He stepp’d over benches one and two:
“O, Marsk Stig’s daughter, I doat on you.”

He stepp’d over benches two and three:
“O, Marsk Stig’s daughter, come home with me.”

Then said the maid, without more ado,
“Here take my troth, I will go with you.”

They went from the church a bridal train,
And danc’d so gaily across the plain;

They danc’d till they came to the strand, and then
They were forsaken by maids and men.

“Now, Marsk Stig’s daughter, sit down and rest;
To build a boat I will do my best.”

He built a boat of the whitest sand,
And away they went from the smiling land;

But when they had cross’d the ninth green wave,
Down sunk the boat to the ocean cave!

I caution ye, maids, as well as I can,
Ne’er give your troth to an unknown man.

THE DECEIVED MERMAN.
FROM THE OLD DANISH.