romantic ballads-第5节

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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　near！

May　Asda　walk'd　out　in　the　bonny　noon…tide；　And　roam'd　where　the　beeches　grew　up　in　their　pride；　She　sat　herself　down　on　the　green　sloping　hill；　Where　liv'd　the　Erl…people；　｛4｝　and　where　they　live　still：

Then　trembled　the　turf；　as　she　sat　in　repose；　And　straight　from　the　mountain　three　maidens　arose；　And　with　them　a　loom；　and　upon　it　a　woof；　As　white　as　the　snow　when　it　falls　on　the　roof。

Of　red　shining　gold　was　the　fairy…loom　made；　They　sang　and　they　danc'd；　and　their　swift　shuttles　play'd；　Their　song　was　of　death；　and　their　song　was　of　life；　It　sounded　like　billows　in　tumult　and　strife。

They　gave　her　the　woof；　with　a　sorrowful　look；　And　vanish'd　like　bubbles　that　burst　on　the　brook；　But　deep　in　the　mountain　was　heard　a　sweet　strain；　As　the　lady　went　home　to　her　bower　again。

The　web　was　unfinish'd；　she　wove　and　she　spun；　Nor　rested　a　moment；　until　it　was　done；　And　there　was　enough；　when　the　work　was　complete；　To　form　for　a　dead　man　a　shirt　or　a　sheet。

The　heroes　return'd　from　the　well…foughten　field；　And　bore　home　Sir　Frovin's　corse；　laid　on　a　shield；　Sad　sight　for　the　maid！　but　she　still　was　alert；　And　sew'd　round　the　body　the　funeral　shirt：

And　when　she　had　come　to　the　very　last　stitch；　Her　feelings；　so　long　suppress'd；　rose　to　a　pitch；　The　cold　clammy　sweat　from　her　features　outbroke；　Death　struck　her；　and　meekly　she　bow'd　to　the　stroke。

She　rests　with　her　lover　now　deep　in　the　grave；　And　o'er　them　the　beeches　their　mossy　boughs　wave；　There　sing　the　Erl…maidens　their　ditties　aloud；　And　dance　while　the　merry　moon　peeps　from　the　cloud。



AAGER　AND　ELIZA。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



Have　ye　heard　of　bold　Sir　Aager；　How　he　rode　to　yonder　isle；　There　he　saw　the　sweet　Eliza；　Who　upon　him　deign'd　to　smile。

There　he　married　sweet　Eliza；　With　her　lands　and　ruddy　gold　…　Wo　is　me！　the　Monday　after；　Dead　he　lay　beneath　the　mould！

In　her　bower　sat　Eliza；　Rent　the　air　with　shriek　and　groan；　All　which　heard　the　good　Sir　Aager；　Underneath　the　granite　stone。

Up　his　mighty　limbs　he　gather'd；　Took　the　coffin　on　his　back；　And　to　fair　Eliza's　bower　Hasten'd；　by　the　well…known　track。

On　her　chamber's　lowly　portal；　With　his　fingers　long　and　thin；　Thrice　he　tapp'd；　and　bade　Eliza　Straightway　let　her　bridegroom　in！

Straightway　answer'd　fair　Eliza；　〃I　will　not　undo　my　door　Till　I　hear　thee　name　sweet　Jesus；　As　thou　oft　hast　done　before。〃

〃Rise；　O　rise；　my　own　Eliza；　And　undo　thy　chamber　door；　I　can　name　the　name　of　Jesus；　As　I　once　could　do　before。〃

Up　then　rose　the　sweet　Eliza；　…　Up　she　rose；　and　twirl'd　the　pin。　Straight　the　chamber　door　flew　open；　And　the　dead　man　glided　in。

With　her　comb　she　comb'd　his　ringlets；　For　she　felt　but　little　fear：　On　each　lock　that　she　adjusted　Fell　a　hot　and　briny　tear。

〃Listen；　now；　my　good　Sir　Aager；　Dearest　bridegroom；　all　I　crave　Is　to　know　how　it　goes　with　thee；　In　that　lonely　place；　the　grave？〃

〃Every　time　that　thou　rejoicest；　And　thy　breast　with　pleasure　heaves；　Then　that　moment　is　my　coffin　Lin'd　with　rose　and　laurel　leaves。

