Page:The Lady of the Lake - Scott (1810).djvu/385

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NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH.
369
10.
The Elfen were five score and seven,
Sae laidly and sae grim;
And they the husbande's guests maun be,
To eat and drink wi' him.

11.
The husbande out o' Villenshaw
At his winnock the Elves can see:
"Help me, now, Jesu, Mary's son;
Thir Elves they mint at me!"

12.
In every nook a cross be coost,
In his chalmer maist ava;
The Elfen a' were fley'd thereat,
And flew to the wild-wood shaw.

13.
And some few east, and some flew west,
And some to the norwast flew;
And some they flew to the deep dale down,
There still they are, I trow.[1]

14.
It was then the weiest Elf,
In at the door braids he;
A gast was the husbande, for that Elf
For cross nor sign wad flee.

15.
The huswife she was a canny wife,
She set the Elf at the board;
She set before him baith ale and meat,
Wi' mouy a well-waled word.


  1. In the Danish:
    "Sommè flöyè oster, og sommè flöyè vester,
    Noglè flöyè nör paa;
    Nogle flöyè ned i dybeuè dalè,
    Jeg troer de erè der endnu."