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333
THE NIS.
“See, idug flytter vi.”
There was a man in Funen,
A weary man was he,
For all his huddled sheepfold,
His children fair to see:
A weary man was he,
For all his huddled sheepfold,
His children fair to see:
For all his swine and cattle,
For all his cocks and hens,
His good wife and his casks of beer,
A weary man was Lenz.
For all his cocks and hens,
His good wife and his casks of beer,
A weary man was Lenz.
For a little Nis from Elfland
Had come with Lenz to dwell,
And nobody could fright him
With cursing or with spell.
Had come with Lenz to dwell,
And nobody could fright him
With cursing or with spell.
He danced about the cellar,
And twirled the spigots round;
The delft-ware in the cupboard
He clattered to the ground;
And twirled the spigots round;
The delft-ware in the cupboard
He clattered to the ground;
334
He put the cat on horseback;
He broke the spindle twine;
He burnt the porridge in the pot;
And spilled the flask of wine;
He broke the spindle twine;
He burnt the porridge in the pot;
And spilled the flask of wine;
He nipped and bobbed the children,
Till sore and loud they squealed;
He vexed the serving maidens,
And plagued the men a-field.
Till sore and loud they squealed;
He vexed the serving maidens,
And plagued the men a-field.
Till Lenz, who lived in Funen,
By Thor and Freya swore
He'd move to Copenhagen,
Where once he lived before.
By Thor and Freya swore
He'd move to Copenhagen,
Where once he lived before.
So, bag and baggage mustered,
They took their sea-ward way,
To sail for Copenhagen,
One pleasant summer day.
They took their sea-ward way,
To sail for Copenhagen,
One pleasant summer day.
And Lenz, he drove the good wife,
The cart was sure and slow,
Well loaded up with bed and cup,
The churn it swung below.
The cart was sure and slow,
Well loaded up with bed and cup,
The churn it swung below.
And on the road they met a man.
“Where do ye go?” says he.
“We're off for Copenhagen,
A-sailing on the sea.”
“Where do ye go?” says he.
“We're off for Copenhagen,
A-sailing on the sea.”
335
Out of the churn below them
There came a little squall:
“Aye! off for Copenhagen,
Good wife, and me, and all!”
There came a little squall:
“Aye! off for Copenhagen,
Good wife, and me, and all!”
“Now by the beard of Odin!”
With face as red as blood,
Swore mightily the baffled Lenz,
“We will not stir a rood!
With face as red as blood,
Swore mightily the baffled Lenz,
“We will not stir a rood!
“If Master Nis goes with us,
A foot we will not go!”
Then men and maids, and beasts and wains
Turned backward, vexed and slow.
A foot we will not go!”
Then men and maids, and beasts and wains
Turned backward, vexed and slow.
O Lenz! poor Lenz of Funen!
You're not the last to find
That wander wide worlds over
No trouble stays behind!
You're not the last to find
That wander wide worlds over
No trouble stays behind!
The vexed and weary spirit
May count to-day on this:
Go far and near, go there or here,
Beside it rides the Nis!
May count to-day on this:
Go far and near, go there or here,
Beside it rides the Nis!
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