Deep draughts drink we right willingly;
And willingly ring, with merry call,
Kling! klang! to the Luck of Edenhall!"

First rings it deep, and full, and mild,
Like to the song of a nightingale;
Then like the roar of a torrent wild;
Then mutters at last like the thunder's fall,
The glorious Luck of Edenhall.

As the goblet ringing flies apart,
Suddenly cracks the vaulted hall;

'For its keeper takes a race of might,

The fragile goblet of crystal tall ;
It has lasted longer than is right;
Kling! klang!-with a harder blow than all
Will I try the Luck of Edenhall!"

And through the rift, the wild flames start;

The guests in dust are scattered all,
With the breaking Luck of Edenhall!

196 BALLADS AND OTHER POEMS.

In storms the foe, with fire and sword:
He in the night had scaled the wall,
Slain by the sword lies the youthful Lord,
But holds in his hand the crystal tall,
The shattered Luck of Edenhall.

On the morrow the butler gropes alone,
The gray-beard in the desert hall,

He seeks his Lord's burnt skeleton

He seeks in the dismal ruin's fall

The shards of the Luck of Edenhall.

The stone wall," saith he, "doth fall aside,
Down must the stately columns fall;
Glass is this earth's Luck and Pride;
In atoms shall fall this earthly ball
One day like the Luck of Edenhall!"

[The following strange and somewhat mystical ballad is from Nyerup and Rahbek's Danske Viser of the Middle Ages. It seems to refer to the first preaching of Christianity in the North, and to the institution of Knight-Errantry. The three maidens I suppose to be Faith, Hope, and Charity. The irregularities of the orig. inal have been carefully preserved in the translation.]

SIR OLUF he rideth over the plain,

Full seven miles broad and seven miles wide,

But never, ah never can meet with the man A tilt with him dare ride.

6

He saw under the hill-side

A Knight full well equipped;

His steed was black, his helm was barred:

He was riding at full speed.

He wore upon his spurs

Twelve little golden birds;

Anon he spurred his steed with a clang,
And there sat all the birds and sang.

He wore upon his mail

Twelve little golden wheels; Anon in eddies the wild wind blew,

And round and round the wheels they

flew.

He wore before his breast.

A lance that was poised in rest;
And it was sharper than diamond-stone,
It made Sir Oluf's heart to groan.

He wore upon his helm,

A wreath of ruddy gold;

And that gave him the Maidens Three,
The youngest was fair to behold.

"I am not Christ the Great,

199

Sir Oluf questioned the Knight eftsoon If he were come from heaven down; "Art thou Christ of Heaven," quoth he, "So will I yield me unto thee."

Thou shalt not yield thee yet;

I am an Unknown Knight,

Three modest Maidens have me bedight."

"Art thou a Knight elected,

And have three Maidens thee bedight;

So shalt thou ride a tilt this day,

For all the Maiden's honor!"