〃Every　time　that　thou　art　shedding　From　thine　eyes　the　briny　flood；　Then　that　moment　is　my　coffin　Fill'd　with　black　and　loathsome　blood。

〃Heard　I　not　the　red　cock　crowing；　Distant　far　upon　the　wind？　Down　to　dust　the　dead　are　going；　And　I　may　not　stop　behind。

〃Heaven's　ruddy　portals　open；　…　Daylight　bursts　upon　my　view；　Though　the　word　be　hard　to　utter；　I　must　bid　thee；　love；　adieu！〃

Up　his　mighty　limbs　he　gather'd；　Took　the　coffin　on　his　back；　To　the　church…yard　straight　he　hasten'd　By　the　well…known；　beaten；　track。

Up　then　rose　the　sweet　Eliza；　Tear…drops　on　her　features　stood；　While　her　lover　she　attended　Through　the　dark　and　dreary　wood。

When　they　reach'd　the　lone　enclosure；　（Last；　sad；　refuge　of　the　dead）　…　From　the　cheeks　of　good　Sir　Aager　All　the　lovely　colour　fled：

〃Listen；　now；　my　sweet　Eliza；　If　my　peace　be　dear　to　thee：　Never；　then；　from　this　time　forward；　Shed　a　single　tear　for　me。

〃Turn　thy　lovely　eyes　to　heaven；　Where　the　stars　are　beaming　pale；　Thou　canst　tell　me；　then；　for　certain；　If　the　night　begins　to　fail。〃

When　she　turn'd　her　eyes　to　heaven；　All　with　stars　besprinkled　o'er；　In　the　earth　the　dead　man　glided；　And　she　never　saw　him　more。

Homeward　went　the　sweet　Eliza；　Oh；　her　heart　was　chill　and　cold：…　Wo　is　me！　the　Monday　after；　Dead　she　lay　beneath　the　mould！



SAINT　OLUF。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



St。　Oluf　was　a　mighty　king；　Who　rul'd　the　Northern　land；　The　holy　Christian　faith　he　preach'd；　And　taught　it；　sword　in　hand。

St。　Oluf　built　a　lofty　ship；　With　sails　of　silk　so　fair；　〃To　Hornelummer　I　must　go；　And　see　what's　passing　there。〃

〃O　do　not　go；〃　the　seamen　said；　〃To　yonder　fatal　ground；　Where　savage　Jutts；　｛5｝　and　wicked　elves；　And　demon　sprites；　abound。〃

St。　Oluf　climb'd　the　vessel's　side；　His　courage　nought　could　tame！　〃Heave　up；　heave　up　the　anchor　straight；　Let's　go　in　Jesu's　name。

〃The　cross　shall　be　my　faulchion　now　…　The　book　of　God　my　shield；　And；　arm'd　with　them；　I　hope　and　trust　To　make　the　demons　yield。〃

And　swift；　as　eagle　cleaves　the　sky；　The　gallant　vessel　flew；　Direct　for　Hornelummer's　rock；　Through　ocean's　wavy　blue。

'T　was　early　in　the　morning　tide　When　she　cast　anchor　there；　And；　lo！　the　Jutt　stood　on　the　cliff；　To　breathe　the　morning　air：

His　eyes　were　like　the　burning　beal　…　His　mouth　was　all　awry；　The　truth　I　tell；　and　say　he　stood　Full　twenty　cubits　high：

His　beard　was　like　a　horse's　mane；　And　down　his　bosom　roll'd；　The　claws　that　fenc'd　his　finger　ends　Were　frightful　to　behold。

〃I　never　yet　have　seen；〃　he　cried；　〃A　ship　come　near　my　strand；　That　here　to　shore　I　could　not　drag；　By　putting　out　my　hand。〃

The　good　St。　Oluf　smil'd　thereat；　And　thus　address'd　his　crew：　〃Now　hold　your　tongues；　and　well　observe　What　I'm　about　to　do。〃

The　giant　stretch'd　his　mighty　arm；　The　ship　was　nigh　his　own；　But　when　St。　Oluf　rais'd　the　cross；　He　sank　knee…deep　in　stone。

〃Here　am　I；　sunk　knee…deep　in　stone！　My　legs　I　cannot　move；　But；　since　my　back　and　fists　are　free；　My　might　thou　yet　shalt　prove。〃

