The Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer     One day as Thomas layed down on a bank, the Queen of Elfland rode past on a horse whose mane was plaited with silver bells, Thomas went to live with her underground for seven years before returning to the ordinary world, where he wrote poetry and made prophecies. True Thomas lay o'er yond grassy bank, And he beheld a ladie gay, A ladie that was brisk and bold, Come riding o'er the fernie brae Her skirt was of the green-grass silk, Her mantel of the velvet fine, At ilka tett of her horse's mane Hung fifty silver bells and nine.   True Thomas he took off his hat, and bowed him low down till his knee: "All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven! For your peer on earth I never did see."   "O no, O no, true Thomas," she says, "That name does not belong to me; I am but the queen of fair Elfland, and I'm come here for to visit thee. But ye maun go wi' me now, Thomas, True Thomas, ye maun go wi' me, for ye maun serve me seven years, Thro' weel or wae as may chance be." She turned about her milk-white steed, and took True Thomas up behind, and aye whene'er her bridle rang, The steed flew swifter in the wind.      NEXT   page by witching puppy