Sir Rosmer in Elfland

Sir Bund had dwelling beside the sea
Two daughters, as fair as fair could be.
The linden is all in leaf.

Five sons he had too, fair youths and tall,
But Rosmer the fairest by far of all.

An elfquean that lived upon the shore,
Had loved him for fifteen years or more.

For fifteen winters on plans she thought,
How Rosmer might be most safely caught.

One evening late, as fell the dew,
The elfquean wrapped her in mantle blue.

Well wrapped in her mantle, in she stepped,
And up to the room where Rosmer slept.

She tapp'd at his door with muffled knock,
"Get up. Sir Rosmer; the door unlock."

"No meeting tonight have I to keep,
"I let in nobody, while I sleep."

Her fingers were all so small and fine.
As into the wards of the lock to twine.

With tiny finger the bolt she drew.
For well the trick of his door she knew.

She seated herself beside his bed,
And play'd with the locks of Sir Rosmer's head.

She seated herself on his bedstead rail,
And soothingly told her wily tale.

"Now promise to meet me, nor say me nay,
"And be at the stone-bridge at break of day."

Sir Rosmer at midnight hour awoke.
And thus of his dream to a comrade spoke.

"A lovely maiden I seem'd to see,
"As fair and tender as wax was she.

"Methought she sat in my bedside chair,
"In kirtle of silk and flowing hair.

"I've pledged my promise, at dawn of day
"To meet at the bridge the lovely may."

"Lie still, Sir Rosmer, nor give it heed,
"Some elfquean surely will thee mislead."

"The dream turn out, as it pleases heaven!
"But stand I must to the pledge I've given."

As soon as the sun in his chamber shone,
Sir Rosmer rose, and his clothes put on.

He first a shirt on his shoulders drew,
And then a jacket of velvet blue.

And then he fitted a buckskin boot
And gilded spur upon either foot.

Sir Rosmer his servants was heard to call;
"Go fetch me my steed from out his stall.

"Up! saddle me quickly and rein the grey,
"For I must e'en to the bridge away."

He girt on his side his trusty brand.
His mother was near and wrung her hand.

As out of the yard Sir Rosmer rode.
The tears on the cheek of his mother flow'd.

But while he was crossing the bridge of stone,
His horse tripp'd up on his golden shoon.

His horse tripp'd up on the nails of gold.
And into the torrent Sir Rosmer roll'd.

Sir Rosmer he swam the eddying flood,
To where on the bank an elfquean stood.

"O welcome, Sir Rosmer! come home to me,
"I've brewed the mead and the wine for thee."

"The wine and the mead thyself may cheer;
"Unhappy am I to have landed here."

"Now tell me, Sir Rosmer, as gallant knight,
"The name that the land of your birthplace hight."

"In Denmark have I from my childhood grown,
"And there was my clothing cut and sewn.

"And there dwells also the gentle bride,
"With whom I had willingly lived and died."

She turned to her maid, "Go thou with speed,
"And fetch me hither the horn of mead.

"Bring hither the goblet of red-deer horn,
"And cast in it grains of elfin corn."

The maid came in at the chamber door,
A goblet of horn in her hand she bore.

"Now pledge me. Sir Rosmer, a friendship's en p."
"If such is thy pleasure, I drink it up."

He swallow'd the juice of the elfin grain;
The world was lost to his wilder'd brain.

His father and mother he clean forgot,
His sisters and brothers remembered not.

Forgot his trulove, the gentle bride,
With whom he would gladly have lived and died.

"Now tell me, Sir Rosmer, as gallant knight,
"The name that the land of your birth-place hight."

"Elfland, and here from a child IVo grown,
"And here my clothing was cut and sewn.

"And here you are standing, the winsome bride,
"I'm ready to live and die beside."

The elfquean has now her mind at rest.,
May daily repose on Sir Rosmer's breast;

But much have his father and mother cried,
His brothers and sisters, and eke his bride.