_Take heed_, _good people_, _of yourselves_;
_And oh_! _beware ye of the elves_.
Once a peasant young and gay
Was in his meadow cutting hay,
There came a lovely looking lass
From out the neighbouring morass.
The lass he woo'd, her promise won,
And soon the bridal day came on.
But when the pair had got to bed,
The bridegroom found, with fear and dread,
That he a rough oak stump embrac'd,
Instead of woman's lovely waist.
Then, to increase his fear and wonder,
There sang a voice his window under:
"Come out to her whom thou didst wed,
Upon my mead the bed is spread."
From that wild lay the peasant knew
He with a fay had had to do.
_Take heed_, _good people_, _of yourselves_;
_And oh_! _beware ye of the elves_.