Thomas predicted many things: the death of Alexander III, that Robert the Bruce would become king of Scotland, the Scots' defeat at the Battle of Flodden and the defeat of Mary, Queen of Scots' forces in 1567. He set out towards tree under which he had first met the Elf Queen. Although Thomas has long gone, his prophesies remain. Play this story or choose another from the list of Myths and Legends. I loved this novel for many reasons. Inside the castle, the great hall was full of feasting and fun.

The name "Queen of Elfland" is mentioned for her only in a later ballad (version A).

Close to his home, there was a grove of trees on the banks of the Huntly Burn. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He is taken by the Queen of the Elves to Elfinland and lives there for seven years.

Fire And Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones draws extensively on the story. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Thomas followed at her side and the Knights crowded around to ask him tales of his own land but Thomas stayed silent. One fine day in May, as the young man lay under his tree, to the sound of the birds singing, he saw a beautiful woman on a graceful dapple-grey horse. He became very famous and people said his skills were as great of those of the most famous magician, Merlin. Her saddle was pure ivory set with precious stones and the bridle was pure gold.

Carl Loewe set this ballad to music as Tom der Reimer (op. Thomas the Rhymer is a fantasy novel by American writer Ellen Kushner.It is based on the ballad of Thomas the Rhymer, a piece of folklore in which Thomas Learmonth's love of the Queen of Elfland was rewarded with the gift of prophecy.The novel won the 1991 World Fantasy Award and Mythopoeic Award. What had happened? However, we may not have heard the last of Thomas, for local legend says that he lives on in the hollow Eildon hills and one day, like Merlin, he will return to help Scotland in her hour of greatest need. Great to learn about this tale . 135a, ca. Today, by the banks of the river Leader, the ruins of an old tower can still be seen, thought to be the home of the ancient prophet. At times they waded through streams of red blood. She brought him again to the border of his own world and sadly he left the Faerie kingdom.


He successfully predicted the death of King Alexander lll, the succession to the throne of Robert the Bruce, the defeat of Scotland in 1513 at Flodden and in 1603 the union of crowns  His talent for accurately foretelling the future is associated with his ability to create verse which was seen as the language of prophets.

Thomas was captured by her beauty and the rash young poet readily agreed to kiss her underneath his favourite tree, even though she warned him that, should he kiss her, he would then be in her power. She replied that she was not the Queen of Heaven but the Queen of Elfland. Before he left, she pulled an apple from a tree and gave it to Thomas. When ever he took up his harp to play or cleared his throat to sing all present; princes, nobles or peasants, would fall silent and stand in joy and awe at the sweet music he made. The story goes that, one fine day, as he sat beneath the Eildon Tree near Melrose, he heard the tinkling of silver bells and the sound of a horse’s hooves. Fine arts. Then she showed him a broad road where roses and lilies bloomed by the wayside. Well, one young man, many years ago, did just this and it changed his life forever. He protested that it was a gift he neither wanted nor thought to own, but the Queen insisted.

We don't mind you saying you don't like something, but please explain why, and please do not be rude. They kissed and before his eyes she became old and grey, her beauty vanished and her clothes turned to rags. He would not be pleased that Thomas had been bold enough to kiss his lady. Such a queen also appears in the legend of Thomas the Rhymer, but she is queen of a nameless world in the medieval verse romance.

And what if you were forced to tell the truth as well! So Thomas returned to the upper-world with the gift of prophesy and a tongue that could never lie. Please be polite, this is an educational site and we will not publish bad language. His father was named Thome or Thomas Rymour de Ercildoun. Like many prophets he also foretold the end of the world: The Cows of Gowrie are two islands off Ivergowrie, that are rumoured to approach the land at one inch per year.

For all the blood that was shed on earth ran through the springs of the country through which they were travelling. They galloped towards the Eildon Hills, which opened before them and they entered the caverns of the earth. Then she told him to choose between becoming a great Harper or a great Prophet. He was never seen again. The Queen, according to testimony, has a husband named "Christsonday". At last they came to a beautiful garden full of fruit trees. It seemed to Thomas that little more than three days had elapsed, when the Elf Queen came to him and told him he must leave. Ercildoun was the name of the modern village of Earlston in Galashiels which is situated about 30 miles southeast of Edinburgh. If he did not do this, she said, he would never return to his own country. E2B® and E2BN® are registered trade marks and trading names of East of England Broadband Network (Company Registration No. Comments & analysis: True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank; / A ferlie he spied wi' his ee;

Thomas bowed to the beautiful lady who, he said, must be the Queen of Heaven as he had never seen her like on earth. ( Log Out /  If he ate of the fruit, she said, his soul would go to hell.

Thomas was very hungry and wanted to eat some of the fruit but the Queen warned him not to touch it, for it was cursed. Thomas then fell asleep and awoke on Huntly Bank under the Eildon tree, where he first saw the Queen. Would you want the power to foresee the future? Once more they rode hard and fast until they saw before them a lovely castle standing on a high hill. He pressed her to stay and for a while they talked and she showed some of the future to him but Thomas wanted more. Thomas the Rhymer and the Queen of Elfland, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Synopsis, Zoophyte Folklore: The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, Giant Tales: Goram and Vincent and the Origin of the Avon Gorge, Celtic Mythology: Mixing Animals, Birds, Humans and Gods. Yes it can be difficult. Are you bored?, or do you just want a story time!, either way, sit back and have a relaxing break, (maybe sitting with your kids! It is believed that Thomas returned to the Faerie kingdom. The first vision was of a difficult narrow road, lined with thorns and briars. Thomas the Rhymer is a major character in Andrew James Greig's novel "One is One" , (2018), where Thomas is a man lost to himself and to time as he roams Scotland in the present day. Thomas used the gifts the Queen had given him to see into the future and tell of many events that would be important for Scotland. Thomas of Ercildoune, who became known as Thomas the Rhymer, lived in the Scottish Borders back in the 13th century.

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. That, she said, was the path of goodness, which leads to the city of god, a path which few take. All the court knelt low before the Queen. Thomas made his predictions in the form of songs or rhymes and became known as 'Thomas the Rhymer'. ( Log Out /  Do you believe in the fairy kingdom? Do you believe in the fairy kingdom?

Firstly, I love the use of language. Thomas' prophesies were so respected that they were even consulted before the Jacobite Uprisings in 1715 and 1745.
Finally, she promised they would meet again when she sent two messengers to fetch him. For seven years he served the Queen in that strange and magic land. That is one of the strangest tales of all. Thanks for commenting, appreciated!

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