were singing. She took leave of him, and to ensure his reputation
bestowed on him the tongue which _could not lie_. Thomas in vain
objected to this inconvenient and involuntary adhesion to veracity, which
would make him, as he thought, unfit for church or for market, for king's
court or for lady's bower. But all his remonstrances were disregarded by
the lady; and Thomas the Rhymer, whenever the discourse turned on the
future, gained the credit of a prophet whether he would or not, for he
could say nothing but what was sure to come to pass.

Thomas remained several years in his own tower near Ercildoun, and
enjoyed the fame of his predictions, several of which are current among
the country people to this day. At length, as the prophet was
entertaining the Earl of March in his dwelling, a cry of astonishment
arose in the village, on the appearance of a hart and hind, which left
the forest, and, contrary to their shy nature, came quietly onward,
traversing the village towards the dwelling of Thomas. The prophet
instantly rose from the board, and acknowledging the prodigy as the
summons of his fate, he accompanied the hart and hind into the forest,
and though occasionally seen by individuals to whom he has chosen to show
himself, he has never again mixed familiarly with mankind.




FAIRY FRIENDS.


It is a good thing to befriend the fairies, as the following stories
show:--