PART FIRST.

      THE Elf-King sat in his golden halls. Quoth he, "I am lonely here. I would I could find a fair and gentle bride to bear me company."

      His favorite page, a merry and cunning elf, overheard the muttered speech of his master. He drew near, and kneeling, said, "I have seen a fair and gentle maiden, oh! my king, who would be a fitting mate for thee."

      The Elf-King fixed his bright eyes on the page. "Who is the maiden? When and where didst thou see her?" he said.

      "She is the daughter of Prince Alberic," replied the elfin page. "I meet her in the forest, where she gathers wild flowers, and on the brown hills, where she goes forth to hunt the dappled roe. Her princely birth and glorious beauty make her a fitting bride, even for the Elf-King. Her tresses are of silky gold, her eyes blue as the sky-tinted sapphire; her lips are living rubies, and her voice is soft and sweet as the flow of the summer brooklet. She hath a kind heart and a keen wit; her songs would charm the dullest ear, her smile would warm the coldest bosom, and her presence would make thy lonely palace into a joyful home."

      The Elf-King cast his eyes downward, and pondered on the words of the page.

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PART SECOND.

      FAIR Emma sat on her palfrey, but ere she rode away, she turned to listen to the parting words of her ancient nurse, Gunhilda, who stood beside her, looking pale and sad.

      "Sweet princess, if thou wilt join the chase to-day, beware of the Elfin Hill. Do not stop to rest under the Blasted Oak — and oh! be sure not to cross the Fairy Brook."

      "Have no fears for me, my darling nurse," said the princess, smiling kindly — and bending from her saddle, she pressed her rosy lips to the uplifted brow of the old woman. "Have no fears for me. Sir Rupert rides beside me, and I am safe from peril or alarm, from mortal man or elfin sprite, with him for a guardian."

      The color deepened on Sir Rupert's cheek, and his heart beat joyfully; but Gunhilda sighed and shook her head.

      With careless laugh and gleeful word, the merry hunt rode away, and the old nurse was left standing alone before the castle gate. She looked after the retreating band, and sighed again.

      "Young heads and young hearts," muttered she, "why does wisdom never come to woman until it is too late to profit by it? I fear me much some evil will befall my darling. My dreams last night were of ill portent. I would she had remained at home to-day! When danger is abroad, a noble maiden's safest place is in her father's hall. But he is a brave and loyal knight who rides beside her. Ere evil hap betide the princess, Sir Rupert will be slain."

      And slowly and sorrowfully, Gunhilda re-entered the castle.

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PART THIRD.

      "A STAG of ten" had breathed his last. The forest shadows were falling eastward. But for many a mile the gallant stag had raced over holt and hill, and in the ardor of the chase, no one noted the way he took. He died beneath the Blasted Oak, beside the Fairy Brook.

      Fair Emma, rejecting the knife which the chief huntsman, kneeling, offered to her hand — sat still upon her panting steed; and while the huntsman flung to the eager hounds their bleeding quarry, she looked carelessly around. Upon the farther bank of the rivulet, she espied some object that glittered in the sun. What could it be? The little brook was scarcely three paces in width — three stepping-stones lay in the clear waters. Forgetful of Gunhilda's caution, the princess sprang to the ground, and bounded lightly across the stream. A golden carcanet studded with jewels, lay before her she stooped to seize the sparkling prize — the earth opened at her feet — two gigantic arms extended themselves from the chasm, and clasped her slender waist. She swooned with terror — and downward to the Golden Halls sank the lady and the Elf-King.

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PART FOURTH.

      WILD and wonderful was the scene that met the opening eyes of the lovely captive.

      She lay on a golden couch — golden was the lofty roof above her, golden the polished walls, golden the massive portals, and golden the gleaming floor. From golden vases arose the fragrant smoke of precious gums, and refreshing to the dazzled sight was the repose afforded by that misty veil. For from the glittering walls, hung pictures wrought by elfin skill of many-tinted gems; and suspended from the centre of the vaulted ceiling swung a glorious Carbuncle, shedding around, forever and forever, the radiance of a summer noon; and polished gold and rainbow gem, burned and sparkled in the magic light.

      The Elf-King noted the astonished gaze of the princess, as her eyes wandered from splendor to splendor. "All these shall be thine, fairest," he said, "if thou wilt be my bride."

      "Thy treasures tempt not me," replied the princess. "I better love my father's hall, with its dim old tapestry, and its floors of stone strewn with rushes, or sprigs of the mountain fir."

      The Elf-King respectfully took the lady's hand in his. "Come see my garden," said he — and as he spoke, the portal turned on its golden hinges, making soft music as it moved.

      The garden lay in a valley, encircled by hills whose tops seemed to support the clouds. And if the hall had been a wonderful sight, truly the garden was more wonderful still. The tree trunks were shaped of silver and gold, the leaves were of emeralds. Cherries were carved from the red garnet, citrons from the yellow topaz, plums were formed of amethyst and chrysoprase, and like drops of frozen wine, hung clusters of grapes, whose tints displayed the changeful sheen of the opal. Over a sparry grotto climbed trumpet-flowers of scarlet coral, and near them, forget-me-nots of the azure turquoise. The snowberry-balls were pearls; the roses, rubies; for every flower that blooms on earth, a jewel sparkled in the magic garden; and high in the midst of these floral mockeries, (as different from real flowers as grandeur is from peace) a fountain of quick-silver threw its bright rain into the air.

      "All these shall be thine," quoth the Elf-King, "if thou wilt content thyself to tarry here."

