TAM-A-LINE, THE ELFIN KNIGHT.
(See page [114].)
From Scottish Traditionary Versions of Ancient Ballads, Percy Society, xvii. p. 11.
Take warnin', a' ye ladyes fair,
That wear gowd on your hair;
Come never unto Charter-woods,
For Tam-a-line he's there.
5 Even about that knicht's middle
O' siller bells are nine;
Nae ane comes to Charter-woods,
And a may returns agen.
Ladye Margaret sits in her bouir door,
10 Sewing at her silken seam;
And she lang'd to gang to Charter woods,
To pou the roses green.
She hadna pou'd a rose, a rose,
Nor braken a branch but ane,
15 Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,
Says, "Layde, lat alane.
"O why pou ye the rose, the rose?
Or why brake ye the tree?
Or why come ye to Charter-woods,
20 Without leave ask'd of me?"