- of full moon. 
1825.) 
that it is only to be seen about the time 
Probably the quantity of 
light. at other times is insufficient to 
produce the effect. It is not a little 
extraordinary, that a phenomenon of 
such rare and solemn beauty should 
never have been made (which I believe 
it has not) the theme of poetic des- 
cription ; or even of illutrative allusion ? 
L 
i 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Danisu Travitionsand SurERsTITIONS. 
(Continued from No. 404, p. 500.) 
The Erl-maiden at Ebeltoft. 
Not far from Ebeltoft, as a country 
lad was watching the cattle, there came 
towards him a handsome maiden, who 
inquired whether he was hungry or 
thirsty. But perceiving that she was 
very careful not to let him see her back, 
‘he guessed at once that she was an erl- 
maiden; for those beings are all hollow 
behind. He would therefore have 
nothing to say to her, and endeavoured 
to escape; whereupon she produced her 
breast, and invited him to suck. There 
was so much sorcery in her voice and 
manner, that he could not resist; but 
when he had done what she told him, 
he was no longer master of himself, and 
she had little difficulty in persuading 
him to go with her. He was missing 
three days, whilst his parents sat at 
home and sorrowed, for they concluded 
he had been beguiled, and never expected 
to see him more. On the fourth day, 
the father saw him coming afar off, and 
immediately commanded the mother to 
place a pot of meat upon the fire. The 
son very soon after entered the door, 
and seated himself silently by the table ; 
the parents likewise spoke not a word, 
‘but behaved just as if nothing had hap- 
pened. At length, the victuals being 
ready, the mother placed them before 
her son, and the father told him to eat; 
but the youth suffered the meat to 
‘stand untouched, and at last said that 
‘he now knew where to get much better 
food. The father was very wroth, and 
‘seizing a large heavy stick, again com- 
‘manded him to eat. The son was forced 
to comply; but when he had once tasted 
the meat, he devoured it with frightful 
greediness, and fell shortly afterwards 
‘Into a deep slumber. He slept exactly 
‘as many days as he had staid away ; but 
the was never afterwards in his right 
‘senses. 
Swend Trundsen’s Sons. 
' Swend Trundsen had two sons, fine 
© Mownrury Maa, No. 405. 
Danish Traditions and Superstitions. 25 
handsome men, and both of ‘great im- 
‘portance in the kingdom. Eskild was a 
soldier, bold and daring, but haughty, 
cruel, and stained with the grossest 
vices. His brother Swend, on the con- 
trary, was Bishop of Viborg, and a good 
and pious nobleman. Observing Eskild’s 
evil disposition and daily misdeeds, he 
thought that such would bring him to 
no good end, and therefore entreated 
him, in the most pressing manner, to 
reform, and to make a pilgrimage to 
Jerusalem. But Eskild would not con- 
sent, until his brother had promised to 
accompany him. Bishop Swend. pre- 
pared himself for this fatiguing journey, 
rather than his brother, whom he ten- 
derly loved, should fall into the claws 
of Satan. When they had reached the 
river Jordan, they went together into a 
little church, called Paternoster church, 
where they prayed, and then dipped 
themselves in the sacred flood. But just 
after they had received the sacrament, 
Eskild was seized with so violent a sick- 
ness, that he gave up the ghost on the 
spot. Bishop Swend was heartily re- 
joiced at this, because he considered it 
as a manifest sign of God’s mercy, and 
his brother’s salvation. He fell down 
upon his knees, and entreated God to 
take him also, because he had a great 
desire to follow his brother, and to 
share his happiness. His wish was 
granted; for he almost immediately ex- 
pired, in the same place. The brothers 
were enshrined side by side in Pater- 
noster church ; and whenever pilgrims 
visited the Holy Land from Denmark, 
they offered up their prayers there, and 
made presents to the church. 
. Sir Eske Brock. 
As Sir Eske Brock, who lived at 
Vemmeltoft, once went through the 
fields cracking-his whip, a hat suddenly 
fell upon the ground before him; he 
caused his servant to pick it up, and 
then placed it on his own head. But 
no sooner was it there, than he became 
invisible ;-he then tried it on the ser- 
vants, and whoever wore the hat, was 
seen by none of the others. The knight 
-was overjoyed at his prize, and carried 
it home with him. Presently a bare- 
headed boy came to the gate, and de- 
sired to speak to Sir Eske Brock, and 
when the latter appeared, the boy asked 
him for his hat, which, he said, Sir Eske 
had just knocked off his head with his 
-whip ; he offered him a hundred ducats, 
and afterwards a thousand, to restore 
‘it, but the knight refused to do this, 
knowing the value of the hat. » At-last, 
E when 
