25"There was his sister burd Ellen;She stood up him before."
25"There was his sister burd Ellen;She stood up him before."
Says,
"'God rue on thee, poor luckless fode!What has thou to do here?"'And hear ye this, my youngest brither,30Why badena ye at hame?Had ye a hundur and thousand lives,Ye canna brook ane o' them."'And sit thou down; and wae, O waeThat ever thou was born;35For come the King o' Elfland in,Thy leccam is forlorn!'"
"'God rue on thee, poor luckless fode!What has thou to do here?
"'And hear ye this, my youngest brither,30Why badena ye at hame?Had ye a hundur and thousand lives,Ye canna brook ane o' them.
"'And sit thou down; and wae, O waeThat ever thou was born;35For come the King o' Elfland in,Thy leccam is forlorn!'"
A long conversation then takes place; Child Rowland tells her the news [of merry Carlisle,] and of his own expedition; and concludes with the observation, that, after this long and fatiguing journey to the castle of the king of Elfland, he isvery hungry.
Burd Ellen looked wistfully and mournfully at him, and shook her head, but said nothing. Acting under the influence of a magic which she could not resist, she arose, and brought him a golden bowl full of bread and milk, which she presented to him with the same timid, tender, and anxious expression of solicitude.
Remembering the instructions of the Warluck Merlin, "Burd Ellen," said Child Rowland, "I will neither taste nor touch till I have set thee free!" Immediately the folding-doors burst open with tremendous violence, and in came the king of Elfland,
"With 'fi, fi, fo, andfum!I smell the blood of a Christian man!Be he dead, be he living, wi' my brand40I'll clash his harns frae his harn-pan!'"
"With 'fi, fi, fo, andfum!I smell the blood of a Christian man!Be he dead, be he living, wi' my brand40I'll clash his harns frae his harn-pan!'"
"Strike, then, Bogle of Hell, if thou darest!" exclaimed the undaunted Child Rowland, starting up, and drawing the good claymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain.
A furious combat ensued, and the king of Elfland was felled to the ground; but Child Rowland spared him on condition that he should restore to him his two brothers, who lay in a trance in a corner of the hall, and his sister, the fair burd Ellen. The king of Elfland then produced a small crystal phial, containing a bright red liquor, with which he anointed the lips, nostrils, eye-lids, ears, and finger-ends of the two young men, who immediately awoke as from a profound sleep, during which their souls had quitted their bodies, and they had seen, &c., &c., &c. So they all four returned in triumph to [merry Carlisle.]
Such was the rude outline of the romance of Child Rowland, as it was told to me when I was about seven or eight years old, by a country tailor then at work in my father's house. He was an ignorant and dull good sort of honest man, who seemed never to have questioned the truth of what he related. Where theet cæterasare put down, many curious particulars have been omitted, because I was afraid of being deceived by my memory, and substituting one thing for another. It is right also to admonish the reader, that the Warluck Merlin, Child Rowland, and Burd Ellen, were the onlynamesintroduced inhisrecitation; and that the others, inclosed within brackets, are assumed upon the authority of the locality given to the story by the mention ofMerlin. In every other respect I have been as faithful as possible.
[4]The cathedral of Elgin naturally enough furnished similes to a man who had never in his life been twenty miles distant from it.
[4]The cathedral of Elgin naturally enough furnished similes to a man who had never in his life been twenty miles distant from it.
The ballad ofRosmeris found in Danish, Swedish, Faroish, and Norse. All the questions bearing upon its origin, and the relations of the variousformsin which the story exists, are amply discussed by Grundtvig, vol. ii. p. 72. Three versions of the Danish ballad are given by Vedel, all of which Jamieson has translated. The following is No. 31 in Abrahamson.
