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Title: Sir Olaf
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
Sir Olaf rides on his courser tall,
Guests to bid to his bridal hall.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
In fours and fives the elfins dance,
The elf-king's daughter I see advance.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"Sir Olaf, cease so fierce to ride,
And dance with me for a little tide."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"I may not dance, I may not stay,
To-morrow is my bridal day."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"Sir Olaf, if thou wilt dance with me,
Two buckskin boots I'll give to thee."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"I dare not dance, I dare not stay,
To-morrow is my bridal day."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"Sir Olaf, if thou wilt dance with me,
A silken shirt I'll give to thee."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"A silken shirt so fair and fine,
Which my mother bleach'd in the pale moon-shine."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"I dare not dance, I must away,
To-morrow is my bridal day."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"Sir Olaf, if thou wilt dance with me,
A helm of gold I'll give to thee."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"A helm of gold is a bonny thing,
But I dare not tread the elfin ring."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
"And if thou wilt not dance with me,
Disease and death shall follow thee."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
She struck him on the shoulder bone,
Fiercer pain he ne'er had known.
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
Upon his steed she lifts the knight,
"Now hie thee home to thy heart's delight."
_Gaily they dance in the greenwood_.
And when he came to his home so late,
His mother 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 end]
George Borrow's poem: Sir Olaf
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