FIRESIDE STORIES. 537

And hear ye this, my youngest brither:
Why bade na ye not at hame?
Had ye a hunder and thousand lives,
Ye canna brook ane o’ them.
And she informs him that he will certainly lose his life if the
King finds him in the hall. A conversation then took place, and
Rowland tells her all his adventures, concluding his narrative
with the observation that, after his long journey, he is very hungry.
On this the Burd Ellen shook her head, and looked sorrowfully

at him ; but, impelled by her enchantment, she rose up and pro-
cured him a golden bowl of bread and milk. It was then that
Child Rowland remembered the instructions of the Warlock Mer-
lin, and he passionately exclaimed, “ Burd Ellen, I will neither
eat nor drink till I set thee free!” Immediately this speech was
uttered, the folding-doors of the hall burst open with tremendous
violence, and in came the King of Elfland, with

Fe, fi, fo, fum!

I smell the blood of a Christian man!

Be he dead, be he living, wi’ my brand

I'll clash his harns frae his harn-pan! *

as Strike, then, Bogle, if thou darest,” exclaimed the undaunted
Child Rowland, and a furious combat ensued ; but Rowland, by
the help of his good sword, conquered the Elf-King, sparing his
life on condition that he would restore to him his two brothers
and sister. The King joyfully consented, and having disen-
chanted them by the anointment of a bright red liquor, they all
four returned in triumph to merry Carlisle.
* Literally, ‘I will dash his brains from his skull with my sword,”