"She cursed me! her hand to my bosom she press'd; "Death follow'd the touch, and now freezes my breast! and said, "To your lady now ride;"

"She cursed me,
“Oh! ne'er shall my lips press

the lips of my bride.".

"Now riddle me, Oluf, and what shall I say, "When here comes the lady, so fair and so gay?”— -"Oh! say, I am gone for awhile to the wood, "To prove if my hounds and my coursers are good.".

Scarce dead was Sir Oluf, and scarce shone the day,
When in came the lady, so fair and so gay;

And in came her father, and in came each guest,
Whom the hapless Sir Oluf had bade to the feast.

They drank the red wine, and they ate the good cheer; -"Oh! where is Sir Oluf! oh, where is my dear?"-"Sir Oluf is gone for awhile to the wood,

if his hounds and his coursers are good."

Sore trembled the lady, so fair and so gay;
She eyed the red curtain; she drew it away;
But soon from her bosom for ever life fled,
For there lay Sir Oluf, cold, breathless, and dead.

WITH gentle murmur flow'd the tide,
While by its fragrant flowery side
The lovely maid, with carols gay,
To Mary's church pursued her way.

The Water-Fiend's malignant eye
Along the banks beheld her hie;
Straight to his mother-witch he sped,
And thus in suppliant accents said:

-"Oh! mother! mother! now advise,

How I may yonder maid surprise: "Oh! mother! mother! now explain,

"How I may yonder maid obtain.”

The witch she gave him armour white;
She form'd him like a gallant knight:
Of water clear next made her hand
A steed, whose housings were of sand.

The Water-King then swift he went ;
To Mary's church his steps he bent:
He bound his courser to the door,

And paced the churchyard three times four.

His courser to the door bound he,

And paced the churchyard four times three;
Then hasten'd up the aisle, where all
The people flock'd, both great and small.

The priest said, as the knight drew near, -"And wherefore comes the white chief here?"—

The lovely maid she smiled aside;

"Oh! would I were the white chief's bride!"

He stepp'd o'er benches one and two;
-Oh! lovely maid, I die for you!".
He stepp'd o'er benches two and three;
-"Oh! lovely maiden, go with me!"-

Then sweetly smiled the lovely maid ;
And while she gave her hand, she said,
-"Betide me joy, betide me woe,
"O'er hill, o'er dale, with thee I go.

The priest their hands together joins ;
They dance, while clear the moon-beam shines :
And little thinks the maiden bright,
Her partner is the Water-Spright..

Oh! had some spirit deign'd to sing,
"Your bridegroom is the Water-King!".

The maid had fear and hate confess'd,
And cursed the hand which then she press'd.

But nothing giving cause to think

How near she stray'd to danger's brink,
Still on she went, and hand in hand
The lovers reach'd the yellow sand.

-"Ascend this steed with me, my dear! "We needs must cross the streamlet here: "Ride boldly in; it is not deep;

"The winds are hush'd, the billows sleep."

Thus spoke the Water-King. The maid
Her traitor-bridegroom's wish obey'd:
And soon she saw the courser lave
Delighted in his parent wave.

66

Stop! stop! my love! The waters blue E'en now my shrinking foot bedew."-"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart! "We now have reach'd the deepest part."—

Stop! stop! my love! For now I see

"The waters rise above my knee."

"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart! "We now have reach'd the deepest part."

-"Stop! stop! for God's sake, stop! for oh! "The waters o'er my bosom flow!"

Scarce was the word pronounced, when knight And courser vanish'd from her sight.

She shrieks, but shrieks in vain; for high
The wild winds rising, dull the cry;
The fiend exults; the billows dash,
And o'er their hapless victim wash.