Daily Stories

And when he came to his home so late, His mother stood at the castle gate. Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

“Now tell to me, my dearest son, Why look’st so pale and woe-begone?” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

“O well may he look pale, I ween, Who has felt the stroke of the Elfin Queen.” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

p. 13“Sir Olaf, list, my joy and pride, What shall I say to thy youthful bride?” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

p. 13

“Thou’lt tell my bride the wood I rove, My courser and my hounds to prove.” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

The next, next morn at break of day The bride arrives with her friends so gay. Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

They skinkéd mead, they skinkéd wine: “Where is Sir Olaf, bridegroom mine?” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

“Sir Olaf’s gone the woods to rove, His courser and his hounds to prove.” Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

She lifted up the mantle red, There lay Sir Olaf stark and dead. Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

p. 14The next, next day at early morn, Corses three from the gate are borne. Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

p. 14

Olaf the knight, and his youthful bride, And his mother dear, who of care had died. Gaily they dance in the greenwood.

p. 15THE TREACHEROUS MERMAN

p. 15

“Now rede me, mother,” the merman cried, “How Marsk Stig’s daughter may be my bride.”

She made him of water a noble steed, Of sands a saddle, and reins of reed.

To a young knight chang’d she then her son, And to Mary’s church at speed he’s gone.

To the church’s ring his steed he bound, And three times backward the church pac’d round.