"But how shall I thee ken, Tamlane, And how shall I thee knaw, Amang the throng o' fairy folk, The like I never saw?" "The first court that comes alang, Ye'll let them a' pass by; The neist court that comes alang Salute them reverently. "The third court that comes alang Is clad in robes o' green, And it's the head court of them a', And in it rides the Queen. "And I upon a milk-white steed, Wi' a gold star in my croun; Because I am a christen'd knight They give me that renoun. 'First let pass the black, Janet, And syne let pass the broun, But grip ye to the milk-white steed, And pu' the rider doun. "My right hand will be glov'd, Janet, My left hand will be bare, And thae's the tokens I gie thee; Nae doubt I will be there. "Ye'll seize upon me with a spring, And to the ground I'll fa', And then you'll hear an elrish cry That Tamlane is awa'. "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, An adder and a snake; But haud me fast, let me not pass, Gin ye would be my maik. "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, An adder and an aske; They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, A bale that burns fast. "They'll shape me in your arms, Janet, A dove, but and a swan: And last they'll shape me in your arms A mother-naked man: Cast your green mantle over me-- And sae shall I be wan!" Gloomy, gloomy was the night, And eerie was the way, As fair Janet, in her green mantle, To Miles Cross she did gae. About the dead hour o' the night She heard the bridles ring, And Janet was as glad o' that As ony earthly thing. There's haly water in her hand, She casts a compass round; And straight she sees a fairy band Come riding o'er the mound. And first gaed by the black, black steed, And then gaed by the broun; But fast she gript the milk-white steed, And pu'd the rider doun. She pu'd him frae the milk-white steed, And loot the bridle fa'; And up there raise an elrish cry; "He's won amang us a'!" They shaped him in fair Janet's arms An aske, but and an adder; She held him fast in every shape, To be her ain true lover. They shaped him in her arms at last A mother-naked man, She cuist her mantle over him, And sae her true love wan. Up then spake the Queen o' Fairies, Out of a bush o' broom: "She that has borrowed young Tamlane, Has gotten a stately groom!" Up then spake the Queen o' Fairies, Out of a bush of rye: "She's ta'en away the bonniest knight In a' my companie! "But had I kenned, Tamlane," she says, "A lady wad borrow thee, I wad hae ta'en out thy twa gray e'en, Put in twa e'en o' tree! "Had I but kenned, Tamlane," she says, "Before ye came frae hame, I wad hae ta'en out your heart of flesh, Put in a heart o' stane! "Had I but had the wit yestreen That I hae coft this day, I'd hae paid my teind seven times to hell, Ere you'd been won away!" * * * * * TRUE THOMAS.