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Folk-Lore and Legends - Scotland by Anonymous
page 69 of 139 (49%)



THOMAS THE RHYMER.


Thomas, of Ercildoun, in Lauderdale, called the Rhymer, on account of his
producing a poetical romance on the subject of Tristrem and Yseult, which
is curious as the earliest specimen of English verse known to exist,
flourished in the reign of Alexander III. of Scotland. Like other men of
talent of the period, Thomas was suspected of magic. He was also said to
have the gift of prophecy, which was accounted for in the following
peculiar manner, referring entirely to the Elfin superstition.

As Thomas lay on Huntly Bank (a place on the descent of the Eildon Hills,
which raise their triple crest above the celebrated monastery of
Melrose), he saw a lady so extremely beautiful that he imagined she must
be the Virgin Mary herself. Her appointments, however, were those rather
of an amazon, or goddess of the woods. Her steed was of the highest
beauty, and at its mane hung thirty silver bells and nine, which were
music to the wind as she paced along. Her saddle was of "royal bone"
(ivory), laid over with "orfeverie" (goldsmith's work). Her stirrups,
her dress, all corresponded with her extreme beauty and the magnificence
of her array. The fair huntress had her bow in hand, and her arrows at
her belt. She led three greyhounds in a leash, and three raches, or
hounds of scent, followed her closely.

She rejected and disclaimed the homage which Thomas desired to pay her;
so that, passing from one extremity to the other, Thomas became as bold
as he had at first been humble. The lady warned him he must become her
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