There dwalls a lady in Danmarck,Lady Hillers lyle men her ca';And she's gar'd bigg a new castell,That shines o'er Danmarck a'.5Her dochter was stown awa frae her;She sought for her wide-whare;But the mair she sought, and the less she fand,—That wirks her sorrow and care.And she's gar'd bigg a new ship,10Wi' vanes o' flaming goud,Wi' mony a knight and mariner,Sae stark in need bestow'd.She's followed her sons down to the strand,That chaste and noble fre;15And wull and waif for eight lang yearsThey sail'd upon the sea.And eight years wull and waif they sail'd,O' months that seem'd sae lang;Syne they sail'd afore a high castell,20And to the land can gang.And the young lady Svanè lyle,In the bower that was the best,Says, "Wharfrae cam thir frem swains,Wi' us this night to guest?"25Then up and spak her youngest brither,Sae wisely ay spak he;"We are a widow's three poor sons,Lang wilder'd on the sea."In Danmarck were we born and bred,30Lady Hillers lyle was our mither;Our sister frae us was stown awa,We findna whare or whither.""In Danmarck were ye born and bred?Was Lady Hillers your mither?35I can nae langer heal frae thee,Thou art my youngest brither."And hear ye this, my youngest brither:Why bade na ye at hame?Had ye a hunder and thousand lives,40Ye canna brook ane o' them."She's set him in the weiest nookShe in the house can meet;She's bidden him for the high God's sakeNouther to laugh ne greet.45Rosmer hame frae Zealand came,And he took on to bann:"I smell fu' weel, by my right hand,That here is a Christian man.""There flew a bird out o'er the house,50Wi' a man's bane in his mouth;He coost it in, and I cast it out,As fast as e'er I couth."But wilyly she can Rosmer win;And clapping him tenderly,55"It's here is come my sister-son;—Gin I lose him, I'll die."It's here is come, my sister-son,Frae baith our fathers' land;And I ha'e pledged him faith and troth,60That ye will not him bann.""And is he come, thy sister-son,Frae thy father's land to thee?Then I will swear my highest aith,He's dree nae skaith frae me."65"'Twas then the high king Rosmer,He ca'd on younkers twae:"Ye bid proud Svanè lyle's sister-sonTo the chalmer afore me gae."It was Svanè lyle's sister-son,70Whan afore Rosmer he wan,His heart it quook, and his body shook,Sae fley'd, he scarce dow stand.Sae Rosmer took her sister-son,Set him upon his knee;75He clappit him sae luifsomely,He turned baith blue and blae.And up and spak she, Svanè lyle;"Sir Rosmer, ye're nae to learnThat your ten fingers arena sma,80To clap sae little a bairn."There was he till, the fifthen year,He green'd for hame and land:"Help me now, sister Svanè lyle,To be set on the white sand."85It was proud Lady Svanè lyle,Afore Rosmer can stand:"This younker sae lang in the sea has been,He greens for hame and land.""Gin the younker sae lang in the sea has been,90And greens for hame and land,Then I'll gie him a kist wi' goud,Sae fitting till his hand.""And will ye gi'e him a kist wi' goud,Sae fitting till his hand?95Then hear ye, my noble heartis dear,Ye bear them baith to land."Then wrought proud Lady Svanè lyleWhat Rosmer little wist;For she's tane out the goud sae red,100And laid hersel i' the kist.He's ta'en the man upon his back;The kist in his mouth took he;And he has gane the lang way upFrae the bottom o' the sea.105"Now I ha'e borne thee to the land;Thou seest baith sun and moon;Namena Lady Svanè for thy highest God,I beg thee as a boon."Rosmer sprang i' the saut sea out,110And jawp'd it up i' the sky;But whan he cam till the castell in,Nae Svanè lyle could he spy.Whan he came till the castell in,His dearest awa was gane;115Like wood he sprang the castell about,On the rock o' the black flintstane.Glad they were in proud Hillers lyle's house,Wi' welcome joy and glee;Hame to their friends her bairns were come,120That had lang been in the sea.
There dwalls a lady in Danmarck,Lady Hillers lyle men her ca';And she's gar'd bigg a new castell,That shines o'er Danmarck a'.
5Her dochter was stown awa frae her;She sought for her wide-whare;But the mair she sought, and the less she fand,—That wirks her sorrow and care.
And she's gar'd bigg a new ship,10Wi' vanes o' flaming goud,Wi' mony a knight and mariner,Sae stark in need bestow'd.
She's followed her sons down to the strand,That chaste and noble fre;15And wull and waif for eight lang yearsThey sail'd upon the sea.
And eight years wull and waif they sail'd,O' months that seem'd sae lang;Syne they sail'd afore a high castell,20And to the land can gang.
And the young lady Svanè lyle,In the bower that was the best,Says, "Wharfrae cam thir frem swains,Wi' us this night to guest?"
25Then up and spak her youngest brither,Sae wisely ay spak he;"We are a widow's three poor sons,Lang wilder'd on the sea.
"In Danmarck were we born and bred,30Lady Hillers lyle was our mither;Our sister frae us was stown awa,We findna whare or whither."
"In Danmarck were ye born and bred?Was Lady Hillers your mither?35I can nae langer heal frae thee,Thou art my youngest brither.
"And hear ye this, my youngest brither:Why bade na ye at hame?Had ye a hunder and thousand lives,40Ye canna brook ane o' them."
She's set him in the weiest nookShe in the house can meet;She's bidden him for the high God's sakeNouther to laugh ne greet.
45Rosmer hame frae Zealand came,And he took on to bann:"I smell fu' weel, by my right hand,That here is a Christian man."
"There flew a bird out o'er the house,50Wi' a man's bane in his mouth;He coost it in, and I cast it out,As fast as e'er I couth."
