JOHN LEYDEN. [2] Rye-grass. [3] Northern Lights. THE YOUNG TAMLANE. “O I forbid ye, maidens a’ That wear gowd on your hair, To come or gae by Carterhaugh, For young Tamlane is there. “There’s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh, But maun leave him a wad, Either gowd rings or green mantles, Or else their maidenheid. “Now gowd rings ye may buy, maidens, Green mantles ye may spin; But, gin ye lose your maidenheid, Ye’ll ne’er get that agen.”— But up then spake her, fair Janet, The fairest o’ a’ her kin; “I’ll cum and gang to Carterhaugh, And ask nae leave o’ him.” Janet has kilted her green kirtle, A little abune her knee; And she has braided her yellow hair, A little abune her bree. And when she came to Carterhaugh, She gaed beside the well; And there she fand his steed standing, But away was himsell. She hadna pu’d a red red rose, A rose but barely three; Till up and starts a wee wee man, At lady Janet’s knee. Says—“Why pu’ ye the rose, Janet? What gars ye break the tree? Or why come ye to Carterhaugh, Withouten leave o’ me?”— Says—“Carterhaugh it is mine ain; My daddie gave it me; I’ll come and gang to Carterhaugh, And ask nae leave o’ thee.” He’s ta’en her by the milk-white hand, Among the leaves sae green; And what they did, I cannot tell— The green leaves were between. He’s ta’en her by the milk-white hand, Among the roses red; And what they did, I cannot say— She ne’er return’d a maid. When she came to her father’s ha’, She looked pale and wan; They thought she’d dreed some sair sickness, Or been with some leman. She didna comb her yellow hair, Nor make meikle o’ her head; And ilka thing that lady took, Was like to be her deid. It’s four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the ba’; Janet, the brightest of them anes, Was faintest o’ them a’. Four and twenty ladies fair Were playing at the chess; And out there came the fair Janet, As green as any grass. Out and spak an old grey-headed knight Lay o’er the castle wa’— “And ever, alas! for thee, Janet, But we’ll be blamed a’!” “Now hand your tongue, ye auld grey knight! And an ill deid may ye die, Father my bairn on whom I will I’ll father nane on thee.” Out then spake her father dear, And he spake meek and mild— “And ever, alas! my sweet Janet, I fear ye gae with child.” “And if I be with child, father, Mysell maun bear the blame; There’s ne’er a knight about your ha’ Shall hae the bairnie’s name. “And if I be with child, father, ’Twill prove a wondrous birth, For weel I swear I’m not wi’ bairn To any man on earth. “If my love were an earthly knight, As he’s an elfin grey, I wadna gie my ain true love For nae lord that ye hae.”