"And I shall make them the horse round shoe, He shall not stumble on his four gold shoes. My heart's, &c. "Twelve of my courtiers shall before thee ride, Twelve of my courtiers upon each side." My heart's, &c. But when they were come to Ringfalla wood, There sported a hart with gilded horns proud. My heart's, &c. And all the courtiers after the hart are gone; Little Kerstin, she must proceed alone. My heart's, &c. And when on Ringfalla bridge she goes, Her steed he stumbled on his four gold shoes. My heart's, &c. Four gold shoes, and thirty gold nails, And the maiden into the swift stream falls. My heart's, &c. Sir Peter he spake to his footpage so-- "Thou must for my gold harp instantly go." My heart's, &c. The first stroke on his gold harp he gave The foul ugly Neck sat and laughed on the wave. My heart's, &c. The second time the gold harp he swept, The foul ugly Neck on the wave sat and wept. My heart's, &c. The third stroke on the gold harp rang, Little Kerstin reached up her snow-white arm. My heart's, &c.[209] He played the bark from off the high trees; He played Little Kerstin back on his knees. My heart's, &c. And the Neck he out of the waves came there, And a proud maiden on each arm he bare. My heart's own dear! Tell me wherefore you grieve?[210] The STRÖMKARL, called in Norway Grim or Fosse-Grim[211] (_Waterfall-Grim_) is a musical genius like the Neck. Like him too, when properly propitiated, he communicates his art. The sacrifice also is a black lamb,[212] which the offerer must present with averted head, and on Thursday evening. If it is poor the pupil gets no further than to the tuning of the instruments; if it is fat the Strömkarl seizes the votary by the right hand, and swings it backwards and forwards till the blood runs out at the finger-ends. The aspirant is then enabled to play in such a masterly manner that the trees dance and waterfalls stop at his music.[213] The Havmand, or Merman, is described as of a handsome form, with green or black hair and beard. He dwells either in the bottom of the sea, or in the cliffs and hills near the sea shore, and is regarded as rather a good and beneficent kind of being.[214]