But wilyly she can Rosmer win;And clapping him tenderly,55"It's here is come my sister-son;—Gin I lose him, I'll die.
"It's here is come, my sister-son,Frae baith our fathers' land;And I ha'e pledged him faith and troth,60That ye will not him bann."
"And is he come, thy sister-son,Frae thy father's land to thee?Then I will swear my highest aith,He's dree nae skaith frae me."
65"'Twas then the high king Rosmer,He ca'd on younkers twae:"Ye bid proud Svanè lyle's sister-sonTo the chalmer afore me gae."
It was Svanè lyle's sister-son,70Whan afore Rosmer he wan,His heart it quook, and his body shook,Sae fley'd, he scarce dow stand.
Sae Rosmer took her sister-son,Set him upon his knee;75He clappit him sae luifsomely,He turned baith blue and blae.
And up and spak she, Svanè lyle;"Sir Rosmer, ye're nae to learnThat your ten fingers arena sma,80To clap sae little a bairn."
There was he till, the fifthen year,He green'd for hame and land:"Help me now, sister Svanè lyle,To be set on the white sand."
85It was proud Lady Svanè lyle,Afore Rosmer can stand:"This younker sae lang in the sea has been,He greens for hame and land."
"Gin the younker sae lang in the sea has been,90And greens for hame and land,Then I'll gie him a kist wi' goud,Sae fitting till his hand."
"And will ye gi'e him a kist wi' goud,Sae fitting till his hand?95Then hear ye, my noble heartis dear,Ye bear them baith to land."
Then wrought proud Lady Svanè lyleWhat Rosmer little wist;For she's tane out the goud sae red,100And laid hersel i' the kist.
He's ta'en the man upon his back;The kist in his mouth took he;And he has gane the lang way upFrae the bottom o' the sea.
105"Now I ha'e borne thee to the land;Thou seest baith sun and moon;Namena Lady Svanè for thy highest God,I beg thee as a boon."
Rosmer sprang i' the saut sea out,110And jawp'd it up i' the sky;But whan he cam till the castell in,Nae Svanè lyle could he spy.
Whan he came till the castell in,His dearest awa was gane;115Like wood he sprang the castell about,On the rock o' the black flintstane.
Glad they were in proud Hillers lyle's house,Wi' welcome joy and glee;Hame to their friends her bairns were come,120That had lang been in the sea.
Take warnin', a' ye ladyes fair,That wear gowd on your hair;Come never unto Charter-woods,For Tam-a-line he's there.5Even about that knicht's middleO' siller bells are nine;Nae ane comes to Charter-woods,And a may returns agen.Ladye Margaret sits in her bouir door,10Sewing at her silken seam;And she lang'd to gang to Charter woods,To pou the roses green.She hadna pou'd a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,15Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,Says, "Layde, lat alane."O why pou ye the rose, the rose?Or why brake ye the tree?Or why come ye to Charter-woods,20Without leave ask'd of me?""I will pou the rose, the rose,And I will brake the tree;Charter-woods are a' my ain,I'll ask nae leave o' thee."25He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;And laid her low on gude green wood,At her he spier'd nae leave.When he had got his will o' her,30His will as he had ta'en,He's ta'en her by the middle sma',Set her to feet again.She turn'd her richt and round about,To spier her true love's name,35But naething heard she, nor naething saw,As a' the woods grew dim.Seven days she tarried there,Saw neither sun nor muin;At length, by a sma' glimmerin' licht,40Came thro' the wood her lane.When she came to her father's court,Was fine as ony queen;But when eight months were past and gane,Got on the gown o' green.45Then out it speaks an eldren knicht,As he stood at the yett;"Our king's dochter, she gaes wi' bairn,And we'll get a' the wyte.""O haud your tongue, ye eldren man,50And bring me not to shame;Although that I do gang wi' bairn,Yese naeways get the blame."Were my love but an earthly man,As he's an elfin knicht,55I wadna gie my ain true luve,For a' that's in my sicht."Then out it speaks her brither dear,He meant to do her harm,"There is an herb in Charter-woods60Will twine you an' the bairn."She's taen her mantle her about,Her coiffer by the band;And she is on to Charter-woods,As fast as she coud gang.65She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,Till by it came him, Tam-a-Line,Says, "Ladye, lat alane.""O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,70The pile o' the gravil green,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got us between?"O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o' the gravil gray,75For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got in our play?"For if it be a knave bairn,He's heir o' a' my land;But if it be a lass bairn,80In red gowd she shall gang.""If my luve were an earthly man,As he's an elfin grey,I coud gang bound, luve, for your sake,A twalmonth and a day."85"Indeed your luve's an earthly man,The same as well as thee;And lang I've haunted Charter-woods,A' for your fair bodie.""O! tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,90O! tell, an' tell me true;Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,What pedigree are you?""O! I hae been at gude church-door,An' I've got christendom;95I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,An' heir ower a' his land."When I was young, o' three years old,Muckle was made o' me;My