stood at the castle gate.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

"Now tell to me, my dearest son,
Why look'st so pale and woe-begone?"
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

"O well may he look pale, I ween,
Who has felt the stroke of the Elfin Queen."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

"Sir Olaf, list, my joy and pride,
What shall I say to thy youthful bride?"
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

"Thou'lt tell my bride the wood I rove,
My courser and my hounds to prove."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

The next, next morn at break of day
The bride arrives with her friends so gay.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

They skinked mead, they skinked wine:
"Where is Sir Olaf, bridegroom mine?"
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

"Sir Olaf's gone the woods to rove,
His courser and his hounds to prove."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

She lifted up the mantle red,
There lay Sir Olaf stark and dead.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

The next, next day at early morn,
Corses three from the gate are borne.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

Olaf the knight, and his youthful bride,
And his mother dear, who of care had died.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.

THE TREACHEROUS MERMAN

"Now rede me, mother," the merman cried,
"How Marsk Stig's daughter may be my bride."

She made him of water a noble steed,
Of sands a saddle, and reins of reed.

To a young knight chang'd she then her son,
And to Mary's church at speed he's gone.

To the church's ring his steed he bound,
And three times backward the church pac'd round.

When in he strode so proud and tall
Away the images turned them all.

The priest was standing with open book:
"O who is yon knight of stately look?"

Then laughed the maiden within her sleeve:
"If he were my husband I should not grieve."

He step'd over benches one and two:
"O Marsk Stig's daughter I doat on you."

He stepped over benches three and four:
"Give me thy troth I thee implore."

She gave him her hand with an air so free:
"Here take thy troth, I will go with thee."

A bridal train from church they go,
They danc'd so lightly and free from woe.

And when they came to the salt sea strand,
The little boats turn'd away from the land.

"