Elfin Hill (B)

On Elfin lull as I laid my head,
A trance on mine eyelids fell;
And forward tripp'd with a lively tread
Two maidens their tale to tell.

With gentlest hand they smoothed my face,
And whisper'd it into my ear;
"Up, pretty young swain, a dance to pace,
"And strains of our music hear.

"Wake up! wake up! thou pretty young swain,
"Join hands in our dancer's ring,
"And tread to the time of the cheerful strain,
"My maiden for thee shall sing."

As soon as the one her lay began,
A lovely and peerless maid,
The brook that before so swiftly ran,
It's eddy and brawling stayed.

The brook that was wont so fast to flow.
It's eddy and brawling stay'd,
And fishes down in the waves below
Their fins to the cadence play'd.

The fishes down in the limpid flood
Were sporting with pearly tail;
And birds came flitting from out the wood,
And twitter'd in all the dale"

"Stay thou with us here, my pretty young wight,
"And gaily we'll pass the time;
"We'll teach thee to read, we'll teach thee to write,
"And many a Runic rhyme.

"We'll teach thee to tame the boar and bear,
"And tie them up to a tree,
"And force the Dragon to leave his lair, -
"His treasure forsake, and flee."

But all the while that the Elfin train
Was tripping it round and round,
On sword-hilt I lean'd me, the fair young swain,
And silent sat on the ground.

"Now wilt thou not answer us e'en a word?
"Nor take in our dance a part?
"Then soon shall thy.glittering knife and sword
"Bear death-sleep into thy heart."

That moment there crew the cock so shrill,
Sure Jesus my soul would save,
For else had I stay'd on the haunted hill,
And been to the Elves a slave.

So list to me, every gentle wight.
And wisely my counsel keep.
You ride not on Elfin hill at night.
Nor lay yourselves there to sleep.