stepmither put on my claithes,100An' ill, ill, sained she me."Ae fatal morning I gaed out,Dreading nae injurie;And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,Beneath an apple tree.105"Then by it came the Elfin Queen,And laid her hand on me;And from that time since e'er I mind,I've been in her companie."O Elfin it's a bonny place,110In it fain wad I dwell;But aye at ilka seven years' end,They pay a tiend to hell,And I'm sae fou o' flesh an blude,I'm sair fear'd for mysell."115"O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an' tell me true;Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,What way I'll borrow you?""The morn is Hallowe'en nicht,120The Elfin court will ride,Through England, and thro' a' Scotland,And through the warld wide."O they begin at sky sett in,Ride a' the evenin' tide;125And she that will her true love borrow,At Miles-cross will him bide."Ye'll do ye down to Miles-cross,Between twall hours and ane;And full your hands o' holie water,130And cast your compass roun'."Then the first ane court that comes you till,Is published king and queen;The neist ane court that comes you till,It is maidens mony ane.135"The neist ane court that comes you till,Is footmen, grooms, and squires;The neist ane court that comes you till,Is knichts; and I'll be there."I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,140A gowd star on my crown;Because I was an earthly knicht,Got that for a renown."And out at my steed's right nostril,He'll breathe a fiery flame;145Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel,And ye'll be busy then."Ye'll tak' my horse then by the head,And lat the bridal fa';The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,150'True Tam-a-Line's awa'."Then I'll appear into your armsLike the wolf that ne'er wad tame;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,Case we ne'er meet again.155"Then I'll appear into your armsLike fire that burns sae bauld;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,I'll be as iron cauld."Then I'll appear into your arms160Like the adder an' the snake;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,I am your warld's maike."Then I'll appear into your armsLike to the deer sae wild;165Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,And I'll father your child."And I'll appear into your armsLike to a silken string;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,170Till ye see the fair mornin'."And I'll appear into your armsLike to a naked man;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,And wi' you I'll gae hame."175Then she has done her to Miles-cross,Between twal hours an' ane;And filled her hands o' holie water,And kiest her compass roun'.The first ane court that came her till,180Was published king and queen;The niest ane court that came her till,Was maidens mony ane.The niest ane court that came her till,Was footmen, grooms, and squires;185The niest ane court that came her till,Was knichts; and he was there!True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A gowd star on his crown;Because he was an earthly man,190Got that for a renown.And out at the steed's right nostril,He breath'd a fiery flame;She loots her low, an' sains hersel,And she was busy then.195She's taen the horse then by the head,And loot the bridle fa';The Queen o' Elfin she cried out,—"True Tam-a-Line's awa'.""Stay still, true Tam-a-Line," she says,200"Till I pay you your fee;""His father wants not lands nor rents,He'll ask nae fee frae thee.""Gin I had kent yestreen, yestreen,What I ken weel the day,205I shou'd hae taen your fu' fause heart,Gien you a heart o' clay."Then he appeared into her armsLike the wolf that ne'er wad tame;She held him fast, lat him not gae,210Case they ne'er met again.Then he appeared into her armsLike the fire burning bauld;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He was as iron cauld.215And he appeared into her armsLike the adder an' the snake;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He was her warld's maike.And he appeared into her arms220Like to the deer sae wild;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He's father o' her child.And he appeared into her armsLike to a silken string;225She held him fast, lat him not gae,Till she saw fair mornin'.And he appeared into her armsLike to a naked man;She held him fast, lat him not gae,230And wi' her he's gane hame.These news hae reach'd thro' a' Scotland,And far ayont the Tay,That ladye Margaret, our king's dochter,That nicht had gain'd her prey.235She borrowed her love at mirk midnicht,Bare her young son ere day;And though ye'd search the warld wide,Ye'll nae find sic a may.
Take warnin', a' ye ladyes fair,That wear gowd on your hair;Come never unto Charter-woods,For Tam-a-line he's there.
5Even about that knicht's middleO' siller bells are nine;Nae ane comes to Charter-woods,And a may returns agen.
Ladye Margaret sits in her bouir door,10Sewing at her silken seam;And she lang'd to gang to Charter woods,To pou the roses green.
She hadna pou'd a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,15Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,Says, "Layde, lat alane.
"O why pou ye the rose, the rose?Or why brake ye the tree?Or why come ye to Charter-woods,20Without leave ask'd of me?"
