Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-04-19
4 DANISH LEGEND.

Once upon \ time, Danish knight
was about 10 hc hlarrlcd to the prcttiost
damScl i'll all Denmark, and. according
70 the custom of the country. he rode
about from one house to the other
personally inviting all his guests. There
wa> to he y dance and Il feast after the
ceremony, and everyone he knew must
he hidden.
He rode many miles that day, and
after uighttAll found himself on the
farther side ot great wood which
everyone said was hauatcd Ivy elves,
and whore thcrc WAS indeed II fairy ring,
rs anyone could sec who CHOSE 10 look
for IT,
some people would have been afraid
to ride through tho wood NJ night, but
Sir Olaf was \ bravo man, ~ hc spurred
on his white horse and rode into the
wood.
The moon was rising; her white
beams penetrated the branches and
family illuminated the path, They
fell upon his tiuo laco and his long
fair flowing hairs his blue eyes sparklcd
he was thinking of the girl he loved and
VI ms tpIHlilS NCuNlllS udN,
suddenly sound fell upon his ear
that broke his rovcrc; twas the sound
of music strange, dcheatc, beautiful
music
The horse heard it and began 10
show signs Of terror, but Sir Olaf rode
on, looking about him carefully, for
he could not think that these delicate
harps and bugIcs were played upon hy
human hands, and the tunes were all
strange and clhsh,
So, ran the old legend, did the Elr
king's daughter play to win the hearts
of any mon who rode through the Elf
wood after nightfal
But my heart they cannot win, said
Olaf, "for that belongs to my true love-
| have no fear Of the Elf Kings daugh-
ters.
But just ~ he spoke, he came into II
clearing i'll the wood; there WAS tho
fairy rings flood Of moonlight fell
across it, and there he saw three beau
tilul maidcns, all III green, playing upon
strange and delicate instruments, while
III the midst Of tho ring stood one still
more lovely, who held out her arms to
him.
Welcome, welcome, Sir Olaf" She
cried, "alight from your horse and come
hithor. ann the Elf Kings daughter,
and il ls my will that thou shoudst
come into the ring and dance with me.
Ii is IN honor given to few mortals."
But Sir Olaf remained in his saddle,
only bowling low to the Ell Maiden.
g | cannot dance with you" he said.
Il cannot even stay. Tomorrow is my
wedding day, and must ride homo to
my bride
"Your bride is very fair, doubtless,
Sir Olaf, said the Elf maiden, "but am
not faircr? Light down, Sir Olaf and
dance with me, and | will give thee
two golden spurs, and robe of white
silk that tho fairy queen has bleachcd
iii the moonshine, as n wedding gift for
thy lady
MANY thanks, lovely Elf maiden,
said the knight, "but must ride on
cannot stop upon my wedding eve to
: dance or talk with thee Goodnight,
And he would hayo ridden on, but now
the Elf maiden advanced and caught
the horse by the birdie.
'light down, Sir Olaf, said She, "and
| will give thee gold. Thou shalt have
more gold than thou has ever hoped to
have, for thou art but poor, though thou
art 50 brave. Dance III tie ring with
me, and thou shalt be rich. !"
Nay replied Sir Olaf, a have told
thee it ismy wedding eve can dance
with none but my bride. Let 80 my
bride, good Elf maiden, and farewell. .
But now the beautiful eyes of the
! fairy woman sparklcd With rage.
/ If thou wilt not dance with me
Sir Olaf, she said, thou shalt remem.
Der me. The man who will not take
! the Elf maiden's kiss shall have the Ell
stroke from her hand. "
, Then she rose on tiptoc and struck
, him over the heart and cried, Get
/ thee home to thy bride,
Away sped the horse, but Sir Olaf sat
, upon linn pale and without notion
, his hand no longer held the bride; his
! eyes saw nothing; his lips were dumb;
, white corpse seemed 70 ride Upon the
white steed in the moonlight
All night those who awaited for the
coming Of Sir Olaf watched for him IN
vain; the day dawncd, and lie had moi
come; but 20 brave Il knight would
never fail his bride. The feast was
j spread, tie wine was poured; the
bride was dressed, the guests arrived.
Where tarricd Sir Olaf? Those who
. knew that he had ridden into the Elf
forest TX moonlight felt their hearts
grow weary; but AZ all eyes turned to-
wards the wood there came forth from
I il white horse which all knew - be
Sir Olafs.
Ii was ridden by knight who seemed
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