Janet has kilted her green kirtle,

A little abune her knee;

And she has braided her yellow hair,
A little abune her bree.1

And when she came to Carterhaugh,
She gaed2 beside the well;

And then she found his steed standing,
But away was himsell.

She had not pulled a red, red rose
A rose but barely three :

Till up and starts a wee wee man
At Lady Janet's knee.

Says "Why pull ye the rose, Janet?
What gars ye break the tree?
Or why come ye to Carterhaugh,
Withouten leave of me?"

Says- -"Carterhaugh it is my own,
My daddie gave it me;

I'll come and go to Carterhaugh,

And ask no leave of thee."

When she came to her father's hall

She looked so wan and pale

4

They thought she had dreed some sore sickness

So much she seemed to ail.

1 brow.
8 makes.

2 preterite of gae or go.

4 suffered.

She prinked herself and prinned herself
By the ae1 light of the moon.
And she's away to Carterhaugh

To speak with young Tamlane.

And when she came to Carterhaugh,
She gaed beside the well;

And there she saw the steed standing,
But away was himsell.

She had not pulled a double rose,
A rose but only two,

When up there started young Tamlane,
Says, "Lady, thou pulls no mo!"

"The truth ye'll tell to me, Tamlane,
A word ye maunna lie ;

Gin 2 e'er ye was in holy chapel,
Or sained 3 in Christentie ?"

"The truth I'll tell to thee, Janet,
A word I winna lie;

I was ta'en to the good church-door,
And sained as well as thee.

66

Randolph, Earl Murray, was my sire, Dunbar, Earl March, is thine;

We loved when we were children small, Which yet you well may mind.

1 one; here, single.

2 if.

8 blessed.

"When I was a boy just turned of nine, My uncle sent for me,

To hunt, and hawk, and ride with him, And keep him companie.

"There came a wind out of the north,
A sharp wind and a snell; 1
And a dead sleep came over me,
And from my horse I fell;

"The Queen of Fairies kept me
In yon green hill to dwell;
And I'm a fairy lyth and limb;
Fair lady, view me well.

"And never would I tire, Janet,
In Elfish-land to dwell;
But aye, at every seven years,
They pay the teind 2 to hell;
And I'm so fat and fair of flesh,
I fear 'twill be mysell!

"This night is Hallowe'en, Janet,

The morn is Hallowday;

And gin ye dare your true love win,
Ye have no time to stay.

"The night it is good Hallowe'en, When fairy folk will ride ;

1 keen.

2 tithe.

And they that would their true love win, At Miles Cross they must bide."

"But how shall I thee ken, Tamlane,
And how shall I thee know,
Among so many unearthly knights,
The like I never saw?"

"The first company that passes by
Say no, and let them go ;
The next company that passes by,
Say no, and do right so ;
The third company that passes by,

Then I'll be one of tho'.

"First let pass the black, Janet,
And syne 1 let pass the brown,
But grip ye to the milk-white steed,
And pull the rider down.

"For I ride on the milk-white steed,
And aye nearest the town:
Because I was a christened Knight
They gave me that renown.

"My right hand will be gloved, Janet,

My left hand will be bare,

And these the tokens I give thee;

No doubt I will be there.

1 afterward, then.

"They'll turn me in your arms, Janet,

An adder and a snake;

But hold me fast, let me not pass,
Gin ye would be my maik.1

"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.

"And next, they'll shape me in your arms,

A rod, but and 2 an ell;

But hold me fast, nor let me go,

66

As you do love me well.

They'll shape me in your arms, Janet,
A dove, but and a swan :

And last they'll shape me in your arms

The true form of a man :

Cast your green mantle over me
I'll be myself again.”

Gloomy, gloomy was the night,

And eerie was the way,
As fair Janet, in her green mantle,
To Miles Cross she did gae.

Betwixt the hours of twelve and one
A north wind tore the bent;