"I will pou the rose, the rose,And I will brake the tree;Charter-woods are a' my ain,I'll ask nae leave o' thee."
25He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;And laid her low on gude green wood,At her he spier'd nae leave.
When he had got his will o' her,30His will as he had ta'en,He's ta'en her by the middle sma',Set her to feet again.
She turn'd her richt and round about,To spier her true love's name,35But naething heard she, nor naething saw,As a' the woods grew dim.
Seven days she tarried there,Saw neither sun nor muin;At length, by a sma' glimmerin' licht,40Came thro' the wood her lane.
When she came to her father's court,Was fine as ony queen;But when eight months were past and gane,Got on the gown o' green.
45Then out it speaks an eldren knicht,As he stood at the yett;"Our king's dochter, she gaes wi' bairn,And we'll get a' the wyte."
"O haud your tongue, ye eldren man,50And bring me not to shame;Although that I do gang wi' bairn,Yese naeways get the blame.
"Were my love but an earthly man,As he's an elfin knicht,55I wadna gie my ain true luve,For a' that's in my sicht."
Then out it speaks her brither dear,He meant to do her harm,"There is an herb in Charter-woods60Will twine you an' the bairn."
She's taen her mantle her about,Her coiffer by the band;And she is on to Charter-woods,As fast as she coud gang.
65She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,Till by it came him, Tam-a-Line,Says, "Ladye, lat alane."
"O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,70The pile o' the gravil green,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got us between?
"O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o' the gravil gray,75For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got in our play?
"For if it be a knave bairn,He's heir o' a' my land;But if it be a lass bairn,80In red gowd she shall gang."
"If my luve were an earthly man,As he's an elfin grey,I coud gang bound, luve, for your sake,A twalmonth and a day."
85"Indeed your luve's an earthly man,The same as well as thee;And lang I've haunted Charter-woods,A' for your fair bodie."
"O! tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,90O! tell, an' tell me true;Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,What pedigree are you?"
"O! I hae been at gude church-door,An' I've got christendom;95I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,An' heir ower a' his land.
"When I was young, o' three years old,Muckle was made o' me;My stepmither put on my claithes,100An' ill, ill, sained she me.
"Ae fatal morning I gaed out,Dreading nae injurie;And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,Beneath an apple tree.
105"Then by it came the Elfin Queen,And laid her hand on me;And from that time since e'er I mind,I've been in her companie.
"O Elfin it's a bonny place,110In it fain wad I dwell;But aye at ilka seven years' end,They pay a tiend to hell,And I'm sae fou o' flesh an blude,I'm sair fear'd for mysell."
115"O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an' tell me true;Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,What way I'll borrow you?"
"The morn is Hallowe'en nicht,120The Elfin court will ride,Through England, and thro' a' Scotland,And through the warld wide.
"O they begin at sky sett in,Ride a' the evenin' tide;125And she that will her true love borrow,At Miles-cross will him bide.
"Ye'll do ye down to Miles-cross,Between twall hours and ane;And full your hands o' holie water,130And cast your compass roun'.
"Then the first ane court that comes you till,Is published king and queen;The neist ane court that comes you till,It is maidens mony ane.
135"The neist ane court that comes you till,Is footmen, grooms, and squires;The neist ane court that comes you till,Is knichts; and I'll be there.
"I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,140A gowd star on my crown;Because I was an earthly knicht,Got that for a renown.
"And out at my steed's right nostril,He'll breathe a fiery flame;145Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel,And ye'll be busy then.
"Ye'll tak' my horse then by the head,And lat the bridal fa';The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,150'True Tam-a-Line's awa'.
"Then I'll appear into your armsLike the wolf that ne'er wad tame;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,Case we ne'er meet again.
155"Then I'll appear into your armsLike fire that burns sae bauld;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,I'll be as iron cauld.
"Then I'll appear into your arms160Like the adder an' the snake;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,I am your warld's maike.
"Then I'll appear into your armsLike to the deer sae wild;165Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,And I'll father your child.
"And I'll appear into your armsLike to a silken string;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,170Till ye see the fair mornin'.
"And I'll appear into your armsLike to a naked man;Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,And wi' you I'll gae hame."
175Then she has done her to Miles-cross,Between twal hours an' ane;And filled her hands o' holie water,And kiest her compass roun'.
The first ane court that came her till,180Was published king and queen;The niest ane court that came her till,Was maidens mony ane.
The niest ane court that came her till,Was footmen, grooms, and squires;185The niest ane court that came her till,Was knichts; and he was there!
True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A gowd star on his crown;Because he was an earthly man,190Got that for a renown.
And out at the steed's right nostril,He breath'd a fiery flame;She loots her low, an' sains hersel,And she was busy then.
