Young Tom Line
- I forbid ye, maidens a',
that wear goud on your gear,
To come and gae by Caterhaugh,
For young Tom Line is there. - There's nane that gaes by Carterhaugh
But they leave him a wad,
Either their things or green mantles,
Or else their maidenhead. - But Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little above her knee,
And she has broded her yellow hair
a little above her bree,
And she has gaen for Carterhaugh,
As fast as she can hie. - When she came to Carterhaugh
Tom Line was at the well,
And there she fand his steed standing,
But away was himsell. - She hadna pu'd a double rose,
A rose but only twae,
Till up then started young Tom Line,
Says, Lady, thou 's pu nae mae. - Why pou's thou the rose, Janet?
Why breaks thou the wand?
Why comest thou to Carterhaugh
Withouthen my command? - Carterhaugh it is is my ain,
My daddy gave it me;
I'll come and gae by Carterhaugh,
And ask nae leave at thee.' - Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has snooded her yellow hair
a little aboon her bree,
She is on to her father's ha,
as fast as she can hie. - Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ba,
And out then came fair Janet,
The flowr amang them a'. - Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess,
Out then came fair Janet,
As green as ony glass. - Out spak ani auld grey-headed knight,
Lay owre the castle wa,
And says, Alas, fair Janet,
For thee we'll be blam'd a'. - 'Had your tongue, you auld grey knight
Some ill dead may ye die!
Father my bairn on whom I will,
I 'll father nane on thee.' - Out then spak her father dear,
He spak baith thick and milde;
'And ever alas, sweet Janet,' he says,
'I think ye gae wi childe.' - 'If that I gae wi child, father,
Mysell bears a' the blame;
There 's not a laird about your ha
Shall get the bairnie's name. - 'If my lord were an earthly knight,
As he 's an elfish grey,
I wad na gie my ain true-love
For nae lord that ye hae.' - Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has snooded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree,
And she's away to Carterhaugh,
As fast as she can hie. - When she came to Carterhaugh,
Tom Line was at the well,
And there she faund his steed standing,
But away was himsell. - She hadna pu'd a double rose,
A rose but only twae,
Till up then started young Tom Line,
Says, Lady, thou 'a pu na mae. - Why pu's thou the rose, Janet,
Out owr yon groves sae green,
And a' to kill your bonny babe,
That we gat us between? - 'O tell me, tell me, Tom,' she says,
'For's sake who died on tree,
If eer ye were in holy chapel,
Or christendom did see.' - 'Roxburgh he was my Grandfather
Took me with him to bide,
And ance it fell upon a day
That wae did me betide. - 'Ance it fell upon a day,
A cauld day and a snell,
When we were frae the hunting come,
That from my horse I fell. - 'The Queen of Fairies she came by,
Took me wi her to dwell,
Evn where she has a pleasant land
For those that in it dwell,
But at the end o seven years,
They pay their teind to hell. - The night it is gude Halloween,
The fairie folk do ride,
And they that wad their true-love win,
At Miles Cross they maun bide.' - But how shall I thee ken, Thomas,
Or how shall I thee knaw,
Amang a pack o uncouth knights
The like I never saw ?' - 'The first company that passes by,
Say na, and let them gae;
The next company that passes by,
Say na, and do right sae;
The third comptny that passes by,
Then I 'll be ane o thae. - Some ride upon a black, lady,
And some ride on a brown,
But I ride on a milk-white steed,
And ay nearest the town :
Because I was an earthly knight
They gae me that renown. - 'My right hand will be glovd, lady,
My left hand will be bare,
And thae's the tokens I gie thee,
Nae doubt I will be there. - 'Then hie thee to the milk-white
And pu me quickly down,
Cast thy green kirtle owr me,
And keep me frae the rain. - 'They'll turn me in thy arms, lady,
An adder and a snake;
But hold me fast, let me na gae,
To be your warldly mate. - 'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
A grey greyhound to girn;
But hald me fast, let me na gae,
The father o your bairn. - They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
A red het gad o iron;
Then hand me fast, and be na feard,
I'll do to you nae harm. - 'They 'll turn me in your arms, lady,
A mother-naked man;
Cast your green kirtle owr me,
To keep me frae the rain. - 'First dip me in a stand o milk,
And then a stand o water;
Haud me fast, let me na gae,
I'll be your bairnie's father.' - Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has snooded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree,
And she is on to Miles Cross,
As fast as she can hie. - The first company that passd by,
She said na, and let them gae;
The next company that passed by,
She said na, and did right sae;
The third company that passed by,
Then he was ane o thae. - She hied her to the milk-white steed,
And pu'd him quickly down;
She cast her green kirtle owr him,
To keep him frae the rain
Then she did all was ordered her,
And sae recovered him - Out then spak the Queen o Fairies,
Out o a brush o broom:
"Them that hae gotten young Tom Line
Hae got a stately groom.' - Out then spak the Queen o Fairies,
Out o a bush of rye:
that has gotten young Tom Line
the best knight in my company. - 'Had I kend, Thomas,' she says,
A lady wad hae borrowd thee,
I wad has taen out thy twa grey een,
Put in twa een o tree. - 'Had I but kend, Thomas,' she says,
I Before I came frae hame,
I had taen out that heart o flesh,
Put in a heart o stane.'