they’ll go as guests, With him to drink and eat.

p. 7

The hound is yelling in the yard, The herdsman blows his horn; Crows the cock and clucks the hen As the yeoman throws them corn.

Of Villenskov the yeoman saw The Trolds the window through: “Now help me Jesu, Mary’s son, Those trolds have me in view.”

He sign’d the cross in every nook, But mostly in his room; Some of the Trolds in fright thereat Flew to the forest’s gloom.

Some flew east, and some flew west, And some flew north away; And others flew to the valleys deep, Where still, I trow, they stay.

p. 8But ah! the smallest of the Trolds Bold enter’d at the door; For crossing he refus’d to flee, Was bent on mischief sore.

p. 8

The housewife thought of a good device, She plac’d him at the board, And before him set both ale and meat, With many a courteous word.

“Hear, husbandman of Villenskov, Attend to what I say; Who has to thee permission given To build where I have sway?

“Since thou to build within my bounds Hast ta’en the liberty, Thou shalt to me thy housewife give, For I with her will lie.”

Then answer made the hapless man, As God gave him the thought: “Thou shalt not Ellen get from me, Like her I value nought.”

p. 9He answer made unto the Trold:  “Let but my wife alone, And do thou take my money and goods, And keep them for thy own.”

p. 9

“Then I will Ellen take, and thee, And tread ye both to gore; And I will take thy silver and gold And hide it ’neath my floor.”

The yeoman and his household all Were seized with mighty fright: “Better that one of us be lost Than all destroy’d outright.”

Then up and stood the desp’rate man, With sore affliction rife; And he has given his Ellen dear To the young Trold for wife.

Then wax’d he glad, and sprang about, So fondly her he pressed; O then how pale her cheeks became, She was so sore distrest!

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