195She's taen the horse then by the head,And loot the bridle fa';The Queen o' Elfin she cried out,—"True Tam-a-Line's awa'."
"Stay still, true Tam-a-Line," she says,200"Till I pay you your fee;""His father wants not lands nor rents,He'll ask nae fee frae thee."
"Gin I had kent yestreen, yestreen,What I ken weel the day,205I shou'd hae taen your fu' fause heart,Gien you a heart o' clay."
Then he appeared into her armsLike the wolf that ne'er wad tame;She held him fast, lat him not gae,210Case they ne'er met again.
Then he appeared into her armsLike the fire burning bauld;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He was as iron cauld.
215And he appeared into her armsLike the adder an' the snake;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He was her warld's maike.
And he appeared into her arms220Like to the deer sae wild;She held him fast, lat him not gae,He's father o' her child.
And he appeared into her armsLike to a silken string;225She held him fast, lat him not gae,Till she saw fair mornin'.
And he appeared into her armsLike to a naked man;She held him fast, lat him not gae,230And wi' her he's gane hame.
These news hae reach'd thro' a' Scotland,And far ayont the Tay,That ladye Margaret, our king's dochter,That nicht had gain'd her prey.
235She borrowed her love at mirk midnicht,Bare her young son ere day;And though ye'd search the warld wide,Ye'll nae find sic a may.
O all you ladies young and gay,Who are so sweet and fair,Do not go into Chaster's wood,For Tomlinn will be there.* * * * *5Fair Margaret sat in her bonny bower,Sewing her silken seam,And wished to be in Chaster's wood,Among the leaves so green.She let the seam fall to her foot,10The needle to her toe,And she has gone to Chaster's wood,As fast as she could go.When she began to pull the flowers;She pull'd both red and green;15Then by did come, and by did go,Said, "Fair maid, let abene!"O why pluck you the flowers, lady,Or why climb you the tree?Or why come ye to Chaster's wood,20Without the leave of me?""O I will pull the flowers," she said,"Or I will break the tree;For Chaster's wood it is my own,I'll ask no leave at thee."25He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;And laid her down upon the flowers,At her he ask'd no leave.The lady blush'd and sourly frown'd,30And she did think great shame;Says, "If you are a gentleman,You will tell me your name.""First they call me Jack," he said,"And then they call'd me John;35But since I liv'd in the Fairy court,Tomlinn has always been my name."So do not pluck that flower, lady,That has these pimples gray;They would destroy the bonny babe40That we've gotten in our play.""O tell to me, Tomlinn," she said,"And tell it to me soon;Was you ever at a good church door,Or got you christendom?"45"O I have been at good church door,And oft her yetts within;I was the Laird of Foulis's son,The heir of all his land."But it fell once upon a day,50As hunting I did ride,As I rode east and west yon hill,Then woe did me betide."O drowsy, drowsy as I was,Dead sleep upon me fell;55The Queen of Fairies she was there,And took me to hersel."The morn at even is Hallowe'en,Our Fairy court will ride,Through England and through Scotland both,60Through all the world wide;And if that ye would me borrow,At Rides Cross ye may bide."You may go into the Miles Moss,Between twelve hours and one;65Take holy water in your hand,And cast a compass round."The first court that comes along,You'll let them all pass by;The next court that comes along,70Salute them reverently."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.75"And I upon a milk-white steed,With a gold star in my crown;Because I am an earthly man,I'm next the Queen in renown."Then seize upon me with a spring,80Then to the ground I'll fa';And then you'll hear a rueful cry,That Tomlinn is awa'."Then I'll grow in your arms two,Like to a savage wild;85But hold me fast, let me not go,I'm father of your child."I'll grow into your arms twoLike an adder, or a snake;But hold me fast, let me not go,90I'll be your earthly maik."I'll grow into your arms twoLike ice on frozen lake;But hold me fast, let me not go,Or from your goupen break.95"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."And its next night into Miles Moss,100Fair Margaret has gone;When lo she stands beside Rides Cross,Between twelve hours and one.There's holy water in her hand,She casts a compass round;105And presently a Fairy bandComes riding o'er the mound.
O all you ladies young and gay,Who are so sweet and fair,Do not go into Chaster's wood,For Tomlinn will be there.
* * * * *
* * * * *
5Fair Margaret sat in her bonny bower,Sewing her silken seam,And wished to be in Chaster's wood,Among the leaves so green.
She let the seam fall to her foot,10The needle to her toe,And she has gone to Chaster's wood,As fast as she could go.
When she began to pull the flowers;She pull'd both red and green;15Then by did come, and by did go,Said, "Fair maid, let abene!
"O why pluck you the flowers, lady,Or why climb you the tree?Or why come ye to Chaster's wood,20Without the leave of me?"