      "I covet them not," replied the princess, "and I could not content myself to tarry here. I tremble amid these unnatural splendors, the work of elvish skill. I better love the breath of the breezy hills, and the beauty of the forest flowers."

      "And I will be thine," said the Elf-King, throwing himself at her feet. "I will make thee queen of my broad domains, mistress of all my treasures, my elves shall be thy subjects, and toil for thy delight."

      "I will not tarry," said the princess, "and I never will wed with thee. I seek not to share thy elfin throne, nor desire to govern thy elfin subjects. I had rather dwell on the dark mountain where Rupert's castle stands."

      The Elf-King was enraged. "Methinks," said he, sneeringly, "that maiden's pride must soar upon humble wing, who would stoop to wed a mortal knight, when wooed to be the Elf-King's bride."

      Red flushed the cheek, bright flashed the eye of the insulted maiden; and even the Elf-King quailed before her glance of indignant scorn.

      "That mortal knight was nobly born and gently bred," said she. "He would not stoop to a deed of treachery, nor clasp an unwilling hand." She drew down her veil to hide her tears, and then she wept without restraint.

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PART FIFTH.

      DAYS came and went. Full heavily a captive's time goes by. Dim grew fair Emma's dark-blue eyes, and pale her blooming cheeks. And every day the Elfin-King more dearly prized the noble maiden. By deep respect and courteous speech he sought to win her trust; he strove to please with fair and costly gifts, to woo her love by showing how much he loved her; and sought to fulfil her every wish, save one — for liberty. But still to all his flattering words, the princess made but one reply,

      "I pine to see again the flowers of my native forests, and to breathe again the upper air."

      "Thy wishes are my bosom's law, sweet princess," one day replied the Elf-King, placing at her feet a golden basket filled with dewy, odorous, living flowers. "Lo! here are flowers like those that grow in the garden of thy home. In yonder field I sowed the seeds; I watched the growth of the plants, I screened them from heat, I fenced them from cold, and now the fragrant blossoms have unfolded, an offering meet for thee, the fairest flower of all. And weep no more for loneliness; receive this wand of ivory — touch thy flowers with it, and whatever shape thou callest shall stand before thee."

      Oh, happy words! — a thought of hope flashed quickly across her mind, and she smiled graciously on the enamored Elf-King. It was the first smile she had ever vouchsafed him.

      "Thy flowers are marvelously fair," she said — "and well their bright array, if transformed into shapes of knights and ladies, might grace a royal bridal. Thinkest thou not so?"

      The Elf-King assented joyfully.

      "Go," said the princess, giving him another bewildering smile — "go, count how many flowers there be left in thy garden. But look thou bring the number truly, or seek no grace from me."

      Quick went the hope-deluded lover to do the lady's bidding. Left alone, she grasped the wand, she touched a flower — a blackbird sprang from the opening petals, and fluttered round her.

      "Hasten, dear bird! fly to Sir Rupert. Tell him that Emma is faithful; bid him come without delay to the Blasted Oak beside the Fairy Brook. But warn him not to cross the stream."

      Up rose the bird — fair Emma's eyes pursued his airy journey. Alas! a hawk was hovering in the air, and swooped upon the luckless messenger.

      Again she grasped the ivory wand — again she tried the spell — and lo! from the cup of the flower crept forth a buzzing bee.

      "Haste, pretty bee! fly to Sir Rupert — tell him Emma loves only him. Bid him seek the Blasted Oak beside the Fairy Brook, but warn him not to cross the stream."

      Off flew the bee. "One effort more to regain my freedom!" She touched another flower — "Be thou a steed, with saddle, girth, stirrup and rein?"

      Well wrought the charm! Instantly the pawing hoofs rang on the golden floor. Fair Emma seized the bridle, and led the steed through the open portal. With keen and careful eye she scanned the stony track which wound up the steep hill-side. Far above her, darkly outlined against the clear blue sky, rose the peak of the Elfin Hill.

      "Oh! serve me now, thou gallant steed. Serve me but for a single hour. Let us but cross the Fairy Brook — beyond its waves the Elf-King hath no power."

      She leapt lightly into the saddle, but that leap shook loose the braid that bound her long, fair tresses. Escaping the tie, the golden locks fell floatingly around her.

      "Oh! serve me now, thou gallant steed. Bear me swiftly! swiftly! to the summit of the Elfin Hill."

      Spurned by the courser's hoofs, the pebbles start and ring. Not more swiftly springs the arrow from the bow, or the meteor from the sky. Onward! onward! Half the steep ascent is safely won — fair Emma glances back — oh! sight of fear — the Elf-King is hurrying on their track.

      Fair Emma had that morning been working at her embroidery, for she knew that occupation is the best balm for sorrow. In her silken girdle she had placed her scissors. No spur had she, but remembering the scissors, she drew them from her girdle, and struck the urging points deep into the heaving flank of her courser.

      Now, onward! onward! lady bright! Shake free the bridle rein! Onward! onward! noble steed. Strain thy Elfin mettle to the utmost. See! see! She nears the peak — she nears the Blasted Oak — she tops the Elfin Hill — she sees Sir Rupert's waving plume, she hears his bugle-blast — now! noble steed — one gallant leap will cross the Fairy Brook!

      Too late! too late! With a desperate bound the Elf-King reaches her side, and fiercely grasps one of her floating ringlets, to drag her from her saddle. Oh! woman's wit, be prompt at need! Save, save her matchless beauties!

      Lo! Her scissors divide the silken tress — her courser leaps the Brook — she is safe in Sir Rupert's arms!

      And thus she escaped the ELF-KING.