fast, let me not gang, I’ll be your bairn’s father. 39C.9 ‘Next, I’ll grow into your arms A toad but and an eel; Had me fast, let me not gang, If you do love me leel. 39C.10 ‘Last, I’ll grow into your arms A dove but and a swan; Then, maiden fair, you’ll let me go, I’ll be a perfect man.’ * * * * * 39D: Tam Lin 39D.1 O ALL you ladies young and gay, Who are so sweet and fair, Do not go into Chaster’s wood, For Tomlin will be there. 39D.2 Fair Margret sat in her bonny bower, Sewing her silken seam, And wished to be in Chaster’s wood, Among the leaves so green. 39D.3 She let her seam fall to her foot, The needle to her toe, And she has gone to Chaster’s wood, As fast as she could go. 39D.4 When she began to pull the flowers, She pulld both red and green; Then by did come, and by did go, Said, Fair maid, let aleene. 39D.5 ‘O why pluck you the flowers, lady, Or why climb you the tree? Or why come ye to Chaster’s wood Without the leave of me?’ 39D.6 ‘O I will pull the flowers,’ she said, ‘Or I will break the tree, For Chaster’s wood it is my own, I’ll no ask leave at thee.’ 39D.7 He took her by the milk-white hand, And by the grass green sleeve, And laid her low down on the flowers, At her he asked no leave. 39D.8 The lady blushed, and sourly frowned, And she did think great shame; Says, ’if you are a gentleman, You will tell me your name.’ 39D.9 ‘First they did call me Jack,’ he said, ‘And then they called me John, But since I lived in the fairy court Tomlin has always been my name. 39D.10 ‘So do not pluck that flower, lady, That has these pimples gray; They would destroy the bonny babe That we’ve got in our play.’ 39D.11 ‘O tell me, Tomlin,’ she said, ‘And tell it to me soon, Was you ever at good church-door, Or got you christendoom?’ 39D.12 ‘O I have been at good church-door, And aff her yetts within; I was the Laird of Foulis’s son, The heir of all this land. 39D.13 ‘But it fell once upon a day, As hunting I did ride, As I rode east and west yon hill There woe did me betide. 39D.14 ‘O drowsy, drowsy as I was! Dead sleep upon me fell; The Queen of Fairies she was there, And took me to hersell. 39D.15 ‘The Elfins is a pretty place, In which I love to dwell, But yet at every seven years’ end The last here goes to hell; And as I am ane o flesh and blood, I fear the next be mysell. 39D.16 ‘The morn at even is Halloween; Our fairy court will ride, Throw England and Scotland both, Throw al the world wide; And if ye would me borrow, At Rides Cross ye may bide. 39D.17 ‘You may go into the Miles Moss, Between twelve hours and one; Take holy water in your hand, And cast a compass round. 39D.18 ‘The first court that comes along, You’ll let them all pass by; The next court that comes along, Salute them reverently. 39D.19 ‘The next court that comes along Is clad in robes of green, And it’s the head court of them all, For in it rides the queen. 39D.20 ‘And I upon a milk-white steed, With a gold star in my crown; Because I am an earthly man I’m next to the queen in renown. 39D.21 ‘Then seize upon me with a spring, Then to the ground I’ll fa, And then you’ll hear a rueful cry That Tomlin is awa. 39D.22 ‘Then I’ll grow in your arms two Like to a savage wild; But hold me fast, let me not go, I’m father of your child. 39D.23 ‘I’ll grow into your arms two Like an adder or a snake; But hold me fast, let me not go, I’ll be your earthly maick. 39D.24 ‘I’ll grow into your arms two Like iron in strong fire; But hold me fast, let me not go, Then you’ll have your desire.’ 39D.25 She rid down to Miles Cross, Between twelve hours and one, Took holy water in her hand, And cast a compass round. 39D.26 The first court that came along, She let them all pass by; The next court that came along Saluted reverently. 39D.27 The next court that came along Were clad in robes of green, When Tomlin, on a milk-white steed, She saw ride with the queen. 39D.28 She seized him in her arms two, He to the ground did fa, And then she heard a ruefull cry ‘Tomlin is now awa.’ 39D.29 He grew into her arms two Like to a savage wild; She held him fast, let him not go, The father of her child. 39D.30 He grew into her arms two Like an adder or a snake; She held him fast, let him not go, He was her earthly maick. 39D.31 He grew into her arms two Like iron in hot fire; She held him fast, let him not go, He was her heart’s desire. 39D.32 Then sounded out throw elphin court, With a loud shout and a cry, That the pretty maid of Chaster’s wood That day had caught her prey. 39D.33 ‘O stay, Tomlin,’ cried Elphin Queen, ‘Till I pay you your fee;’ ‘His father has lands and rents enough, He wants no fee from thee.’ 39D.34 ‘O had I known at early morn Tomlin would from me gone, I would have taken out his heart of flesh Put in a heart of stone.’ 