Believe not every handsome knight,

And dance not with the water-spright!

The Water-King

A Danish ballad

With gentle murmur flowed the tide, While by the fragrant flowery side 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 suppliant accents said: