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K:Bb D|GA B2 A-G|FG D2 zD|GA B2 A-G|Bc d2 zD| w:True Tho-mas lay on - Hunt-lie bank, A fer-lie he spi-ed wi' his e'e, And GA B2 A-G|FG D2 G-A|BA G2 GF|D/-E/F G2 || w:there he saw a - la-dy bright Come - rid-ing down by the Eil -don Tree. W:1 W:True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank, W:A ferlie he spied wi' his e'e, W:And there he saw a lady bright W:Come riding down by the Eildon Tree. W: W:2 W:Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk, W:Her mantle o' the velvet fyne. W:At ilka tett o' her horse's mane W:Hung fifty siller bells and nine. W: W:3 W:True Thomas he pull's aff his cap W:And louted low down to his knee: W:“All hail, thou mighty Queen o' Heaven! W:For thy peer on earth I never did see.†W: W:4 W:“O no, o no, Thomas,†she said, W:“That name does not belong to me; W:I am but the queen of fair Elfland W:That am hither come to visit thee.†W: W:5 W:“Harp and carp, Thomas,†she said, W:“Harp and carp along wi' me. W:And if ye dare to kiss my lips, W:Sure of your body I will be.†W: W:6 W:“Betide me weal, betide me woe, W:That weird shall never daunton me.†W:Syne he has kissed her rosy lips W:All underneath the Eildon Tree. W: W:7 W:“Now ye maun gang wi' me,†she said, W:“True Thomas, ye maun gang wi' me. W:And ye maun serve me seven years W:Thro' weal and woe, as may chance to be.†W: W:8 W:She mounted on her milk-white steed, W:She's ta'en True Thomas up behind. W:And aye whene'er her bridle rung W:The steed flew faster than the wind. W: W:9 W:O they rode on and farther on, W:The steed gaed swifter than the wind, W:Until they reached a desert wide W:And living land was left behind. W: W:10 W:“Light down, light down now, True Thomas W:And lean your head upon my knee, W:Abide and rest a little space W:And I will show you ferlies three. W: W:11 W:“O see ye not yon narrow road W:So thick beset with thorns and briars? W:That is the path of righteousness, W:Tho' after it but few enquires. W: W:12 W:“And see ye not that braid, braid road W:That lies across that lily leven? W:That is the path of wickedness, W:Tho' some ca' it the road to heaven. W: W:13 W:“And see ye not that bonny road W:That winds about the fernie brae? W:That is the road to fair Elfland W:Where thou and I this night maun gae. W: W:14 W:“But, Thomas, ye maun hold your tongue W:Whatever ye may hear or see. W:For if you speak word in Elfyn land W:Ye'll ne'er get back to your ain countrie.†W: W:15 W:Syne they came on to a garden green, W:And she pu'd an apple frae a tree: W:“Take this for thy wages, True Thomas W:It will gi' ye the tongue that can never lie.†W: W:16 W:“My tongue is mine ain,†True Thomas said, W:“A guidly gift ye wad gie to me! W:I neither dought to buy or sell, W:At fair or tryst where I may be. W: W:17 W:“I dought neither speak to prince or peer W:Nor ask of grace from fair ladye.†W:“Now hold thy peace,â€, the lady said, W:“For as I say, so must it be.†W: W:18 W:He has gotten a coat of the even cloth W:And a pair of shune of velvet green, W:And till seven years were gane and past W:True Thomas on earth was never seen.

	

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Page last modified on 22 April 2022, at 2:53 GMT