The elfin hill 妖山

Theelfinhill妖山

Afewlargelizardswererunningnimblyaboutinthecleftsofanoldtree;theycouldunderstandoneanotherverywell,fortheyspokethelizardlanguage.

"Whatabuzzingandarumblingthereisintheelfinhill,"saidoneofthelizards;"Ihavenotbeenabletoclosemyeyesfortwonightsonaccountofthenoise;Imightjustaswellhavehadthetoothache,forthatalwayskeepsmeawake."

"Thereissomethinggoingonwithinthere,"saidtheotherlizard;"theyproppedupthetopofthehillwithfourredposts,tillcock-crowthismorning,sothatitisthoroughlyaired,andtheelfingirlshavelearntnewdances;thereissomething."

"Ispokeaboutittoanearth-wormofmyacquaintance,"saidathirdlizard;"theearth-wormhadjustcomefromtheelfinhill,wherehehasbeengropingaboutintheearthdayandnight.Hehasheardagreatdeal;althoughhecannotsee,poormiserablecreature,yetheunderstandsverywellhowtowriggleandlurkabout.Theyexpectfriendsintheelfinhill,grandcompany,too;butwhotheyaretheearth-wormwouldnotsay,or,perhaps,hereallydidnotknow.Allthewill-o’-the-wispsareorderedtobetheretoholdatorchdance,asitiscalled.Thesilverandgoldwhichisplentiful
inthehillwillbepolishedandplacedoutinthemoonlight."

"Whocanthestrangersbe?"askedthelizards;"whatcanthematterbe?Hark,whatabuzzingandhummingthereis!"

Justatthismomenttheelfinhillopened,andanoldelfinmaiden,hollowbehind,cametrippingout;shewastheoldelfking’shousekeeper,andadistantrelativeofthefamily;thereforesheworeanamberheartonthemiddleofherforehead.Herfeetmovedveryfast,"trip,trip;"goodgracious,howshecouldtriprightdowntotheseatothenight-raven.

"Youareinvitedtotheelfhillforthisevening,"saidshe;"butwillyoudomeagreatfavorandundertaketheinvitations?yououghttodosomething,foryouhavenohousekeepingtoattendtoasIhave.Wearegoingtohavesomeverygrandpeople,conjurors,whohavealwayssomethingtosay;andthereforetheoldelfkingwishestomakeagreatdisplay."

"Whoistobeinvited?"askedtheraven.

"Alltheworldmaycometothegreatball,evenhumanbeings,iftheycanonlytalkintheirsleep,ordosomethingafterourfashion.Butforthefeastthecompanymustbecarefullyselected;wecanonlyadmitpersonsofhighrank;Ihavehadadisputemyselfwiththeelfking,ashethoughtwe
couldnotadmitghosts.Themermanandhisdaughtermustbeinvitedfirst,althoughitmaynotbeagreeabletothemtoremainsolongondryland,buttheyshallhaveawetstonetositon,orperhapssomethingbetter;soIthinktheywillnotrefusethistime.Wemusthavealltheolddemonsofthefirstclass,withtails,andthehobgoblinsandimps;andthenIthinkweoughtnottoleaveoutthedeath-horse,orthegrave-pig,oreventhechurchdwarf,althoughtheydobelongtotheclergy,andarenotreckonedamongourpeople;butthatismerelytheiroffice,theyarenearlyrelatedtous,and
visitusveryfrequently."

"Croak,"saidthenight-ravenasheflewawaywiththeinvitations.

Theelfinmaidenswe’realreadydancingontheelfhill,andtheydancedinshawlswovenfrommoonshineandmist,whichlookveryprettytothosewholikesuchthings.Thelargehallwithintheelfhillwassplendidlydecorated;thefloorhadbeenwashedwithmoonshine,andthewallshadbeenrubbedwithmagicointment,sothattheyglowedliketulip-leavesinthelight.Inthekitchenwerefrogsroastingonthespit,anddishespreparingofsnailskins,withchildren’sfingersinthem,saladofmushroomseed,hemlock,nosesandmarrowofmice,beerfromthemarshwoman’sbrewery,andsparklingsalt-petrewinefromthegravecellars.Thesewereallsubstantialfood.Rustynailsandchurch-windowglassformedthedessert.Theoldelfkinghadhisgoldcrownpolishedupwithpowderedslate-pencil;itwaslikethatusedbythefirstform,andverydifficultforanelfkingtoobtain.Inthebedrooms,curtainswerehungupandfastenedwiththeslimeofsnails;therewas,indeed,abuzzingandhummingeverywhere.

"Nowwemustfumigatetheplacewithburnthorse-hairandpig’sbristles,andthenIthinkIshallhavedonemypart,"saidtheelfman-servant.

"Father,dear,"saidtheyoungestdaughter,"mayInowhearwhoourhigh-bornvisitorsare?"

