romantic ballads-第4节
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t ails thee； dear maid？ we had better now stay； For thou art fatigu'd by the length of the way。〃 〃I am not fatigu'd by the length of the way； But my seat is uneasy； in truth； I must say。〃 He spread； on the cold earth； his mantle so wide； 〃Now rest thee； my love； and I'll watch by thy side。〃 〃O Jesus； that one of my maidens were near！ The pains of a mother are on me； I fear。〃 〃Thy maidens are now at a distance from thee； And thou art alone in the forest with me。〃 〃'Twere better to perish； again and again； Than thou should'st stand by me； and gaze on my pain。〃 〃Then take off thy kerchief； and cover my head； And perhaps I may stand in the wise…woman's stead。〃 〃O Christ； that I had but a draught of the wave！ To quench my death…thirst； and my temples to lave。〃 Sir Middel was to her so tender and true； And he fetch'd her the drink in her gold…spangled shoe。 The fountain was distant； and when he drew near； Two nightingales sat there and sang in his ear： 〃Thy love； she is dead； and for ever at rest； With two little babes that lie cold on her breast。〃 Such was their song； but he heeded them not； And trac'd his way back to the desolate spot； But oh； what a spectacle burst on his view！ For all they had told him was fatally true。 He dug a deep grave by the side of a tree； And buried therein the unfortunate three。 As he clamp'd the mould down with his iron…heel'd boot He thought that the babies scream'd under his foot： Then placing his weapon against a grey stone； He cast himself on it； and died with a groan。 Ye maidens of Norway； henceforward beware！ For love； when unbridled； will end in despair。
ELVIR…SHADES。 FROM THE DANISH OF OEHLENSLAEGER。
A sultry eve pursu'd a sultry day； Dark streaks of purple in the sky were seen； And shadows half conceal'd the lonely way；
I spurr'd my courser； and more swiftly rode； In moody silence； through the forests green； Where doves and linnets had their lone abode：
It was my fate to reach a brook； at last； Which； by sweet…scented bushes fenc'd around； Defiance bade to heat and nipping blast。
Inclin'd to rest； and hear the wild birds' song； I stretch'd myself upon that brook's soft bound； And there I fell asleep and slumber'd long；
And only woke； O wonder； to perceive A gold…hair'd maiden； as a snowdrop pale； Her slender form from out the ground upheave：
Then fear o'ercame me； and this daring heart Beat three times audibly against my mail； I wish'd to speak； but could no sound impart。
And see！ another maid rose up and took Some drops of water from the foaming rill； And gaz'd upon me with a wistful look。
Said she； 〃What brings thee to this lonely place？ But do not fear； for thou shalt meet no ill； Thou steel…clad warrior； full of youth and grace。〃
〃No；〃 sang the other； in delightful tone； 〃But thou shalt gaze on prodigies which ne'er To man's unhallow'd eye have yet been shown。〃
The brook which lately brawl'd among the trees Stood still； the murmur of that song to hear； No green leaf stirr'd； and fetter'd seem'd the breeze。
The thrush； upstarting in the distant dell； Shook its brown wing； with golden streaks array'd； And ap'd the witch…notes； as they rose and fell。
Bright gleam'd the lake's broad sheet of liquid blue； Where； with the rabid pike； the troutling play'd； The rose unlock'd its folded leaves anew；
And blush'd； besprinkled with the night's cold tear。 Once more the lily rais'd its head and smil'd； All ghastly white； as when it decks the bier。
Though sweet she sang； my fears were not the less； For in her accents there was something wild； Which I can feel； 't is true； but not express。
〃Come with us；〃 sang she； 〃deep below the earth； Where sun ne'er burns； and storm…winds never rave； Come with us to our halls of princely mirth；
〃There thou shalt learn from us the Runic lay； But dip thee； first； in yonder crystal wave； Which binds thee to the Elfin race for aye：
〃Though painted flowers on earth's breast abound； Yet we have far more lovely ones below； Like grass the chrysolites there strew the ground。〃
〃O come；〃 the other syren did exclaim； 〃For rubies there more red than roses grow … The sapphir's blue the violet puts to shame。〃
I rais'd my eyes to heaven's starry dome； And gripp'd my faulchion with convulsive might； Resolv'd no witchcraft should my mind o'ercome。
My lengthen'd silence vex'd the maidens sore： 〃Wilt thou detain us here the live…long night； Or must we； stripling； proffer something more？
〃Taught by us； thou shalt bind the rugged bear； … Seize on the mighty dragon's heap of gold； … And slay the cockatrice while in her lair！
