OLD DANISH BALLADS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 88

OLD DANISH BALLADS.

■'■'■■<■; THE ELEItf H11L..;; ,v Forth" l,*'&. ypimg swain, fared on my wooing ; and riding through shaded forest glades roses, heavy with sun-warmth and with scent, I was'minded to rest a while thereunder. But resting-there, my head lafld on the side of the elfin hill, when straightway a drowsiness fell upon mine eyes, and on my heart a heaviness, Out from the hill trod maidens,; and with words sounding as from afar they spoke to me. One with her white fingers touched my cheeks;, •another whispered elf-magic in. my ear. "Awaken, young swain,'' sadd _ she; "awaken, if so be you list to tread in' the dance r measures: to you, too, . shall jny maiden sing, a song than which, you heard nevev a fairer." Forth they bore a seat of gold -dhereon the maiden rested ; but I say in truwthat my heart was ill at ease and without joy; Her lips she opened, and a song she sang, nor heard I ever a fairer: the very streams stayed their "flowing and were silent, and the fish of the flood.lay therein Without motion. .'„ \. ■.-- The timid dieer in the. woods that were,. They ceased' their running and springing; The very birds in the swaying boughs For her- song stayed their singing. . (Since first I saw her face!) The elf-maidens danced out, and they danced in, and each with her bestbeloved ; but I, lorn swain, sat alone, my cheek resting upon my hand. "Hear now, young swain," said they; "wilt thou abide with us, then shalt thou be taught the lore of the runes, and by us shalt thou be well beloved ; the binding of the wrild boar ghalt thou be taught, and the staying of the eagle under the clouds : the dragon, too that sits in guard over the goldj-hoards shall flee before thee." They danced in they danced out in h wildering elfin maze ; and I, lorn swain, eat iin their midst, leaning upon my sword. "Hear thou, young swain," said they ; "wilt thou not speak to us, lo then shall the keen knife and the sharp sword lay thy heart ever in deepest sorrow." Eftsoons came a youthful maiden, lightly treading from the elfin hill, and in her two hands she bore a vessel of silver; but at her feet the drink borne therein she spilt when resting her eyes upon him, she knew the swain that sat before her. "Hear thou me, my dear sister," eaid I; "me wilt thou not deceive: — must I indeed drink with thee this day?—in very sooth answer thou me." "Slyly to the lips lay the horn, so that the meal may run adown thy breast; yea, for evil it is to dwell here in the elfin hill with elf-maidens." To my lips I set the horn, so that adown my breast ran. the sleepy mead; then clapped the elf-mar'dens their hands together, deeming they with their magic draught had now won me. "Hear me, dear sister; and wilt thou ride hence with me? From the elves far shall I bear thee, and far from thy SOr-

From sorrow thou couldst not bear me so fax (Were it even where earth has ending), Bat hither again I needs must far© Ere the sum were at morn ascending. (Since first I saw her face!) Had not the good~ God so ordered my fortune that the cock now beat his wings are the day-dawn, surely had I too entered the elfin hill, into the presence of the elf-maidens. And to_ all youthful swains who will fore riding in the forest, my rede is this: Ride not to the elfin hill, nor rest on its side in slumber. Arid this is my irede to Danish swains Who fere through the forest wooing,— That he tarries not under the elfin—hill, Full near was it my undoing. . (Sinoe first I saw her face!) JOHANNHS C. ANDERSEN.