"Well,IsupposeImusttellyounow,"hereplied;"twoofmydaughtersmustpreparethemselvestobemarried,forthemarriagescertainlywilltakeplace.TheoldgoblinfromNorway,wholivesintheancientDovremountains,andwhopossessesmanycastlesbuiltofrockandfreestone,besidesagoldmine,whichisbetterthanall,soitisthought,iscomingwithhistwosons,whoarebothseekingawife.Theoldgoblinisatrue-hearted,honest,oldNorwegiangraybeard;cheerfulandstraightforward.Iknewhimformerly,whenweusedtodrinktogethertoourgoodfellowship:hecamehereoncetofetchhiswife,sheisdeadnow.Shewasthedaughterofthekingofthechalk-hillsatMoen.Theysayhetookhiswifefromchalk;Ishallbedelightedtoseehimagain.Itissaidthattheboysareill-bred,forwardlads,butperhapsthatisnotquitecorrect,andtheywillbecomebetterastheygrowolder.Letmeseethatyouknowhowtoteachthemgoodmanners."

"Andwhenaretheycoming?"askedthedaughter.

"Thatdependsuponwindandweather,"saidtheelfking;"theytraveleconomically.Theywillcomewhenthereisthechanceofaship.IwantedthemtocomeovertoSweden,buttheoldmanwasnotinclinedtotakemyadvice.Hedoesnotgoforwardwiththetimes,andthatIdonotlike."

Twowill-o’-the-wispscamejumpingin,onequickerthantheother,soofcourse,onearrivedfirst."Theyarecoming!theyarecoming!"hecried.

"Givememycrown,"saidtheelfking,"andletmestandinthemoonshine."

Thedaughtersdrewontheirshawlsandboweddowntotheground.TherestoodtheoldgoblinfromtheDovremountains,withhiscrownofhardenediceandpolishedfir-cones.Besidesthis,heworeabear-skin,andgreat,warmboots,whilehissonswentwiththeirthroatsbareandworenobraces,fortheywerestrongmen.

"Isthatahill?"saidtheyoungestoftheboys,pointingtotheelfhill,"weshouldcallitaholeinNorway."

"Boys,"saidtheoldman,"aholegoesin,andahillstandsout;haveyounoeyesinyourheads?"

Anotherthingtheywonderedatwas,thattheywereablewithouttroubletounderstandthelanguage.

"Takecare,"saidtheoldman,"orpeoplewillthinkyouhavenotbeenwellbroughtup."

Thentheyenteredtheelfinhill,wheretheselectandgrandcompanywereassembled,andsoquicklyhadtheyappearedthattheyseemedtohavebeenblowntogether.Butforeachguesttheneatestandpleasantestarrangementhadbeenmade.Theseafolkssatattableingreatwater-tubs,andtheysaiditwasjustlikebeingathome.Allbehavedthemselvesproperlyexceptingthetwoyoungnortherngoblins;theyputtheirlegsonthetableandthoughttheywereallright.

"Feetoffthetable-cloth!"saidtheoldgoblin.Theyobeyed,butnotimmediately.Thentheytickledtheladieswhowaitedattable,withthefir-cones,whichtheycarriedintheirpockets.Theytookofftheirboots,thattheymightbemoreatease,andgavethemtotheladiestohold.Buttheir
father,theoldgoblin,wasverydifferent;hetalkedpleasantlyaboutthestatelyNorwegianrocks,andtoldfinetalesofthewaterfallswhichdashedoverthemwithaclatteringnoiselikethunderorthesoundofanorgan,spreadingtheirwhitefoamoneveryside.Hetoldofthesalmonthatleapsintherushingwaters,whilethewater-godplaysonhisgoldenharp.Hespokeofthebrightwinternights,whenthesledgebellsareringing,andtheboysrunwithburningtorchesacrossthesmoothice,whichissotransparentthattheycanseethefishesdartforwardbeneaththeirfeet.Hedescribedeverythingsoclearly,thatthosewholistenedcouldseeitall;theycouldseethesaw-millsgoing,themen-servantsandthemaidenssingingsongs,anddancingarattlingdance,-whenallatoncetheoldgoblingavetheoldelfinmaidenakiss,suchatremendouskiss,andyettheywere
almoststrangerstoeachother.

Thentheelfingirlshadtodance,firstintheusualway,andthenwithstampingfeet,whichtheyperformedverywell;thenfollowedtheartisticandsolodance.Dearme,howtheydidthrowtheirlegsabout!Noonecouldtellwherethedancebegun,orwhereitended,norindeedwhichwerelegsandwhichwerearms,fortheywereallflyingabouttogether,liketheshavingsinasaw-pit!Andthentheyspunroundsoquicklythatthedeath-horseandthegrave-pigbecamesickandgiddy,andwereobligedtoleavethetable.

"Stop!"criedtheoldgoblin,"isthattheonlyhouse-keepingtheycanperform?Cantheydoanythingmorethandanceandthrowabouttheirlegs,andmakeawhirlwind?"

