Elvir Hill

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Title:     Elvir Hill
Author: George Borrow [More Titles by Borrow]

(From The Old Danish)

Upon this Ballad Oehlenslaeger founded his "Elvir Shades," a translation
of which has already been given.

I rested my head upon Elvir Hill's side, and my eyes were beginning to slumber;
That moment there rose up before me two maids, whose charms would take ages to number.

One patted my face, and the other exclaim'd, while loading my cheek with her kisses,
"Rise, rise, for to dance with you here we have sped from the undermost caves and abysses.

"Rise, fair-headed swain, and refuse not to dance; and I and my sister will sing thee
The loveliest ditties that ever were heard, and the prettiest presents will bring thee."

Then both of them sang so delightful a song, that the boisterous river before us
Stood suddenly quiet and placid, as though 't were afraid to disturb the sweet chorus.

The boisterous stream stood suddenly still, though accustom'd to foam and to bellow;
And, fearless, the trout play'd along with the pike, and the pike play'd with him as his fellow.

The fishes, whose dwelling was deep in the flood, up, up from their caverns did sally;
The gay little birds of the forest began to warble, forthwith, in the valley.

"Now, listen thou fair-headed swain, and if thou wilt stand up and dance for a minute,
We'll teach thee to open the sorcerer's book, and to read all the Runic that's in it.

"The bear and the wolf thou shalt trammel, unto the thick stem of the oak, at thy pleasure;
Before thee the dragon shall fly from his nest, and shall leave thee sole lord of his treasure."

Then about and around on the moonlight hill, in their fairy fashion they sported,
While unmov'd sat the gallant and fair young swain, whom they, in their wantonness, courted.

"And wilt thou not grant us our civil request, proud stripling, and wilt thou deny it?
By hell's ruddy blazes, our gold-handled knife shall lay thee for ever in quiet."

And if my good luck had not manag'd it so, that the cock crew out, then, in the distance,
I should have been murder'd by them, on the hill, without power to offer resistance.

'T is therefore I counsel each young Danish swain, who may ride in the forest so dreary,
Ne'er to lay down upon lone Elvir Hill though he chance to be ever so weary.

[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Elvir Hill

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