Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/397
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SIR OLAFF AND THE ERL-KING'S DAUGHTER.
379
"God save the King," the horsemen said,
At every stroke they gave;
"God save us all," he faintly cried,
"And me, a sinner, save!"
At every stroke they gave;
"God save us all," he faintly cried,
"And me, a sinner, save!"
Till gashed with many a gaping wound,
At length they smote him dead,
And, prostrate stretched upon the ground,
His generous spirit fled!
At length they smote him dead,
And, prostrate stretched upon the ground,
His generous spirit fled!
A more heroic, gallant end,
No age nor clime can boast;
Yet History ne'er the tale hath penned,
And but for me 'twere lost!
No age nor clime can boast;
Yet History ne'er the tale hath penned,
And but for me 'twere lost!
Had he thus died for ancient Rome,
His now forgotten name,
By poet's page, and sculptured tomb,
Had well been known to Fame!
His now forgotten name,
By poet's page, and sculptured tomb,
Had well been known to Fame!
Sir Olaff and the Erl-King's Daughter.
A Danish Ballad.
We learn that the original of this capital specimen of the traditions of the legendary North appeared in the "Kiämpe-Vüser," published upwards of a century ago at Copenhagen. It was translated into German, together with two other pieces by Herder, and included by him in his "Volksleider"—"The Voices of the Nations in Song." Matthew Gregory Lewis has translated the three Danish ballads, translated by Herder, into his collection. Lewis's translation of "The Erl-King's Daughter" in "The Tales of Wonder," is paraphrastic, whereas the following version is made direct from the German translation, and is as close as the nature of the two languages will permit, preserving not only the metre, but the spirit of the original.
i.
Late rideth Sir Olaff—fast fadeth the west,
To his wedding he biddeth the priest and the guest.
Late rideth Sir Olaff—fast fadeth the west,
To his wedding he biddeth the priest and the guest.
ii.
The Elves are all dancing along the lone stand;
And the Erl-King's daughter holds out her white hand.
The Elves are all dancing along the lone stand;
And the Erl-King's daughter holds out her white hand.
iii.
"Oh, welcome, Sir Olaff! why haste thee to flee?
Come join the gay ring—dance a measure with me!"
"Oh, welcome, Sir Olaff! why haste thee to flee?
Come join the gay ring—dance a measure with me!"