From an early period every fairy annalist concurred in giving to the king and queen of the fairies the name of Oberon and Titania. Titania, though not under this name, figures in the tale of Thomas Lermont, commonly called Thomas the Rhymer, one of the earliest traditions relative to the fairy tribe. Thomas was a distinguished poet and prophet, who lived near Melrose, and was proprietor of Ercildoune. The year of his birth is uncertain, but he was an old man when Edward I. was carrying on war in Scotland. His predictions have long excited interest in his native country. The following adventure, handed down in the words of an ancient ballad, befell this individual on the Eildon hills, in Roxburghshire:— True Thomas lay on Huntly bank, A ferlie spied he with his e’e; For there he saw a ladye bright Come riding down by Eildon tree. Her shirt was o’ the grass-green silk, Her mantle o’ the velvet fyne; At ilka telt o’ her horse’s mane Hung fifty siller bells and nine. The saddle of this visionary beauty’s steed was of ivory, inlaid with gold. She had a quiver of arrows at her back, with a bow in one hand, and the other led three beautiful hounds in a leash. True Thomas he pull’d off his cap, And louted low down to his knee; “All hail! thou mighty queen of heaven, For thy peer on earth I ne’er did see!” “O no! O no! Thomas,” she said, “That name does not belang to me; I am but the queen of fair Elfland, That am hither come to visit thee.”