Tam Lin Balladry

Tam Lin: R. J. Stewart Version
Site reference number: 19

source: Robert Kirk: Walker Between Worlds by R.J. Stewart

R.J. Stewart has been kind enough to provide the text of the 1692 book The Secret Commonwealth of Elves Fauns and Faeries by Robert Kirk on-line for free at www.aroz.org, while R J Stewart's website, containing workshop calendar and other materials is available at www.dreampower.com. Both websites are heartily recommended, and Mr.Stewart has been extremely kind and generous in sharing his information. Thank you.

summary: The king forbids the maidens to enter Carterhaugh for fear of Tam Lin, who guards the woods. Janet goes defiantly to the woods and summons him by plucking a rose, and returns to her family home pregnant. After refusing to give the child's name to any of the men in the hall she returns to the woods to gather abortive agents. Tam Lin appears again, and she questions him, to learn that he is a mortal held in bandage to the fairies, and will likely be sacrificied to hell on Halloween, that very night. He instructs her how he way be rescued, how she must hide by the crossroads and pull him from his horse as the fairy tropp passes near, and hold onto him as he is transformed, ending with a naked man, at which point she must cover him. She follows his instructions, and rescues him, despite the angry comments of the Queen of fairies.

1. The King forbade his maidens a'
   That wore gold in their hair
   To come and go by Carterhaugh,
   For the young Tam Lin is there.
   
   
2. And those that go by Carterhaugh
   From them he takes a wad,
   Either their rings or green mantles
   Or else their maidenheads!
   
   
3. So Janet has kilted her green mantle
   Just a little above her knee,
   And she has gone to Carterhaugh
   Just as fast as she could flee.
   
   
4. She had not pulled a double rose,
   A rose but three or four,
   When up and spoke this young Tam Lin,
   Crying 'Lady, pull no more!'
   
   
5. 'How dare you pull those flowers!
   How dare you break those wands!
   How dare you come to Carterhaugh
   Withouten my command?'
   
   
6. She says, 'Carterhaugh it is my own
   My Father gave it me,
   And I will come and go by here
   Withouten any leave of thee!'
   
   
7. There were four and twenty ladies gay
   All sitting down at chess,
   In and come the fair Janet,
   As pale as any glass.
   
   
8. Up and spake her father dear,
   He spake up meek and mild,
   'Oh alas, Janet,' he cried,
   'I fear you go with child!'
   
   
9. 'And if I go with child,
   It is myself to blame!
   There's not a lord in all your hall
   Shall give my child his name!'
   
   
10. Janet has kilted her green mantle
    Just a little above her knee,
    And she has gone to Carterhaugh
    For to pull the scathing tree.
    
    
11. 'How dare you pull that herb
    All among the leaves so green
    For to kill the bonny babe
    That we got us between!'
    
    
12. 'You must tell to me Tam Lin,
    Ah you must tell to me,
    Were you once a mortal knight
    Or mortal hall did see?'
    
    
13. 'I was once a mortal knight
    I was hunting here one day,
    I did fall from off my horse,
    The Fairy Queen stole me away.
    
    
14. 'And pleasant is the Fairy Land
    But a strange tale I'll tell,
    For at the end of seven years
    They pay a fine to Hell.
    'At the end of seven years
    They pay a fine to Hell,
    And I so fair and full of flesh
    I fear it is myself.'
    
    
15. 'Tomorrow night is Halloween,
    And the Fairy Folk do ride;
    Those that would their true love win
    At Miles Cross they must hide!
    
    
16. 'First you let pass the black horse
    Then you let pass the brown,
    But run up to the milk white steed
    And pull the rider down.
    
    
17. 'First they'll change me in your arms
    Into some esk or adder,
    Hold me close and fear me not,
    For I'm your child's father.
    
    
18. 'Then they'll turn me in your arms
    Into a lion wild.
    Hold me tight and fear me not
    As you would hold your child.
    
    
19. 'Then they'll turn me in your arms
    Into a red-hot bar of iron,
    Hold me close and fear me not,
    For I will do no harm.
    
    
20. 'Then they'll turn me in your arms
    Into some burning lead,
    Throw me into well-water
    And throw me in with speed.
    
    
21. 'Last they'll turn me in your arms
    Into a naked knight
    Wrap me up in your green mantle,
    And hide me close from sight.'
    
    
22. So well she did what he did say
    She did her true love win,
    She wrapped him up in her mantle,
    As blythe as any bird in Spring.
    
    
23. Up and spake the Fairy Queen,
    And angry cried she,
    'If I'd have known of this Tam Lin,
    That some lady'd borrowed thee,
    
    
24. 'If I had known of this Tam Lin,
    That some lady borrowed thee,
    I'd have plucked out thine eyes of flesh
    And put in eyes from a tree!
    
    
25. 'If I'd have known of this Tam Lin,
    Before we came from home,
    I'd have plucked out thine heart of flesh
    And put in a heart of stone!'
    

© 1997-2003 Abigail Acland for all original works unless otherwise noted.
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