Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/447

 BALLADS AND SONGS BY UNKNOWN AUTHORS

Thomas the Rhymer

TRUE Thomas lay on Huntlie bankj A ferlie he spied wi' 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.

'Hail to thee, Mary, Queen of Heaven' For thy peer on earth could never be.'

'O no, O no, Thomas,' she said, '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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