"O I will pull the flowers," she said,"Or I will break the tree;For Chaster's wood it is my own,I'll ask no leave at thee."
25He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;And laid her down upon the flowers,At her he ask'd no leave.
The lady blush'd and sourly frown'd,30And she did think great shame;Says, "If you are a gentleman,You will tell me your name."
"First they call me Jack," he said,"And then they call'd me John;35But since I liv'd in the Fairy court,Tomlinn has always been my name.
"So do not pluck that flower, lady,That has these pimples gray;They would destroy the bonny babe40That we've gotten in our play."
"O tell to me, Tomlinn," she said,"And tell it to me soon;Was you ever at a good church door,Or got you christendom?"
45"O I have been at good church door,And oft her yetts within;I was the Laird of Foulis's son,The heir of all his land.
"But it fell once upon a day,50As hunting I did ride,As I rode east and west yon hill,Then woe did me betide.
"O drowsy, drowsy as I was,Dead sleep upon me fell;55The Queen of Fairies she was there,And took me to hersel.
"The morn at even is Hallowe'en,Our Fairy court will ride,Through England and through Scotland both,60Through all the world wide;And if that ye would me borrow,At Rides Cross ye may bide.
"You may go into the Miles Moss,Between twelve hours and one;65Take holy water in your hand,And cast a compass round.
"The first court that comes along,You'll let them all pass by;The next court that comes along,70Salute them reverently.
"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.
75"And I upon a milk-white steed,With a gold star in my crown;Because I am an earthly man,I'm next the Queen in renown.
"Then seize upon me with a spring,80Then to the ground I'll fa';And then you'll hear a rueful cry,That Tomlinn is awa'.
"Then I'll grow in your arms two,Like to a savage wild;85But hold me fast, let me not go,I'm father of your child.
"I'll grow into your arms twoLike an adder, or a snake;But hold me fast, let me not go,90I'll be your earthly maik.
"I'll grow into your arms twoLike ice on frozen lake;But hold me fast, let me not go,Or from your goupen break.
95"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."
And its next night into Miles Moss,100Fair Margaret has gone;When lo she stands beside Rides Cross,Between twelve hours and one.
There's holy water in her hand,She casts a compass round;105And presently a Fairy bandComes riding o'er the mound.
This seems to be the most appropriate connection for a short fragment from Maidment'sNorth Countrie Garland, (p. 21.) It was taken down from the recitation of a lady who had heard it sung in her childhood.
Burd Ellen sits in the bower windowe,With a double laddy double, and for the double dow,Twisting the red silk and the blue,With the double rose and the May-hay.5And whiles she twisted, and whiles she twan,With a double, &c.And whiles the tears fell down amang,With the double, &c.10Till once there by cam young Tamlane,With a double, &c."Come light, oh light, and rock your young son!"With the double, &c."If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,With a double, &c.15For I hae rockit my share and mair."With the double, &c.Young Tamlane to the seas he's gane,With a double laddy double, and for the double dow,And a' women's curse in his company's gane,20With the double rose and the May-hay.
Burd Ellen sits in the bower windowe,With a double laddy double, and for the double dow,Twisting the red silk and the blue,With the double rose and the May-hay.
5And whiles she twisted, and whiles she twan,With a double, &c.And whiles the tears fell down amang,With the double, &c.
10Till once there by cam young Tamlane,With a double, &c."Come light, oh light, and rock your young son!"With the double, &c.
"If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,With a double, &c.15For I hae rockit my share and mair."With the double, &c.
Young Tamlane to the seas he's gane,With a double laddy double, and for the double dow,And a' women's curse in his company's gane,20With the double rose and the May-hay.
In the manuscript from which these verses are taken, they form the preface to a long strain of incomprehensible prophecies of the same description as those which are appended toThomas of Ersyldoune. Whether the two portions belong together, or not, (and it will be seen that they are ill enough joined,) the first alone requires to be cited here for the purpose of comparison with theWee Wee Man. The whole piece has been twice printed, first by Finlay, in hisScottish Ballads, (ii. 163,) and afterwards, by a person who was not aware that he had been anticipated, in theRetrospective Review, Second Series, vol. ii. p. 326. Both texts are in places nearly unintelligible, and are evidently full of errors, part of which we must ascribe to the incompetency of the editors. Finlay's is here adopted as on the whole the best, but it has received a few corrections from the other, and one or two conjectural emendations.
