The Elven Harper

The story is told from the shore to the hill
O have you heard the elven harper
Now the plainest of plain can be beautiful still
O the elven harper has eyes of frost.

The Duke's second daughter was ravishing fair
Bright blue were her eyes and bright gold was her hair
The Duke's youngest daughter had eyes like the sky
Her hair of soft midnight made courtiers sigh.

But the Duke's eldest daughter, the spinster called Jane
Brown hair and brown eyes was decidedly plain
And nobody knew or would care if were told
That plain little Jane had a voice of pure gold.

And the elven harper would sit on his hill
O have you heard the elven harper?
And listen for hours to Jane's lovely trill
O the elven harper with eyes of frost.

No suitor she had, not a soul sought her hand
Though she must wed first by the law of the land
Her two cruel sisters impatient to wed
Would heap bitter scorn on their plain sister's head.

One cold night they followed her right to he room
And said "How we wish you were dead in your tomb"
So Jane fled in tears to the snow and the storm
With only her night-gown to keep herself warm.

And as her lost song wailed into the night
O have you heard the elven harper
The dear harper elf took heed of her plight
O the elven harper with eyes of frost.

He sent out a troop of his own elven guard
To search out the woods, though the storm pressed them hard
They brought her before him ads frozen as stone
But with kisses he warmed her and made her his own.

Now Jane disappeared in that storm it is said
And both the Duke's daughters are certain she is dead
But if you should chance by the wild elven hill
You'll find the elf folk are dancing there still

And the music they dance to is sung and played
O have you heard the elven harper
By the blind harper elf and his mortal maid
O the elven harper with eyes of frost.