The Mythology of Fairies. Thomas Keightley

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СКАЧАТЬ I will and nought I may,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "To-morrow is my wedding-day."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "Wilt thou not tread the dance with me?"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "An evil shall I fix on thee."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      Sir Olof turned his horse therefrom,

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       Sickness and plague follow him home.

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      Sir Olof to his mother's rode,

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       Out before him his mother stood.

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "Welcome, welcome, my dear son,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "Why is thy rosy cheek so wan?"

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "My colt was swift and I tardy,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "I knocked against a green oak-tree."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "My dear sister, prepare my bed,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "My dear brother, take my horse to the mead."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "My dear mother, brush my hair,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "My dear father, make me a bier."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "My dear son, that do not say,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       To-morrow is thy wedding-day."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.

      "Be it when it will betide,"

       Breaketh day, falleth rime;

       "I ne'er shall come unto my bride."

       Sir Olof cometh home,

       When the wood it is leaf-green.138

      The Young Swain and the Elves.

      I was a handsome young swain,

       And to the court should ride.

       I rode out in the evening-hour;

       In the rosy grove I to sleep me laid.

       Since I her first saw.

      I laid me under a lind so green,

       My eyes they sunk in sleep;

       There came two maidens going along,

       They fain would with me speak.

       Since I her first saw.

      The one she tapped me on my cheek,

       The other whispered in my ear:

       "Stand up, handsome young swain,

       If thou list of love to hear."

       Since I her first saw.

      They led then forth a maiden,

       Whose hair like gold did shine:

       "Stand up, handsome young swain,

       If thou to joy incline."

       Since I her first saw.

      The third began a song to sing,

       With good will she did so;

       Thereat stood the rapid stream,

       Which before was wont to flow.

       Since I her first saw.

      Thereat stood the rapid stream,

       Which before was wont to flow;

       And the hind all with her hair so brown,

       Forgot whither she should go.

       Since I her first saw.

      I got me up from off the ground,

       And leaned my sword upon;

       The Elve-women danced in and out,

       All had they the Elve fashión.

       Since I her first saw.

      Had not fortune been to me so good,

       That the cock his wings clapped then,

       I had slept within the hill that night,

       All with the Elve-womén.

       Since I her first saw.139

      Svend Faelling and the Elle-Maid.

      Svend Fælling was, while a little boy, at service in Sjeller-wood-house in Framley; and it one time happened that he had to ride of a message to Ristrup. It was evening before he got near home, and as he came by the hill of Borum Es, he saw the Elle-maids, who were dancing without ceasing round and round his horse. Then one of the Elle-maids stept up to him, and reached him a drinking cup, bidding him at the same time to drink. Svend took the cup, but as he was dubious of the nature of the contents, he flung it out over his shoulder, where it fell on the horse's back, and singed off all the hair. While he had the horn fast in his hand, he gave his horse the spurs and rode off full speed. The Elle-maid pursued him till he came to Trigebrand's mill, and rode through the running water, over which she could not follow him. СКАЧАТЬ