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"She curfed me! her hand to my bofom fhe prefs'd; "Death follow'd the touch, and now freezes my breaft! "She curfed me, and faid, "To your lady now ride;" “Oh! ne'er shall my lips prefs the lips of my bride."

-"Now riddle me, Oluf, and what shall I say, "When here comes the lady, so fair and fo

gay

"Oh! fay, I am gone for a while to the wood,

"To prove if my hounds and my courfers are good,”Το

Scarce dead was Sir Oluf, and scarce fhone the day,
When in came the lady, fo fair and fo gay;

And in came her father, and in came each guest,
Whom the hapless Sir Oluf had bade to the feaft.

They drank the red wine, and they ate the good cheer; -"Oh! where is Sir Oluf! oh, where is my dear?"— -"Sir Oluf is gone for awhile to the wood, "To prove if his hounds and his courfers are good.”—

Sore trembled the lady, fo fair and so gay;
She eyed the red curtain; the drew it away;

But foon from her bofom for ever life fled,

For there lay Sir Oluf, cold, breathless, and dead.

No.

No. XI.

THE WATER-KING.

DANISH.- M. G. LEWIS.

The Original is in the Kiampe Viifer.

WITH gentle murmur flow'd the tide,
While by its fragrant flowery fide
The lovely maid, with carols gay,
To Mary's church pursued her way.

The Water-Fiend's malignant eye
Along the banks beheld her hie;
Straight to his mother-witch he sped,
And thus in fuppliant accents faid:

"Oh

"Oh! mother! mother! now advise, "How I may yonder maid surprise : "Oh! mother! mother! now explain, "How I may yonder maid obtain."—

The witch fhe gave him armour white;
She form'd him like a gallant knight:
Of water clear next made her hand
A steed, whose houfings were of fand.

The Water-King then swift he went;
To mary's church his fteps he bent:
He bound his courfer to the door,
And paced the churchyard three times four.

His courfer to the door bound he,

And paced the churchyard four times three;
Then haften'd up the aifle, where all
The people flock'd, both great and small,

The priest faid, as the knight drew near,

"And wherefore comes the white chief here?"

The lovely maid she smiled afide;

"Oh! would I were the white chief's bride!"

He stepp'd o'er benches one and two;
-Oh! lovely maid, I die for you!"-
He stepp'd o'er benches two and three ;
"Oh! lovely maiden, go with me !"—

Then

Then fweetly fmiled the lovely maid;
And while fhe gave her hand, fhe faid,
-"Betide me joy, betide me woe,
"O'er hill, o'er dale, with thee I go."-

The prieft their hands together joins;

They dance, while clear the moon-beam fhines:
And little thinks the maiden bright,

Her partner is the Water-Spright.

Oh! had fome spirit deign'd to fing,
"Your bride-groom is the Water-King !"-
The maid had fear and hate confefs'd,
And curfed the hand which then she prefs'd.

But nothing giving cause to think
How near the stray'd to danger's brink,
Still on she went, and hand in hand
The lovers reach'd the yellow fand.

-"Afcend this fteed with me, my dear! "We needs muft cross the streamlet here: "Ride boldly in: it is not deep;

"The winds are hufh'd, the billows fleep."

Thus fpoke the Water-King. The maid
Her traitor-bridegroom's with obey'd:
And foon fhe faw the courfer laye

Delighted in his parent wave.

-"Stop!

"Stop! ftop! my love! The waters blue "E'en now my fhrinking foot bedew.".

-"Oh! lay afide your fears, sweet heart! "We now have reach'd the deepest part."

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Stop! flop! my love! For now I fee "The waters rife above my knee."

"Oh! lay afide your fears, fweet heart! "We now have reach'd the deepest part."

Stop! ftop! for God's fake, ftop! for oh! "The waters o'er my bofom flow!"

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Scarce was the word pronounced, when knight
And courfer vanifli'd from her fight.

She fhrieks, but shrieks in vain; for high
The wild winds rifing, dull the cry;

The fiend exults; the billows dafh,

And o'er the hapless victim wash.

Three times, while struggling with the ftream,
The lovely maid was heard to feream;
But when the tempeft's rage was o'er,
The lovely maid was feen no more.

Warn'd by this tale, ye damfels fair,
To whom you give your love beware!

Believe

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