39E: Tam Lin 39E.1 LADY MARGARET is over gravel green, And over gravel grey, And she’s awa to Charteris ha, Lang lang three hour or day. 39E.2 She hadna pu’d a flower, a flower, A flower but only ane, Till up and started young Tamlin, Says, Lady, let alane. 39E.3 She hadna pu’d a flower, a flower, A flower but only twa, Till up and started young Tamlene, Atween her and the wa. 39E.4 ‘How daur you pu my flower, madam? How daur ye break my tree? How daur ye come to Charter’s ha, Without the leave of me?’ 39E.5 ‘Weel I may pu the rose,’ she said, ‘But I daurna break the tree; And Charter’s ha is my father’s, And I’m his heir to be.’ 39E.6 ‘If Charteris ha be thy father’s, I was ance as gude mysell; But as I came in by Lady Kirk, And in by Lady Well, 39E.7 ‘Deep and drowsy was the sleep On my poor body fell; By came the Queen of Faery, Made me with her to dwell. 39E.8 ‘But the morn at een is Halloween, Our fairy foks a’ do ride; And she that will her true-love win, At Blackstock she must bide. 39E.9 ‘First let by the black,’ he said, ‘And syne let by the brown; But when you see the milk-white steed, You’ll pull his rider down. 39E.10 ‘You’ll pull him into thy arms, Let his bricht bridle fa, And he’ll fa low into your arms Like stone in castle’s wa. 39E.11 ‘They’ll first shape him into your arms An adder or a snake; But hold him fast, let him not go, He’ll be your world’s make. 39E.12 ‘They’ll next shape him into your arms Like a wood black dog to bite; Hold him fast, let him not go, For he’ll be your heart’s delight. 39E.13 ‘They’ll next shape [him] into your arms Like a red-het gaud o airn; But hold him fast, let him not go, He’s the father o your bairn. 39E.14 ‘They’ll next shape him into your arms Like the laidliest worm of Ind; But hold him fast, let him not go, And cry aye "[Young Tamlin."]’ * * * * * 39E.15 Lady Margaret first let by the black, And syne let by the brown, But when she saw the milk-white steed She pulled the rider down. 39E.16 She pulled him into her arms, Let his bright bridle fa’, And he fell low into her arms, Like stone in castle’s wa. 39E.17 They first shaped him into arms An adder or a snake; But she held him fast, let him not go, For he’d be her warld’s make. 39E.18 They next shaped him into her arms Like a wood black dog to bite; But she held him fast, let him not go, For he’d be her heart’s delight. 39E.19 They next shaped him into her arms Like a red-het gaud o airn; But she held him fast, let him not go, He’d be father o her bairn. 39E.20 They next shaped him into her arms Like the laidliest worm of Ind; But she held him fast, let him not go, And cried aye ‘Young Tamlin.’ 39E.21 The Queen of Faery turned her horse about, Says, Adieu to thee, Tamlene! For if I had kent what I ken this night, If I had kent it yestreen, I wad hae taen out thy heart o flesh, And put in a heart o stane. 39F: Tam Lin 39F.1 * * * * SHERR’rrS taen her petticoat by the band, Her mantle owre her arm, And she’s awa to Chester wood, As fast as she could run. 39F.2 She scarsely pulled a rose, a rose, She scarse pulled two or three, Till up there starts Thomas On the Lady Margaret’s knee. 39F.3 She’s taen her petticoat by the band, Her mantle owre her arm, And Lady Margaret’s gane hame agen, As fast as she could run. 39F.4 Up starts Lady Margaret’s sister, An angry woman was she: ‘If there ever was a woman wi child, Margaret, you are wi!’ 39F.5 Up starts Lady Margaret’s mother, An angry woman was she: ‘There grows ane herb in yon kirk-yard That will scathe the babe away.’ 39F.6 She took her petticoats by the band, Her mantle owre her arm, And she’s gane to yon kirk-yard As fast as she could run. 39F.7 She scarcely pulled an herb, an herb, She scarse pulled two or three, Till up starts there Thomas Upon this Lady Margret’s knee. 39F.8 ‘How dare ye pull a rose?’ he says, ‘How dare ye break the tree? How dare ye pull this herb,’ he says, ‘To scathe my babe away? 39F.9 ‘This night is Halloweve,’ he said, ‘Our court is going to waste, And them that loves their true-love best At Chester bridge they’ll meet. 39F.10 ‘First let pass the black,’ he says, ‘And then let pass the brown, But when ye meet the milk-white steed, Pull ye the rider down. 39F.11 ‘They’ll turn me to an eagle,’ he says, ‘And then into an ass; Come, hold me fast, and fear me not, The man that you love best. 39F.12 ‘They’ll turn me to a flash of fire, And then to a naked man; Come, wrap you your mantle me about, And then you’ll have me won.’ 39F.13 She took her petticoats by the band, Her mantle owre her arm, And she’s awa to Chester bridge, As fast as she could run. 39F.14 And first she did let pass the black, And then let pass the brown, But when she met the milk-white steed, She pulled the rider