+The Text.+--This ballad was one of two transcribed from the now lost
Tytler-Brown MS., and the transcript is given here. A considerable
portion of the story is lost between stanzas 6 and 7.
+The Story+ in its full form is found in a German poem of the twelfth or
thirteenth century (_Der Ritter von Stauffenberg_) as well as in many
Scandinavian ballads.
In the German tale, the fairy bound the knight to marry no one; on that
condition she would come to him whenever he wished, if he were alone,
and would bestow endless gifts upon him: if ever he did marry, he would
die within three days. Eventually he was forced to marry, and died as he
had been warned.
In seventy Scandinavian ballads, the story remains much the same. The
hero's name is Oluf or Ole, or some modification of this, of which
'Colvill,' or 'Colven,' as we have it here, is the English equivalent.
Oluf, riding out, is accosted by elves or dwarfs, and one of them asks
him to dance with her. If he will, a gift is offered; if he will not,
a threat is made. Gifts and threats naturally vary in different
versions. He attempts to escape, is struck or stabbed fatally, and rides
home and dies. His bride is for some time kept in ignorance of his death
by various shifts, but at last discovers the truth, and her heart
breaks. Oluf's mother dies also.
It will be seen from this account how much is lost in our ballad.
But it is evident that Clerk Colven's lady has heard of his previous
acquaintance with the mermaiden. This point survives only in four Färöe
ballads out of the seventy Scandinavian versions.
The story is also found in French, Breton, Spanish, etc.