i not get what this poem mean it be a ballad but i not get what theme be do the guy girl be in strong bond?
True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank;
A marvel he did see
And there he saw a ladye bright
Come riding down by the Eildon Tree.
Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk,
Her mantle o' the velvet fyne;
On every lock of her horse's mane,
Hung fifty silver bells and nine.
True Thomas he pulled off his cap,
And bowed low down on his knee
'All hail, thou mighty queen of heaven
For thy peer on earth could never be.'
'O no, O no, Thomas' she said,
'That name does not belang to me;
I'm but the Queen o' fair Elfland,
That am hither come to visit thee.
'Harp and carp, Thomas,' she said;
'Harp and carp along wi' me;
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your bodie I will be.'
'Betide me weal; betide me woe,
That threat shall never frighten me!
Then he has kisses her on the lips
All underneath the Eildon Tree.
'Now ye must go with me,' she said,
'True Thomas, ye must go with me;
And ye must serve me seven years,
Thro' weal or woe as may chance to be.'
She 's mounted on her milk-white steed,
She 's ta'en true Thomas up behind;
And aye, whene'er her bridle rang,
The steed gaed swifter than the wind.
O they rode on, and farther on,
The steed gaed swifter than the wind;
Until they reach'd a desert wide,
And living land was left behind.
'Light down, light down now, true Thomas,
And lean your head upon my knee;
Abide ye there a little space,
And I will show you ferlies three.
'O see ye not yon narrow road,
So thick beset wi' thorns and briers?
That is the Path of Righteousness,
Though after it but few inquires.
'And see ye not yon braid, braid road,
That lies across the lily leven?
That is the Path of Wickedness,
Though some call it the Road to Heaven.
'And see ye not yon bonny road
That winds about the fernie brae?
That is the Road to fair Elfland,
Where thou and I this night maun .
'But, Thomas, ye sall haud your tongue,
Whatever ye may hear or see;
For speak ye word in Elfyn-land,
Ye'll ne'er win back to your ain countrie.'
O they rade on, and farther on,
And they waded rivers abune the knee;
And they saw neither sun nor moon,
But they heard the roaring of the sea.
It was mirk, mirk night, there was nae starlight,
They waded thro' red blude to the knee;
For a' the blude that 's shed on the earth
Rins through the springs o' that countrie.
Syne they came to a garden green,
And she pu'd an apple frae a tree:
'Take this for thy wages, true Thomas;
It will give thee the tongue that can never lee.'
'My tongue is my ain,' true Thomas he said;
'A gudely gift ye wad gie to me!
I neither dought to buy or sell
At fair or tryst where I might be.
'I dought neither speak to prince or peer,
Nor ask of grace from fair ladye!'—
'Now haud thy peace, Thomas,' she said,
'For as I say, so must it be.'
He has gotten a coat of the even cloth,
And a pair of shoes of the velvet green;
And till seven years were gone and past,
True Thomas on earth was never seen.
They have a bond -- she is the queen of the fairies -- and takes him to the land of the fairies for seven years.
Here's an explanation of this poem.
http://tam-lin.org/tales/tamlin4.html
thanks very much ms. sue :)
The poem you shared is called "Thomas the Rhymer," which is a traditional ballad from Scotland. It tells the story of True Thomas, a man who sees a lady riding down by the Eildon Tree. The lady turns out to be the Queen of fair Elfland, who invites Thomas to join her and serve her for seven years.
The theme of the poem revolves around the supernatural and the consequences of making agreements with otherworldly beings. The strong bond between the guy (Thomas) and the girl (the Queen) is depicted through their interaction and the choices Thomas makes.
To better understand the meaning behind this ballad, it's helpful to look at different elements of the poem, such as the characters, the setting, and the imagery used.
1. Characters:
- True Thomas: He is the protagonist or main character of the poem. He encounters the Queen of Elfland and is drawn into her world. Thomas shows bravery by not being afraid of the consequences when he kisses the Queen.
- Queen of Elfland: She is a powerful and mystical being, often associated with fairy folklore. She offers Thomas the opportunity to join her and serve her for seven years, tempting him with her beauty and promises of rewards.
- The Eildon Tree: It represents a mystical location where the encounter between Thomas and the Queen takes place. This tree is believed to have supernatural qualities, making it a symbol of the threshold between the mortal world and the realm of the fairies.
2. Setting:
The poem starts with True Thomas lying on Huntlie bank, which sets the scene for his vision and encounter with the Queen. As they journey together, they pass through different landscapes, including a desert and a garden. Each location represents a different path or direction in life.
3. Imagery:
The use of vivid descriptions and imagery throughout the poem helps convey its meanings. For example:
- The Lady's appearance: She wears a grass-green silk skirt and a velvet mantle, adorned with fifty silver bells and nine. This imagery emphasizes her otherworldly beauty and richness, symbolizing her status as a fairy queen.
- The three roads: The poem describes three different paths - the Path of Righteousness, the Path of Wickedness (also called the Road to Heaven), and the Road to fair Elfland. These paths represent different choices and moral directions in life.
Overall, the poem suggests that there is a price to pay for making deals with otherworldly beings. Although the bond between Thomas and the Queen may appear strong, it is ultimately a dangerous one. Thomas's choice to join the Queen's realm means he disappears from the mortal world for seven years, as stated in the final lines of the poem.
To fully grasp the themes and interpretation of a poem like this, it can be useful to explore different perspectives and consult literary analysis or commentary on the ballad.