Thomas the Rhymer - Page 2

fair or fairer than he had first seen her on the mountain. She then
proceeded to explain to him the character of the country.

"Yonder right-hand path," she says, "conveys the spirits of the blest to
paradise. Yon downward and well-worn way leads sinful souls to the place
of everlasting punishment. The third road, by yonder dark brake,
conducts to the milder place of pain, from which prayer and mass may
release offenders. But see you yet a fourth road, sweeping along the
plain to yonder splendid castle? Yonder is the road to Elfland, to which
we are now bound. The lord of the castle is king of the country, and I
am his queen; and when we enter yonder castle, you must observe strict
silence, and answer no question that is asked you, and I will account for
your silence by saying I took your speech when I brought you from middle
earth."

Having thus instructed him, they journeyed on to the castle, and,
entering by the kitchen, found themselves in the midst of such a festive
scene as might become the mansion of a great feudal lord or prince.

Thirty carcasses of deer were lying on the massive kitchen board, under
the hands of numerous cooks, who toiled to cut them up and dress them,
while the gigantic greyhounds which had taken the spoil lay lapping the
blood, and enjoying the sight of the slain game. They came next to the
royal hall, where the king received his loving consort; knights and
ladies, dancing by threes, occupied the floor of the hall; and Thomas,
the fatigue of his journey from the Eildon Hills forgotten, went forward
and joined in the revelry. After a period, however, which seemed to him
a very short one, the queen spoke with him apart, and bade him prepare to
return to his own country.

"Now," said the queen, "how long think you that you have been here?"

"Certes, fair lady," answered Thomas, "not above these seven days."

"You are deceived," answered the queen; "you have been seven years in
this castle, and it is full time you were gone. Know, Thomas, that the
archfiend will come to this castle to-morrow to demand his tribute, and
so handsome a man as you will attract his eye. For all the world would I
not suffer you to be betrayed to such a fate; therefore up, and let us be
going."

This terrible news reconciled Thomas to his departure from Elfinland; and
the queen was not long in placing him upon Huntly Bank, where the birds
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