THE liRLKING S DAUGHTIiK. KtJ 



" I dare not dance, I may not stay, 

 The morrow brings my wedding day." — 



" Listen, Lord Oluf, come dance Avith me, 

 And a heap of gold I'll give to thee," 



" A heap of gold that take I not ill. 

 Yet dance I neither can nor will." • ; 



" Lord Oluf, if thou wilt not dance with me, 

 The plague and sickness shall follow thee." 



Right to his heai't she struck once and again, 

 Ne'er like to this had he felt such pain. 



Then lifted him fainting, upon his steed, 



" Now ride thee home to thy bride with speed." 



As soon he rode up to his castle gate. 

 His mother all trembling before it sate. 



" O hearken, my son, aud quickly me tell, 

 Why is thy clieek so wan and pale ? " 



" And pale and wan should it not be ? 

 I've rode in the Erlking's cursed country." 



" O hearken, my son, my joy and my pride, 

 What shall I say to thy young bride ? " 



" Tell her I shall in the forest be found, 

 Hunting there, with my horse and hound." 



Next morning Avhile yet it was hardly day, 

 There came the bride and the weddingers gay ; 



They poured out mead, they poured out wine; 



" But Avhere stays Lord Oluf, this bridegroom of mine ? " 



" Lord Oluf, he may in the forest be found, 

 Hunting there with his horse and hoimd." 



But the bride lifted up his mantle all red, 

 Aud there lay Lord Oluf, stiif, cold and dead. 



A. Z. 



