TAM LIN



I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair

To travel to Carter Hall, for young Tam Lin is there.



Maids may go by Carter Hall, but they leave him a pledge

Either their mantels of green or else their maidenhead.



Janet tied her kerf of green a bit above her knee

And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she.



She doth pull the double rose, a rose but only two

And up then came young Tam Lin, says lady pull no more.



And why come you to Carter Hall without command from me

I can go, young Janet said, and ask no leave of thee.



Janet tied her kerf of green a little bit above her knee

And she's gone to her father as fast as go can she.

Well then spoke her father dear, and he spoke meek and mild

Well alas Janet, he said, I think you go with child.



Well if that be so, Janet said, myself shall bear the blame

There's not a knight in all your halls shall get the baby's name.



For if my lover were not a knight, as he is an earthen brae

I'll not change my own true love for any knight you have.



Janet tied her kerf of green a bit above her knee

And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she.



Oh tell to me Tam Lin she said, why came you here to dwell

The Queen of Fairy's caught me when from my horse I fell.



And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to hell

I so fair and full of flesh am feared it is myself.



But tonight is Halloween and the fairy is full bride

Those that would their true love win, hard miles crossed they must fly.

First that pass, the horse is black and let them past the ground

then run to the white steed and pull the rider down.



For I ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town

For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown.



They will turn me in your arms to a knute or a snake

Hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father.



And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold

Hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child.



And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight

Cloak me in your mantel and keep me out of sight.



And in the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring

She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win.



Then up spoke the fairy queen, an angry queen was she

Who betide her ill far place, an ill that may she die.

Oh had I known Tam Lin, she said, what this night I did see

I'd have looked him in the eye and turned him to a tree.



also see TAMLIN1

Child #39

@magic @ballad @courtship

filename[ TAMLIN2

play.exe TAMLIN2

DC

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY