Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ELF-STROKE, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ELF-STROKE, by                    
First Line: Sir oluf has ridden far and wide
Last Line: "there lay sir oluf, and he was dead"
Subject(s): Death;fairies;knights & Knighthood; "dead, The;elves;


SIR OLUF has ridden far and wide,
The folk to his wedding-feast to bid.

The elves they dance in the fairy ring,
And the Elf-King's daughter, she beckons to him.

'Now welcome, Sir Oluf, tarry a wee!
Step into the ring and dance with me.'

'I must not dance, and I dare not stay,
To-morrow it is my wedding-day.'

'Light down, Sir Oluf, and dance with me,
And two gold spurs I will give to thee:

'A sark, too, of silk, so white and fine,
My mother bleach'd it in pale moonshine.'

'I must not dance, I dare not stay,
To-morrow it is my wedding-day.'

'Light down, Sir Oluf, and dance with me,
And a heap of gold I'll give to thee.'

'O well I like the golden glance,
But not for that with thee I'll dance.'

'An' if thou wilt not dance with me,
A bane and a blight shall follow thee.'

She struck him a blow right over the heart,
It chill'd him through with a wondrous smart.

Pale grew his cheek as he turn'd to ride;
'Now get thee home to thy winsome bride!'

And when to his castle door he sped,
Her mother stood waiting all a-dread.

'Now tell to me, Sir Oluf, my son,
What makes thy cheek so pale and wan?'

'O well may it be wan and pale,
I've seen the elf-folk in the vale!'

'Alas for thee, my son, my pride!
What shall I say to thy bonny bride?'

'Tell her that I'm to the forest bound,
To prove my horse and my good grey hound.'

Right early, or ever the day had broke,
The bride she came with the bridal folk.

They dealt out meat, and they dealt out wine;
'Now where is Sir Oluf, this groom of mine?'

'Sir Oluf has gone to the forest bound,
To prove his steed and his good grey hound.'

The bride she lifted the mantle red,
There lay Sir Oluf, and he was dead.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net