And out at the steed's right nostril
He breath'd a fiery flame;

She loots her low, an' sains hersel,

And she was busy then.

She's taen the horse then by the head,

And loot the bridle fa';

The queen o' Elfin she cried out,

True Tam-a-Line 's awa'.

Stay still, true Tam-a-Line, she says, Till I pay you your fee;

His father wants not lands nor rents, He'll ask nae fee frae thee.

Gin I had kent yestreen, yestreen,
What I ken weel the day,

I shou'd hae taen your fu' fause heart,
Gien you a heart o' clay.

Then he appeared into her arms

Like the wolf that ne'er wad tame;

She held him fast, lat him not gae,
Case they ne'er met again.

Then he appeared into her arms
Like the fire burning bauld;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He was as iron cauld.

And he appeared into her arms

Like the adder an' the snake; She held him fast, lat him not gae, He was her warld's maike.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to the deer sae wild;

She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He's father o' her child.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to a silken string;

She held him fast, lat him not gae,

Till she saw fair mornin'.

And he appeared into her arms

Like to a naked man;

She held him fast, lat him not gae,

And wi' her he's gane hame.

These news hae reach'd thro' a' Scotland, And far ayont the Tay,

That ladye Margaret, our king's dochter, That nicht had gain'd her prey.

She borrowed her love at mirk midnicht, Bare her young son ere day;

And though ye'd search the warld wide, Ye'll nae find sic a may.

III.

Lord Burnett and Little Munsgrove.

FOUR-AN-TWENTY handsome youths

Were a' playing at the ba';

When forth it came him, little Munsgrove,
The flower out ower them a'.

At times he lost, at times he wan,
Till the noontide o' the day;
And four-an-twenty gay ladyes,
Went out to view the play.

Some came down in white velvet,
And other some in green;
Lord Burnett's ladye in red scarlet,
And shin'd like ony queen.

Some came down in white velvet,
And other some in pall;

Lord Burnett's ladye in red scarlet,

Whose beauty did excell.

She gae a glance out ower them a',
As beams dart frae the sun;

She fixed her eyes on little Munsgrove,
For him her luve lay on.

Gude day, gude day, ye handsome youth, God make ye safe and free;

What wou'd ye gie this day, Munsgrove, For ae nicht in bouir wi' me?

I darena for my lands, lady,
I darena for my life;

I ken by the rings on your fingers
Ye are Lord Burnett's wife.

It wadna touch my heart, Munsgrove,
Nae mair than 'twad my tae,

To see as much o' his heart's blude
As twa brands cou'd let gae.

I hae a bouir i' fair Strathdon,
And picturs roun' it sett;
And I hae ordered thee, Munsgrove,
In fair Strathdon to sleep.

Her flatterin' words and fair speeches,

They were for him too strang;

And she's prevail'd on little Munsgrove

Wi' her to gang alang.

When mass was sung and bells were rung,

And a' men boun' for bed,

Little Munsgrove and that ladye

In ae chamber were laid.

O what hire will ye gie your page,

If he the watch will keep;

In case that your gude lord come hame, When we're fair fast asleep?

Siller, siller's be his wage,

And gowd shall be his hire; But if he speak ae word o' this, He'll dee in a burnin' fire.

The promise that I make, madam,
I will stand to the same;

I winna heal it an hour langer
Than my master comes hame.

She's taen a sharp brand in her hand,
Being in the tidive hour;

He ran between her and the door,
She never saw him more.

Where he fand the grass grow green,
He slacket his shoes an' ran;
And where he fand the brigs broken,
He bent his bow an' swam.

Lord Burnett ower a window lay,
Beheld baith dale and doun;
And he beheld his ain foot page

Come hastenin' to the toun.