THE MERMAN. FROM THE OLD DANISH.

“Do thou, dear Mother, contrive amain How Marsk Stig’s daughter I may gain.”

She made him, of water, a noble steed, Whose trappings were form’d from rush and reed.

To a young knight chang’d she then her son; To Mary’s church at full speed he’s gone.

His foaming horse to the gate he bound, And pac’d the church full three times round:

When in he walk’d with his plume on high, The dead men gave from their tombs a sigh:

The priest heard that, and he clos’d his book; “Methinks yon knight has a strange wild look.”

Then laugh’d the maiden beneath her sleeve; “If he were my husband I should not grieve.”

He stepp’d over benches one and two: “O, Marsk Stig’s daughter, I doat on you.”

He stepp’d over benches two and three: “O, Marsk Stig’s daughter, come home with me.”

Then said the maid, without more ado, “Here take my troth, I will go with you.”

They went from the church a bridal train, And danc’d so gaily across the plain;

They danc’d till they came to the strand, and then They were forsaken by maids and men.

“Now, Marsk Stig’s daughter, sit down and rest; To build a boat I will do my best.”

He built a boat of the whitest sand, And away they went from the smiling land;

But when they had cross’d the ninth green wave, Down sunk the boat to the ocean cave!

I caution ye, maids, as well as I can, Ne’er give your troth to an unknown man.