Sir Magnus and the Elf-Maid

The maiden wooes the handsome knight
To plight to her his troth,
Would give him gifts to sleep with her
Of gold and silver both.
"Magnus plight thy troth to me
"So' longingly I pray:
"And thou canst answer 'nay' or noy'
"Or yea and yea and yea,' "

"I'll give thee a richly broider'd shirt,
"As fine as e'er was bought,
"And every seam, there is therein,
"With silken thread is wrought.
"Magnus &c.

"I'll give thee too a horse to ride
"So stout of wind and bone,
"He walks as well on billows blue
"As on the hardest stone.
"Magnus &c.

"I'll give thee a ship with gold belaid;
"Will stem the roughest seas;
"Its sails arc all of scarlet cloth,
"It flies with every breeze.
"Magnus &c.

"I'll give thee a costly sword of gold,
"The hest thou couldest wield;
"With it the victory shall be thine
"On every battle field. -
"Magnus &c.,

"And hark! lUl give thee a falcon blue,
"No swifter sits on bough;
"Such precious gifts would I not miss,
"Were I a knight as thou."
"Magnus &c.

"Thee would I gladly wed, wert thou
"Like other woman-kind;
"But thou'rt as foul a mountain Elf,
"As one on earth may find."
"Magnus &c.

The Knight girt up his good grey steed.
To Kendsborg he would ride,
But seiz'd his skirt the Elfin maid,
"Nay here shalt thou abide."
"Magnus &c.,

The Knight he drew the costly blade,
That at his side he wore,
And chopped the maid to bits as fine
As sand on ocean shore.
"Magnus c.

The maiden turn'd to a blazing fire,
And rose in angry flake,
And made the mightiest forest trees
To tremble all and quake.
"Magnus plight thy troth to me
"So longingly I pray,
"And thou canst answer 'nay' or 'no
"Or yea and yea and yea. '