〃Be　still；　be　still；　thou　noisy　guest　…　Be　still　for　evermore；　Become　a　rock　and　beetle　there；　Above　the　billows　hoar。〃

Up　started　then；　from　out　the　hill；　The　demon's　hoary　wife；　She　curs'd　the　king　a　thousand　times；　And　brandish'd　high　her　knife。

Sore　wonder'd　then　the　little　elves；　Who　sat　within　the　hill；　To　see　their　mother；　all　at　once；　Stand　likewise　stiff　and　still：

〃'T　is　done；〃　they　cried；　〃by　yonder　wight；　Who　rides　upon　the　waves；　Let's　wade　out　to　him；　through　the　surf；　And　beat　him　with　our　staves。〃

At　Hornelummer　happen'd　then；　What　happen'd　ne'er　before；　The　elfins　wish'd　to　leave　the　hill；　And　could　not　find　a　door：

They　ran　their　heads　against　the　wall；　And　tried　to　break　it　through；　They　could　not　break　the　solid　rock；　But　broke　their　necks　in　lieu。

Now；　thanks　to　God；　and　Jesus　Christ；　And　good　St。　Oluf's　arm；　To　Hornelummer　we　can　sail　Without　mishap　or　harm。



THE　HEROES　OF　DOVREFELD。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



On　Dovrefeld；　｛6｝　in　Norway；　Were　once　together　seen　The　twelve　heroic　brothers　Of　Ingeborg；　the　queen：

And　they　were　all　magicians；　Possest　of　mighty　art；　Who　freely　read　the　Runic；　And　knew　the　rhyme　by　heart。　｛7｝

The　first　could　turn　the　lightning；　And　quench　its　ruddy　gleam：　The　second；　with　a　whisper；　Could　still　the　running　stream：

The　third　beneath　the　water　Could　dive　like　any　fish：　The　fourth　could　get　provision　By　striking　on　his　dish：

The　fifth　upon　the　gold　harp　So　pleasantly　could　play；　That　all　the　men　who　heard　him　Began　to　dance　away：

The　sixth；　he　had　a　bugle；　And　when　he　blew　a　blast；　The　stoutest　of　his　foemen　Would　fly　before　him　fast：

The　seventh；　unimpeded；　Through　solid　hills　could　roam：　The　eighth　could　walk　the　ocean；　When　billows　were　in　foam：

The　ninth　could　draw；　by　magic；　The　fishes　from　the　deep：　The　tenth　was　never　weary；　Nor　overcome　by　sleep：

The　eleventh　bound　the　dragon　Which　crept　among　the　grass；　And　all　he　wish'd　to　happen　Was　sure　to　come　to　pass：

The　twelfth；　who　was　reputed　The　wisest　of　the　band；　Knew　what　was　going　forward　In　every　foreign　land。

And　now；　forsooth；　I　tell　ye；　Who　listen　to　my　strain；　That　such　a　set　of　brothers　Will　ne'er　be　seen　again。



SVEND　VONVED。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



Grimm；　in　the　preface　to　his　German　translation　of　the　Kiaempe　Viser；　　characterizes　this　Ballad　in　the　following　magnificent　words：…


〃Seltsam　ist　das　Lied　von　dem　Held　Vonved。　　Unter　dem　Empfang　des　　Zauberseegens　und　mit　rathselhaften　Worten；　dass　er　nie　wiederkehre　　oder　dann　den　Tod　seines　Vaters　rachen　musse；　reitet　er　aus。　　Lange　　sieht　er　keine　Stadt　und　keinen　Menschen；　dann；　wer　sich　ihm　entgegen　　stelit；　den　wirft　er　nieder；　den　Hirten　legt　er　seine　Rathsel　vor　　uber　das　edelste　und　abscheuungswurdigste；　ubar　den　Gang　der　Sonne　　und　die　Ruhe　des　Todten：　　wer　sie　nicht　Iost；　den　erschlagt　er；　　trotzig　sitzt　er　unter　den　Helden；　ihre　Anerbietungen　gefallen　ihm　　nicht；　er　reitet　heim；　erschlagt　zwolf　Zauberweiber；　die　ihm　entgeg