The Elf and the Farmer's Wife (A)

'Twas in a wood on a Western isle,
A farmer chose his ground;
He thought to spend the winter there.
And brought his hawk and hound.

He brought with him both hound and cock,
For long he meant to stay,
And much the deer, that roam'd the wood.
Had cause to rue the day.

He fear'd the oak, he fell'd the "birch,
Nor beech nor poplar spared,
And much was griev'd the sullen Elf,.
At what the stranger dared.

He hew'd hira balks, he hew'd him beams,
With eager toil and haste;
"Who," ask'd the Elves in the mountain cave,
"Who's come our wood to waste?"

Then up and spake the tiniest Elf,
As emmet small and slim;
"There's hither come a Christian man,
"Leave me to manage him."

And then' spake up the biggest Elf,
And grimly roll'd his eyes;
"We'll march our troop to the farmer's house,
"And hold on him Assize.

"He is hacking down both wood and bower,
"He shows us great disdain;
"His housewife he shall give me up,
"And taste of shame and pain."

And all the Elves from out their cave
Began to dance and spring.
And marching towards the farmer's house
Their lengthy tails to swing.

The dog howl'd in the farmer's yard,
The herdsman blew his horn.
The falcon yell'd, and crow'd the (Tock,
For e'en he had had his corn.

Seven hundred Elves from out the wood, '
And foul and grim they were,
Would at the farmer's hold a feast
His meat and drink to share.

The farmer out of his window look'd
This host of Elves to see;
"O help me, Jesus, Mary's son!
"These Elves will visit me."

In every nook he made a cross,
But most about his room,
And off flew many a frighten'd Elf,
Back to his forest gloom.

Some flew to th' East, some flew to West,
Some flew to the North away,
And some down into the deep ravine,
Where still I hope they stay.

But one, the smallest Elf of all.
In through the doorway strode;
No fear had he for sign of cross.
But great the grudge he ow'd.

The housewife took the wisest plan,
She set him down to board.
And fed him well with ale and meat
And many a coaxing word.

"But hark, thou farmer of Willenshaw,
"What now I say to thee;
"Who gave thee leave to build a house,
"And settle here with me?

"Yet if thou wishest here to dwell,
"The treaty bear in mind;
"From this day forth thy wife so dear
"To me must be resigned/'

"Ah! nay," the unhappy farmer spake
In all his depth of woe,
"Eline, the comfort of my life,
"I never will forego,"

He sooth'd the Elf, as best he could;
"Leave me my housewife dear,
"And, for the rest, take what thou wilt,
"My gold and all my gear."

"Then both Eline and thee I'll take,
"And trample both of you;
"And bury underneath my cell
"Your gold and silver too."

The farmer, maids and serving men
In dread and fell despair.
Thought better, she alone were lost.
Than all in ruin share.

The farmer wild and frantic rose
With bitter grief and keen.
And gave to the little hateful Elf
His wife, his dear Eline.

He clasped her in his arms with joy,
And round in circles sprang;
But pallid grew the housewife's cheek.
For sharp she felt the pang.

She spake, poor woman, full of woe,
With many a falling tear;
"Lord! in mercy send relief,
"My fate is hard to bear.

"My husband was a man, as fine
"As one on earth might see;
"And now to such a lotliesome Elf
"The leman I must be."

He kiss'd her once, and then again.
So sad and woebegone;
The ugliest little Imp he was.
That eye could look upon.

But when a third kiss he would take,
On Mary's son she cried;
And straight, instead of a lothely Elf,
A knight was at her side.

'Twas under a linden tree so green
His shape he found again.
And that to no one's hurt or loss.
But joy to both the twain.

"Now list, my dearest sweet Eline,
"My housewife thou shalt be;
"In England lies a heap of gold,
"I'll give it all to thee.

"While I was still a little child,
"And dead my mother lay;
My stepdame I was driven from home,
"And turn'd to an Elfin gray.

"And now I'll make thy husband great,
"I'll give him gold and fee;
"But thou, Eline, the farmer's wife,
"My housewife thou shalt be."

"Nay, noble knight, for this relief
"Th' Almighty let us thank;
"Choose thou to live in bliss with thee
"Some maid of equal rank."

"If then I get not thee to wife,
"Thy daughter I will take,
"Since recompense for thy good deeds
"No other I can make.

"To thee, Eline, thou wise good wife,
"All honour I will pay;
"But since I cannot win thy love,
"'Tis best thou shouldest stay."

The farmer now on his island dwells
From care and trouble free,
His daughter in England wears a crown.
And happy days has she.

Eline, she too, the farmer's wife,
Is quit of all alarm.
Proud to be mother of a queen,
A king folds in his arm.

This queen she first a daughter bare,
And then a little king;
And every hour she praises God,
From whom such blessings spring.

And there Eline's fair daughter sits,
A kingdom owns her sway;
And she, that honest farmer's wife,
May with her good man stay.