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29 For I'll ride on the milk-white steed,
And ay nearest the town;
Because I was an earthly knight
They gie me that renown.

30 My right hand will be glovd, lady,
My left hand will be bare,
Cockt пр shall my bonnet be,

And kaid down shall my hair,
And thae's the takens I gie thee,
Nae doubt I will be there.

31 They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
Into an esk3 and adder;
But hold me fast and fear me not,
I am your bairn's father.

32 They'll turn me to a bear sae grim, And then a lion bold;

But hold me fast and fear me not,
As ye shall love your child.

33 Again they 'll turn me in your arms
To a red het gaud of airn; 4
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
I'll do to you nae harm.

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Then throw me into well water,
O throw me in wi speed.

35 And then I'll be your ain true-love,
I'll turn a naked knight;
Then cover me wi your green mantle,
And cover me out o sight.'

36 Gloomy, gloomy was the night,
And eerie was the way,

As fair Jenny in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did gae.

37 About the middle o the night
She heard the bridles ring;
This lady was as glad at that
As any earthly thing.

38 First she let the black pass by,
And syne she let the brown;

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But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed,

And pu'd the rider down.

39 Sae weel she minded what he did say,
And young Tam Lin did win;
Syne coverd him wi her green mantle,
As blythe's a bird in spring.

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40 Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, Out of a bush o broom: 'Them that has gotten young Tam Lin Has gotten a stately groom.'

41 Out then spak the Queen o Fairies, And an angry woman was she: 'Shame betide her ill-far'd 6 face, And an ill death may she die, For she's taen awa the boniest knight In a' my companie.

42 'But had I kend, Tam Lin,' she says, What now this night I see,

I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een,
And put in twa een o tree.'"

YOUNG AKIN OR HIND ETIN

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8 This story of a mortal and her fairy husband has suffered in the handing down of it.

2 She loot1 the seam fa frae her side,
And the needle to her tae,
And she is on to Elmond's wood
As fast as she coud gae.

3 She hadna pu'd a nut, a nut,
Nor broken a branch but ane,
Till by it came a young hind chiel,2
Says, 'Lady, lat alaue.

4 'O why pu ye the nut, the nut,
Or why brake ye the tree?
For I am forester o this wood:
Ye shoud spier leave at me.'

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18 It fell upo another day,

This guid lord he thought lang,
And he is to the hunting gane,
Took wi him his dog and gun.

19 Wi bow and arrow by his side,
He's aff, single, alane,
And left his seven children to stay
Wi their mither at hame.

20 'O I will tell to you, mither,
Gin ye wadna angry be:'

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'Speak on, speak on, my little wee boy, Ye 'se nae be quarrelld by me.'

21 As we came frae the hynd-hunting, We heard fine music ring: ' 'My blessings on you, my bonny boy, I wish I'd been there my lane.' 7

22 He's taen his mither by the hand,
His six brithers also,

And they are on thro Elmond's wood,
As fast as they coud go.

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1 let.

* courteous youth. ask. 4 root. 5 hollow.

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