Part 12 (2/2)

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.

THE DECEIVED MERMAN.

FROM THE OLD DANISH.

Fair Agnes alone on the sea-sh.o.r.e stood, Then rose a Merman from out the flood:

”Now, Agnes, hear what I say to thee, Wilt thou my leman consent to be?”

”O, freely that will I become, If thou but take me beneath the foam.”

He stopp'd her ears, and he stopp'd her eyes, And into the ocean he took his prize.

The Merman's leman was Agnes there,-- She bore him sons and daughters fair:

One day by the cradle she sat and sang, Then heard she above how the church bells rang:

She went to the Merman, and kiss'd his brow; ”Once more to church I would gladly go.”

”And thou to church once more shalt go, But come to thy babes back here below.”

He flung his arm her body around, And he lifted her up unto England's ground.

Fair Agnes in at the church door stepp'd, Behind her mother, who sorely wept.

”O Agnes, Agnes, daughter dear!

Where hast thou been this many a year?”

”O, I have been deep, deep under the sea, And liv'd with the Merman in love and glee.”

”And what for thy honour did he give thee, When he made thee his leman beneath the sea?”

”He gave me silver, he gave me gold, And sprigs of coral my hair to hold.”

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