"Youshallsoonseewhattheycando,"saidtheelfking.Andthenhecalledhisyoungestdaughtertohim.Shewasslenderandfairasmoonlight,andthemostgracefulofallthesisters.Shetookawhitechipinhermouth,andvanishedinstantly;thiswasheraccomplishment.Buttheoldgoblin
saidheshouldnotlikehiswifetohavesuchanaccomplishment,andthoughthisboyswouldhavethesameobjection.Anotherdaughtercouldmakeafigurelikeherselffollowher,asifshehadashadow,whichnoneofthegoblinfolkeverhad.Thethirdwasofquiteadifferentsort;shehadlearntinthebrew-houseofthemoorwitchhowtolardelfinpuddingswithglow-worms.

"Shewillmakeagoodhousewife,"saidtheoldgoblin,andthensalutedherwithhiseyesinsteadofdrinkingherhealth;forhedidnotdrinkmuch.

Nowcamethefourthdaughter,withalargeharptoplayupon;andwhenshestruckthefirstchord,everyonelifteduptheleftleg(forthegoblinsareleft-legged),andatthesecondchordtheyfoundtheymustalldojustwhatshewanted.

"Thatisadangerouswoman,"saidtheoldgoblin;andthetwosonswalkedoutofthehill;theyhadhadenoughofit."Andwhatcanthenextdaughterdo?"askedtheoldgoblin.

"IhavelearnteverythingthatisNorwegian,"saidshe;"andIwillnevermarry,unlessIcangotoNorway."

Thenheryoungestsisterwhisperedtotheoldgoblin,"Thatisonlybecauseshehasheard,inaNorwegiansong,thatwhentheworldshalldecay,thecliffsofNorwaywillremainstandinglikemonuments;andshewantstogetthere,thatshemaybesafe;forsheissoafraidofsinking."

"Ho!ho!"saidtheoldgoblin,"isthatwhatshemeans?Well,whatcantheseventhandlastdo?"

"Thesixthcomesbeforetheseventh,"saidtheelfking,forhecouldreckon;butthesixthwouldnotcomeforward.

"Icanonlytellpeoplethetruth,"saidshe."Noonecaresforme,nortroubleshimselfaboutme;andIhaveenoughtodotosewmygraveclothes."

Sotheseventhandlastcame;andwhatcouldshedo?Why,shecouldtellstories,asmanyasyouliked,onanysubject.

"Herearemyfivefingers,"saidtheoldgoblin;"nowtellmeastoryforeachofthem."

Soshetookhimbythewrist,andhelaughedtillhenearlychoked;andwhenshecametothefourthfinger,therewasagoldringonit,asifitknewtherewastobeabetrothal.Thentheoldgoblinsaid,"Holdfastwhatyouhave:thishandisyours;forIwillhaveyouforawifemyself."

Thentheelfingirlsaidthatthestoriesaboutthering-fingerandlittlePeterPlaymanhadnotyetbeentold.

"Wewillheartheminthewinter,"saidtheoldgoblin,"andalsoaboutthefirandthebirch-trees,andtheghoststories,andofthetinglingfrost.Youshalltellyourtales,fornooneovertherecandoitsowell;andwewillsitinthestonerooms,wherethepinelogsareburning,anddrinkmeadoutofthegoldendrinking-hornoftheoldNorwegiankings.Thewater-godhasgivenmetwo;andwhenwesitthere,Nixcomestopayusavisit,andwillsingyouallthesongsofthemountainshepherdesses.Howmerryweshallbe!Thesalmonwillbeleapinginthewaterfalls,anddashingagainstthestonewalls,buthewillnotbeabletocomein.ItisindeedverypleasanttoliveinoldNorway.Butwherearethelads?"

Whereindeedwerethey?Why,runningaboutthefields,andblowingoutthewill-o’-the-wisps,whosogood-naturedlycameandbroughttheirtorches.

"Whattrickshaveyoubeenplaying?"saidtheoldgoblin."Ihavetakenamotherforyou,andnowyoumaytakeoneofyouraunts."

Buttheyoungsterssaidtheywouldrathermakeaspeechanddrinktotheirgoodfellowship;theyhadnowishtomarry.Thentheymadespeechesanddranktoasts,andtippedtheirglasses,toshowthattheywereempty.Thentheytookofftheircoats,andlaydownonthetabletosleep;fortheymade
themselvesquiteathome.Buttheoldgoblindancedabouttheroomwithhisyoungbride,andexchangedbootswithher,whichismorefashionablethanexchangingrings.

"Thecockiscrowing,"saidtheoldelfinmaidenwhoactedashousekeeper;nowwemustclosetheshutters,thatthesunmaynotscorchus."

Thenthehillclosedup.Butthelizardscontinuedtorunupanddowntheriventree;andonesaidtotheother,"Oh,howmuchIwaspleasedwiththeoldgoblin!"

"Theboyspleasedmebetter,"saidtheearth-worm.Butthenthepoormiserablecreaturecouldnotsee.


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