BALLADS AND SONGS BY UNKNOWN

AUTHORS

$67* Thomas the Rhymer

HTRUE Thomas lay on Huntlie bank ;

A ferlie he spied \vi' 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 o' her horse's mane,

Hung fifty siller bells and nine.

True Thomas he pu'd aff his cap, And louted low down on his knee :

4 Hail to thee, Mary, Queen of Heaven ! For thy peer on earth could never be/

' O no, O no, Thomas/ she said, 4 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, Thomas/ she said ;

' Harp and carp along wi' me ; And if ye dare to kiss my lips,

Sure of your bodie I will be.'

ferlie] marvel. tett] tuft, lock. harp and carp] play

and recite (as a minstrel).

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