Elfin Hill (A)

I once was an innocent poor young swain,
And, riding to meet my love,
I felt so weary, I longed to rest,
On lawn of the rosetree grove.

So down on a hillock I laid my head.
And sleep on mine eyelids fell,
When out of their cave three maidens tripped
Their treacherous tale to tell.

The one came towards me, the other went fro,
And whispered the third in my ear,
"Up, pretty young swain, to the dancers come,
"And join in our woodland cheer.

"O do as I bid thee, my pretty young swain,
"And join in the dancers' ring;
"My maiden shall time it with sweetest strain,
"Lips ever were heard to sing."

They brought from a cave a golden chair.
As seat for their Elfin queen;
And now, if I freely the truth declare.
Entranced I had nearly been.

She cleared her voice, and a song began,
And sweetly she tuned her lay,
The brook, that was wont so fast to flow,
Its torrent was fain to stay.

The brook, that was wont so fast to flow,
Its torrent was fain to stay.
The fish stood still in the crystal wave.
And ceas'd with their fins to play.

The pearly fish in the crystal wave
Lay still, as the maiden sang;
The deer, that roam'd in the greenwood shaw,
No longer or skipp'd or sprang.

The deer, that roam'd in the green wood shaw,
Forgot them to caper and bound,
The birds, that sat on the boughs above.
Were still at the soothing sound.

And each with her trulove, and all so gay.
Were dancing there, out and in;
But silent' sat, the poor young swain.
My hand held under my chin.

Then came there a maid with a silver can.
Came tripping from out the crew,
But down at her foot she spill'd the mead,
The maiden right well I knew.

"O listen and say, dear sister mine,
"The wine shall I drink, or no?"
"Nay raise it, but let it not touch thy lips,
"But down on thy bosom flow.

"Raise but to thy lips the silver cup,
"The wine in thy bosom spill;
"For sad is the life with an Elfin quean
"In cavern beneath the hill."

I rais'd to my lips the silver cup,
The wine on my breast let flow;
The Elf-queans merrily clapp'd their hands,
They thought they had won me so.

"Now hark to me, dearest sister mine,
"Up mount thee with me and ride;
"I'll bear thee to where afar from Elves
"In safety thou may'st abide."

"Thou would'st not in all the livelong day
So distant a gaol have won,
"That hither I came not back again
"At rise of the morning sun."

God had not help'd me in time of need
With crowing of cock so shrill,
I surely had stay'd with these Elfin queans
In cavern beneath the hill.

And therefore I counsel all good young swains,
Whoever an errand ride,
They lay them not down upon Elfin hill.
Lest them such a fate betide.