 |
| King Olof and The Little People by W. J. Wiegand |
Scandinavian
The Norwegians call the Elves Huldrafolk.
The little underground Elves, who are believed to dwell
under the houses of mankind, are described as sportive
and mischievous, and as imitating all the actions of men.
They are said to love cleanliness about the house and place,
and to reward such servants as are neat and. cleanly.
The Elves are extremely fond of dancing in the meadows,
where they form those circles of a livelier green which from
them are called Elf-dance (Elfdans). When the country
people see the morning stripes along the dewy grass in the
woods and meadows, they say the Elves have been
dancing there. If any one should at midnight get within
their circle, they become visible to him, and they may then
elude him. It is not every one that can see the Elves;
and one person may see them dancing while another
perceives nothing. Sunday children, as they are called,
i.e. those born on Sunday, are remarkable for possessing this
property of seeing Elves and similar beings. The Elves, however,
have the power to bestow this gift on whomsoever they please.
People also used to speak of Elf-books which they gave to those
whom they loved, and which enabled them to foretell future events.
The Elves often sit in little stones that are of a circular form,
and are called Elf-mills (Elf-quรคrnor); the sound of their voice
is said to be sweet and soft like the air.
Sir Olof he rode out at early day,
And so came he unto an Elve-dance gay.
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
The Elve-father reached out his white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day.'
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
And the Elve-mother reached out her white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day."
The dance.it goes well,
So well in the grove.
And the Elve-sister reached out her white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
And the bride she spake with her bride-maids so,
"What may it mean that the bells thus go?"
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
"Tis the custom of this our isle," they replied;
"Each young swain ringeth home his bride."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
"And the truth from you to conceal I fear,
Sir Olof is dead, and lies on his bier."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
And on the morrow, ere light was the day,It was Sir Olof, his bonny bride,
In Sir Olof's house three corpses lay.
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
And eke his mother, of sorrow she died.
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.
Svenska Visor, iii. 158, as sung iii Upland and East Gothland
