today's halloween... ...

A dead sleep came over me
And from my horse I fell
O I forbid you, maidens all,
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there

The steed that my true-love rides on
Is fleeter than the wind;
With silver he is shod before,
With burning gold behind.
And fill your hands o' the holy water
And cast your compass round

She had not picked a rose, a rose,
A rose but barely one
When up and started young Tam Lin
The truth I'll tell thee, Janet;
In no word will I lie

But aye she grips and holds him fast
And pleasure is the fairy land
For those that in it dwell,
But at the end of the seven years
They pay a tax to hell.
They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
Into a serpent or a snake;
They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
Into a deer so wild,
But hold me fast, don't let me go,
They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
A hot iron at the fire,
But hold me fast, don't let me go,
To be your heart's desire.

Out then spoke her brother dear-
He meant to do her harm-
"There grows a herb in Carterhaugh..."
Had i the wit yestereen, yestereen,
That i had got today
I'd pay my tax seven times to hell
Ere you were won away!

O first let pass the black, lady,
Then let pass the brown,
But quickly run to the milk white steed-
Pull you his rider down
But the night is hallowe'en, Janet,
The morn is Hallowday.

About the dead hour of the night
She heard the bridles ring,
But Janet was as glad of that
As of any earthly being
The night it is good Hallowe'en,
The fairy folks do ride,
And they that would their true-love win
At Miles Cross they must bide.
They shaped him in her arms at last
A mother-naked man.