English and Scottish popular ballads - National Library of Scotland

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23 ' I '11 grow into your arms two
Like an adder or a snake
But hold me fast, let me not go,
I '11 be your earthly maick.
24 ' I 11 grow into your arms two
Like iron in strong fire ;
But hold me fast, let me not go.
Then you '11 have your desire.'
25 She rid down to Miles Cross,
Between twelve hours and one,
Took holy water in her hand.
And cast a compass round.
26 The first court that came along,
She let them all pass by ;
The next court that came along
Saluted reverently.
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.
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.'
Motherwell's Note-book, p. 13.
1 Lady Makgaeet is over gravel green,
And over gravel grey,
And she 's awa to Charteris ha,
Lang lang three hour or day.
2 She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,
A flower but only ane,
Till up and started young Tamlin,
Says, Lady, let alane.
3 She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,
A flower but only twa,
4
Till up and started young Tamlene,
Atween her and the wa.
' How daur you pu my flower, madam ?
How daur ye break my tree ?
How daur ye come to Charter's ha.
Without the leave nt me ?
39. TAM LIN 347
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.
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.
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.
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.
33 ' stay, Tomlin,' cried Elphin Queen,
' Till I pay you your fee ;
' ;
' His father has lands and rents enough,
He wants no fee from thee.'
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.'
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.'
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,
7 ' Deep and drowsy was the sleep
On rny poor body fell
By came the Queen of Faery,
Made me with her to dwell.
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.
' First let by the black,' he said,
• And syne let by the brown .
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