Thomas the Rhymer/Source

THOMAS THE RHYMER

True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank A fairy he spied with his e'e And there he saw a lady bright Come riding down by the Eildon Tree

Her skirt was of the grass green silk Her mantle of the velvet fine At each tett of her horse's mane Hung fifty silver bells and nine

True Thomas, he pulled off his cap And bowed low down to his knee All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven For thy peer on earth I never did see

Oh no, oh no, Thomas, she said That name does not belong to me I am but the Queen of fair Elfland That am hither come to visit thee

Harp and carp, Thomas, she said Harp and carp along with me And if you dare to kiss my lips Sure of your body I will be

Betide me well, betide me woe That weird shall never daunton me Syne he has kissed her rosy lips All underneath the Eildon Tree

Now, ye maun go with me, she said True Thomas, ye maun go with me And ye maun serve me seven years Though weal and woe, as may chance to be

She mounted on her milk white steed She's taken True Thomas up behind And aye whenever her bridle rang The steed flew swifter than the wind

Oh they rode on, and further on The steed gaed swifter than the wind Until they reached a desert wide And living land was left behind

Light down, light down now, true Thomas And lean you head upon my knee Abide and rest a little space And I will show you ferlies three

Oh, see you not yon narrow road So thick beset with thorn and briars That is the path of righteousness Though after it but few enquire

And see you not that broad, broad road That lies across that lily leven That is the path of wickedness Though some call it the road to Heaven

And see you not that bonnie road That winds about the fernie brae That is the road to fair Elfland Where thou and I this night maun gae

But Thomas, you must hold your tongue Whatever you may hear or see For if you speak word in Elfin land You'll ne'er get back to you ain country

Then they came on to a garden green And she pulled an apple frae a tree Take this for thy wages, True Thomas It will give the tongue that can never lie

My tongue is my own, True Thomas said A goodly gift you would give to me I neither dought to buy or sell At fair or tryst where I may be

I dought neither speak to prince nor peer Nor ask of grace from fair lady Now hold thy peace, the lady said For as I say, so it must be

He has gotten a coat of the even cloth And a pair of shoes of velvet green And till seven years were gone and past True Thomas on earth was never seen

(Child #37)


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