Tamlane
Young
Tamlane was son of Earl Murray, and Burd Janet was daughter of Dunbar,
Earl of March. And when they were young they loved one another and
plighted their troth. But when the time came near for their marrying,
Tamlane disappeared, and none knew what had become of him.
Many,
many days after he had disappeared, Burd Janet was wandering in
Carterhaugh Wood, though she had been warned not to go there. And as
she wandered she plucked the flowers from the bushes. She came at last
to a bush of broom and began plucking it. She had not taken more than
three flowerets when by her side up started young Tamlane.
"Where come ye from, Tamlane, Tamlane?" Burd Janet said; "and why have you been away so long?"
"From Elfland I come," said young Tamlane. "The Queen of Elfland has made me her knight."
"But how did you get there, Tamlane?" said Burd Janet.
"I
was hunting one day, and as I rode widershins round yon hill, a deep
drowsiness fell upon me, and when I awoke, behold! I was in Elfland.
Fair is that land and gay, and fain would I stop but for thee and one
other thing. Every seven years the Elves pay their tithe to the Nether
world, and for all the Queen makes much of me, I fear it is myself that
will be the tithe."
"Oh can you not be saved? Tell me if aught I can do will save you, Tamlane?"
"One
only thing is there for my safety. To-morrow night is Hallowe'en, and
the fairy court will then ride through England and Scotland, and if you
would borrow me from Elfland you must take your stand by Miles Cross
between twelve and one o' the night, and with holy water in your hand
you must cast a compass all around you."
"But how shall I know you, Tamlane?" quoth Burd Janet, "amid so many knights I've ne'er seen before?"
"The
first court of Elves that come by let pass. The next court you shall
pay reverence to, but do naught nor say aught. But the third court that
comes by is the chief court of them, and at the head rides the Queen of
all Elfland. And I shall ride by her side upon a milk-white steed with
a star in my crown; they give me this honour as being a christened
knight. Watch my hands, Janet, the right one will be gloved but the
left one will be bare, and by that token you will know me."
"But how to save you, Tamlane?" quoth Burd Janet.
"You
must spring upon me suddenly, and I will fall to the ground. Then seize
me quick, and whatever change befall me, for they will exercise all
their magic on me, cling hold to me till they turn me into red-hot
iron. Then cast me into this pool and I will be turned back into a
mother-naked man. Cast then your green mantle over me, and I shall be
yours, and be of the world again."
So Burd Janet promised to do
all for Tamlane, and next night at midnight she took her stand by Miles
Cross and cast a compass round her with holy water.
Soon there
came riding by the Elfin court, first over the mound went a troop on
black steeds, and then another troop on brown. But in the third court,
all on milk-white steeds, she saw the Queen of Elfland, and by her side
a knight with a star in his crown, with right hand gloved and the left
bare. Then she knew this was her own Tamlane, and springing forward she
seized the bridle of the milk-white steed and pulled its rider down.
And as soon as he had touched the ground she let go the bridle and
seized him in her arms.
"He's won, he's won amongst us all,"
shrieked out the eldritch crew, and all came around her and tried their
spells on young Tamlane.
First they turned him in Janet's arms
like frozen ice, then into a huge flame of roaring fire. Then, again,
the fire vanished and an adder was skipping through her arms, but still
she held on; and then they turned him into a snake that reared up as if
to bite her, and yet she held on. Then suddenly a dove was struggling
in her arms, and almost flew away. Then they turned him into a swan,
but all was in vain, till at last he was turned into a red-hot glaive,
and this she cast into a well of water and then he turned back into a
mother-naked man. She quickly cast her green mantle over him, and young
Tamlane was Burd Janet's for ever.
Then sang the Queen of Elfland as the court turned away and began to resume its march:
"She that has borrowed young Tamlane Has gotten a stately groom, She's taken away my bonniest knight, Left nothing in his room.
"But had I known, Tamlane, Tamlane, A lady would borrow thee, I'd hae ta'en out thy two grey eyne, Put in two eyne of tree.
"Had I but known, Tamlane, Tamlane, Before we came from home, I'd hae ta'en out thy heart o' flesh, Put in a heart of stone.
"Had I but had the wit yestreen That I have got to-day, I'd paid the Fiend seven times his teind Ere you'd been won away." And
then the Elfin court rode away, and Burd Janet and young Tamlane went
their way homewards and were soon after married after young Tamlane had
again been sained by the holy water and made Christian once more.
| All English Fairy Tales
THE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER
THE PIED PIPER OF FRANCHVILLE
THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS
TOM TIT TOT
THE THREE SILLIES
THE ROSE-TREE
THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG
HOW JACK WENT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE
MR. VINEGAR
NIX NOUGHT NOTHING
JACK HANNAFORD
BINNORIE
MOUSE AND MOUSER
CAP O' RUSHES
TEENY-TINY
THE MASTER AND HIS PUPIL
TITTY MOUSE ND TATTY MOUSE
JACK AND HIS GOLDEN SNUFF-BOX
HENNY-PENNY
CHILDE ROWLAND
MOLLY WHUPPIE
THE RED ETTIN
MASTER OF ALL MASTERS.
THE GOLDEN ARM
THE HISTORY OF TOM THUMB
MR. FOX
LAZY JACK
JOHNNY-CAKE
EARL MAR'S DAUGHTER
MR. MIACCA
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT
THE STRANGE VISITOR
THE LAIDLY WORM OF SPINDLESTON HEUGH
THE CAT AND THE MOUSE.
THE FISH AND THE RING.
THE MAGPIE'S NEST
KATE CRACKERNUTS
THE CAULD LAD OF HILTON
THE ASS, THE TABLE, AND THE STICK
FAIRY OINTMENT
THE WELL OF THE WORLD'S END.
THE THREE HEADS OF THE WELL |