Als y yod on ay MoundayBytwene Wyltinden and Wall,The ane after brade way,Ay litel man y mette with alle,5The leste yat ever y, sathe to say,Oither in bowr, oither in halle;His robe was noither grene na gray,Bot alle yt was of riche palle.On me he cald, and bad me bide;10Well stille y stode ay litel space;Fra Lanchestre the parke sydeYeen he come, wel fair his pase.He hailsed me with mikel pride;Ic haved wel mykel ferly wat he was;15I saide,—"Wel mote the betyde,That litel man with large face."I beheld that litel manBi the strete als we gon gae;His berd was syde ay large span,20And glided als the fether of pae;His heved was wyte als ony swan,His hegehen was gret and grai als so;Brues lange, wel I the canMerk it to fize inches and mae.25Armes scort, for sothe I saye,Ay span seemed thaem to bee:Handes brade vytouten nay,And fingeres lange, he scheued me.Ay stane he tok op thar it lay,30And castit forth that I moth see;Ay merk-soot of large wayBifore me strides he castit three.Wel stille I stod als did the stane,To loke him on thouth me nouth lang;35His robe was alle gold begane,Welcraftelikemaked, I understande;Botones asurd, everlk ane,Fra his elbouthe ontil his hande;Erdelikman was he nane;40That in myn hert ich onderstande.Til him I sayde ful sone on ane,For forthirmar I wald him fraine,"Gladli waldI wit thi name,And I wist wat me mouthe gaine;45Thou ert so litel of fleshe and bane,And so mikel of mith and mayne,War vones thou, litel man, at hame?Wit of thee I wald ful faine.""Thoth I be litel and lith,50Am y noth wytouten wane;Ferli frained thou wat hi hith,Thatthou salt noth wit my name;My wonige stede ful wel esdyght,Nou sone thou salt se at hame."55Til him I sayde, "For Godes mith,Let me forth myn erand gane.""The thar noth of thin erand lette,Thouth thou come ay stonde wit me,Forther salt thou noth bi sette,60Bi miles twa noyther bi three."Na linger durst I for him lette,But forth y funded wyt that free;Stintid vs brok no beck;Ferlich me thouth hu so mouth bee.65He vent forth, als y you say,In at ay yate, y vnderstande;In til ay yate wvndouten nay;It to se thouth menouthlang.The bankers on the binkes lay,70And fair lordes sett y fonde;In ilka ay hirn y herd ay lay,And leuedys soth meloude sange.
Als y yod on ay MoundayBytwene Wyltinden and Wall,The ane after brade way,Ay litel man y mette with alle,5The leste yat ever y, sathe to say,Oither in bowr, oither in halle;His robe was noither grene na gray,Bot alle yt was of riche palle.
On me he cald, and bad me bide;10Well stille y stode ay litel space;Fra Lanchestre the parke sydeYeen he come, wel fair his pase.He hailsed me with mikel pride;Ic haved wel mykel ferly wat he was;15I saide,—"Wel mote the betyde,That litel man with large face."
I beheld that litel manBi the strete als we gon gae;His berd was syde ay large span,20And glided als the fether of pae;His heved was wyte als ony swan,His hegehen was gret and grai als so;Brues lange, wel I the canMerk it to fize inches and mae.
25Armes scort, for sothe I saye,Ay span seemed thaem to bee:Handes brade vytouten nay,And fingeres lange, he scheued me.Ay stane he tok op thar it lay,30And castit forth that I moth see;Ay merk-soot of large wayBifore me strides he castit three.
Wel stille I stod als did the stane,To loke him on thouth me nouth lang;35His robe was alle gold begane,Welcraftelikemaked, I understande;Botones asurd, everlk ane,Fra his elbouthe ontil his hande;Erdelikman was he nane;40That in myn hert ich onderstande.
Til him I sayde ful sone on ane,For forthirmar I wald him fraine,"Gladli waldI wit thi name,And I wist wat me mouthe gaine;45Thou ert so litel of fleshe and bane,And so mikel of mith and mayne,War vones thou, litel man, at hame?Wit of thee I wald ful faine."
"Thoth I be litel and lith,50Am y noth wytouten wane;Ferli frained thou wat hi hith,Thatthou salt noth wit my name;My wonige stede ful wel esdyght,Nou sone thou salt se at hame."55Til him I sayde, "For Godes mith,Let me forth myn erand gane."
"The thar noth of thin erand lette,Thouth thou come ay stonde wit me,Forther salt thou noth bi sette,60Bi miles twa noyther bi three."Na linger durst I for him lette,But forth y funded wyt that free;Stintid vs brok no beck;Ferlich me thouth hu so mouth bee.
65He vent forth, als y you say,In at ay yate, y vnderstande;In til ay yate wvndouten nay;It to se thouth menouthlang.The bankers on the binkes lay,70And fair lordes sett y fonde;In ilka ay hirn y herd ay lay,And leuedys soth meloude sange.
[Here there seems to be a break, and a new start made, with a tale told not on aMonday, but on aWednesday.]