“For I ride on the milk-white steed, And aye nearest the town; Because I was a christen’d knight, They gave me that renown. “My right hand will be gloved, Janet, My left hand will be bare; And these the tokens I gie thee, Nae doubt I will be there. “They’ll turn me in your arms, Janet, An adder and a snake, But haud me fast, let me not pass, Gin ye would buy me maik. “They’ll turn me in your arms, Janet, An adder and an ask; They’ll turn me in your arms, Janet, A bale that burns fast. “They’ll turn me in your arms, Janet, A red-hot gad o’ airn; But haud me fast, let me not pass, For I’ll do you no harm. “First dip me in a stand o’ milk, And then in a stand o’ water; But haud me fast, let me not pass— I’ll be your bairn’s father. “And, next, they’ll shape me in your arms A tod, but and an eel; But haud me fast, nor let me gang, As you do love me weel. “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— I’ll be myself again.”— Gloomy, gloomy was the night, And eiry was the way, As fair Janet, in her green mantle, To Miles Cross she did gae. The heavens were black, the night was dark, And dreary was the place; But Janet stood, with eager wish, Her lover to embrace. Betwixt the hours of twelve and one, A north wind tore the bent; And she heard strange elritch sounds Upon that wind which went. About the dead hour o’ the night She heard the bridles ring; And Janet was as glad o’ that As any earthly thing. Their oaten pipes blew wondrous shrill, The hemlock small blew clear; And louder notes from hemlock large, And bog-reed, struck the ear; But solemn sounds, or sober thoughts, The Fairies cannot bear. They sing, inspired with love and joy, Like skylarks in the air; Of solid sense, or thought that’s grave, You’ll find no traces there. Fair Janet stood, with mind unmoved, The dreary heath upon; And louder, louder wax’d the sound, As they came riding on. Will o’-Wisp before them went, Sent forth a twinkling light; And soon she saw the Fairy bands All riding in her sight. And first gaed by the black, black steed, And then gaed by the brown; And fast she gript the milk-white steed, And pu’d the rider down. She pu’d him frae the milk-white steed, And loot the bridle fa’; And up there raise an erlish cry— “He’s wan among us a’!”— They shaped him in fair Janet’s arms An esk, but and an adder; She held him fast in every shape— To be her bairn’s father. They shaped him in her arms at last A mother-naked man: She wrapp’d him in her green mantle, And sae her lover wan!