Oxherd Boy Quotes

There were once three king’s sons, the youngest of whom was called Childe Rowland, and they had a sister called Burd Helen. One day, as the boys were playing football, Childe Rowland kicked the ball over the church. Burd Helen ran to fetch it, but never returned. At length the eldest brother set out to find her, and went, by his mother’s advice, to learn from the Wizard Merlin what he should do. Merlin told him that when he got to Elfland he must chop off the head of anyone who spoke to him until he met Burd Helen, and that he must bite no bit nor drink no drop while he was in Elfland. He set out, but never returned. The second received the same advice, but fared no better. At length Childe Rowland, girded with his father’s good sword, set out by the same way. Following Merlin’s advice he cut off the head of the King of Elfland’s horseherd and cowherd, oxherd, swineherd, and henwife. Then he came to the green fairy knowe and walked round it three times widdershins, crying: “Open door! Open door!” The third time the door opened, and he found himself in the Dark Tower of Elfland, where there was neither sun nor moon and the walls shone with gems. There in the great hall he found Burd Helen, who greeted him sadly and told him that their brothers were dead. They talked long, and Childe Rowland grew hungry and asked for meat and drink. Burd Helen had no power to warn him, and she brought him what he asked for; but before he drank he looked to her, and remembered just in time. He dashed the cup to the ground, and with an ogreish cry the Elf King came into the hall. Childe Rowland drew his father’s good sword, and they fought together till he forced the Elf King to the ground, and made him promise to restore his brothers to life, and set Burd Helen free. The Elf King fetched a phial of red liquor, and anointed the ears and eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips of the two Princes, so that they revived. Then he freed Burd Helen from her spell, and they went home together in great joy.