The Water-Sprite's Treachery

The maids at the palace they danced away,
With hair all flowing so blithe and gay.

With hair all flowing there danced the maids,
There danced the knights with their naked blades.

The knights they danced, and their sword blades rang,
The measure the king's own daughter sang.

The maiden was proud, and her voice so clear
All under the ice the sprite could hear.

Up heaved him the sprite, and clothes put on;
"That maiden so proud is mine anon."

He clad him in dress of gold and green,
Took Allfast, the Prince's, name and mien.

A black and white horse he then bestrode,
And off on a golden saddle rode.

As up to the courtyard gate he came,
They tripp'd a dance, as in chase of game.

His horse to the churchyard rail he bound.
And entered and danced to the tuneful sound.

The maiden her hand held out to the sprite;
"Come dance with me, Allfast, my trulove knight."

"I will not join in the dance with thee,
"Unless thou wilt come to my home with me.

"O maiden, no longer thy love withhold,
"I'll grace thy head with a crown of gold:

"I'll give thee so precious a golden band,
"As never was seen in all this land.

"Tho' rules thy father so many a town,
"He gave thee never so rich a crown;

"Tho' king thy father o'er all the land,
"He gave thee never so rich a band."

"But how shall I 'scape from the castle yard,
"Where kinsmen so many hold watch and ward?"

"Tho' guard thee thy kindred by night and day,
"Thy troth thou hast plighted, and must away."

His horse so gentle was standing there,
And up on its back he rais'd the fair;

He gallop'd away o'er heath and wold.
And gleam'd afar with a blaze of gold.

His horse rush'd onward o'er holt and hill,
And first at a roaring stream stood still.

"Now tell me then, Allfast, my knight so true,
"What will you to cross that water do?"

"No trulove of thine, tho' such I seem,
"My home is here in the roaring stream."

With fifteen nails in the four gold shoes
Down sank the steed in the stifling ooze;

And far they could hear on the mountain side,
How under the water the maiden cried.