〃But from thy breast the blood we will suck out； Unless thou follow us beneath the mould！ Decide； decide； nor longer pause in doubt！〃
Cold sweat I shed； and as； with trembling hand； I strove to whirl my beaming faulchion round； It sank； enthrall'd by magic's potent band。
Each witch drew nigh； with dagger high uprear'd； Just then a cock； beyond the wild wood's bound； Crew loudand in the earth they disappear'd。
I flung myself upon my frighten'd barb； Just as the shades began to grow less murk； And sun…beams clad the sky in gayer garb。
Let each young warrior from such places fly： Disease and death beneath the flowers lurk； And elves would suck the warm blood from his eye。
THE HEDDYBEE…SPECTRE。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。
I clomb in haste my dappled steed； And gallop'd far o'er mount and mead； And when the day drew nigh its close； I laid me down to take repose。
I laid me down to take repose； And slumbers sweet fell o'er my brows： And then； methought； as there I slept； From out the ground the dead man leapt。
Said he； 〃If thou art valiant； Knight； My murder soon will see the light； For thou wilt ride to Heddybee； Where live my youthful brothers three：
〃And there； too； thou wilt surely find My father dear and mother kind； And there sits Kate； my much…loved wife； Who with her women took my life。
〃They chok'd me； as in bed I lay； Then wrapp'd me in a truss of hay； And bore me out at dead of night； And laid me in this lonely height。
〃The Groom； who lately clean'd my stall； Now struts and vapours through my hall； … Eats gaily with my silver knife； And sleeps with Kate； my much…lov'd wife。
〃His place is highest at the board； But what is most to be deplor'd； He gives my babes so little bread； And mocks them now their sire is dead。
〃Clad in my clothes he proudly stalks Along the shady forest…walks； And； arm'd with bow and hunting spear； He shoots my birds and stabs my deer。
〃Were I alive； to meet him now； All underneath the linden bough； With no one nigh； my wrath to check； I'd wring his head from off his neck！
〃But hie thee hence to Heddybee； Where live my youthful brothers three； First tell them allthen stab the groom … Allow my wife a milder doom。〃
SIR JOHN。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。
Sir Lave to the island stray'd； He wedded there a lovely maid： 〃I'll have her yet；〃 said John。
He brought her home across the main； With knights and ladies in the train： 〃I'm close behind；〃 said John。
They plac'd her on the bridal seat； Sir Lave bade them drink and eat： 〃Aye： that we will；〃 said John。
The servants led her then to bed； But could not loose her girdle red！ 〃I can； perhaps；〃 said John。
He shut the door with all his might； He lock'd it fast； and quench'd the light： 〃I shall sleep here；〃 said John。
A servant to Sir Lave hied； … 〃Sir John is sleeping with the bride：〃 〃Aye； that I am；〃 said John。
Sir Lave to the chamber flew： 〃Arise； and straight the door undo！〃 〃A likely thing！〃 said John。
He struck with shield； he struck with spear … 〃Come out； thou Dog； and fight me here！〃 〃Another time；〃 said John。
〃And since thou with my bride hast lain； To our good king I will complain。〃 〃That thou canst do；〃 said John。
As soon as e'er the morning shone； Sir Lave sought our monarch's throne； I'll go there too；〃 said John。
〃O King； chastise this wicked wight； For with my wife he slept last night。〃 〃'T is very true；〃 said John。
〃Since ye two love one pretty face； Your lances must decide the case。〃 〃With all my heart；〃 said John。
The sun on high was shining bright； And thousands came to see the fight： 〃Lo！ here I am：〃 said John。
The first course that they ran so free； Sir John's horse fell upon his knee： 〃Now help me God！〃 said John。
The next course that they ran； in ire； Sir Lave fell among the mire。 〃He's dead enough！〃 said John。
The victor to the castle hied； And there in tears he found the bride： 〃Thou art my own；〃 said John。
That night； forgetting all alarms； Again she blest him in her arms。 〃I have her now！〃 said John。
MAY ｛3｝ ASDA。 FROM THE DANISH OF OEHLENSLAEGER。
May Asda is gone to the merry green wood； Like flax was each tress on her temples that stood； Her cheek like the rose…leaf that perfumes the air； Her form； like the lily…stalk； graceful and fair：
She mourn'd for her lover； Sir Frovin the brave； For he had embark'd on the boisterous wave； And； burning to gather the laurels of war； Had sail'd with King Humble to Orkney afar：
At feast and at revel； wherever she went； Her thoughts on his perils and dangers were bent； No joy has the heart that loves fondly and dear … No pleasure save when the lov'd object is
