![[FSF
Associate Member]](http://www.modspil.dk/images/fsfMembergetButton.png){kind=small}
Rædsel
Alfer, feer, nisser og andre væsner, som vi almindeligvis anser for sikkert forviste til eventyr og børneværelser, forekommer ofte og formentlig af samme grund meget "søde" og "poetiske".
En ting, der til sammenligning kan forekomme meget påfaldende ved de skildringer af samme væsner, der er overleveret i forskellig form, er den rædsel, de indgyder; nuvel, nisser og ellefolk er vel ikke så slemme, som præsten prædiker, men "søde" og uskadelige var de aldrig. Vi læser f.eks.:
En karl tjente i Øster Alling. Norden for byen var et ellekrat, og der dansede ellepigerne om aftenen. Karlen gik hver aften ned og så på dem, og så fik han lyst til en af dem. det mærkede hun, og så kyssede hun ham og dansede med ham og fulgte ham hjem. Men fra den stund kunne han ingen steder være hverken dag eller nat for ellepigen. Hun tumlede med ham og var usynlig for alle ande. Til sidst blev han så udmnattet af det og elendig, at han døde.Men det er vel så til at have med at gøre: en smuk, lokkende kvindeskikkelse, der truer med døden af seksuel udmattelse.
Evald Tang Kristensen: Danske sagn som de har lydt i folkemunde, bd. II (1928)
Igen: Helt så slemme som præsten prædikede, var de måske ikke, og ovenstående eksempel understreger vel netop også, at og hvorfor præsten og "vætterne" måtte være fjender. Helt undgås kan det dog ikke, at hvor hjælpsomme sådanne væsner end kan være, er de aldrig til at spøge med:
THE FAIRY WELL OF LAGNANAY - by Samuel Ferguson. Mournfully, sing mournfully- "O listen, Ellen, sister dear: Is there no help at all for me, But only ceaseless sigh and tear? Why did not he who left me here, With stolen hope steal memory? O listen, Ellen, sister dear, (Mournfully, sing mournfully)-- I'll go away to Sleamish hill, I'll pluck the fairy hawthorn-tree, And let the spirits work their will; I care not if for good or ill, So they but lay the memory Which all my heart is haunting still! (Mournfully, sing mournfully)-- The Fairies are a silent race, And pale as lily flowers to see; I care not for a blanched face, For wandering in a dreaming place, So I but banish memory:-- I wish I were with Anna Grace! Mournfully, sing mournfully! Hearken to my tale of woe-- 'Twas thus to weeping Ellen Con, Her sister said in accents low, Her only sister, Una bawn: 'Twas in their bed before the dawn, And Ellen answered sad and slow,-- "Oh Una, Una, be not drawn (Hearken to my tale of woe)-- To this unholy grief I pray, Which makes me sick at heart to know, And I will help you if I may: --The Fairy Well of Lagnanay-- Lie nearer me, I tremble so,-- Una, I've heard wise women say (Hearken to my tale of woe)-- That if before the dews arise, True maiden in its icy flow With pure hand bathe her bosom thrice, Three lady-brackens pluck likewise, And three times round the fountain go, She straight forgets her tears and sighs." Hearken to my tale of woe! All, alas! and well-away! "Oh, sister Ellen, sister sweet, Come with me to the hill I pray, And I will prove that blessed freet!" They rose with soft and silent feet, They left their mother where she lay, Their mother and her care discreet, (All, alas and well-away!) And soon they reached the Fairy Well, The mountain's eye, clear, cold and grey, Wide open in the dreary fell: How long they stood 'twere vain to tell, At last upon the point of day, Bawn Una bares her bosom's swell, (All, alas and well-away!) Thrice o'er her shrinking breasts she laves The gliding glance that will not stay Of subtly-streaming fairy waves:-- And now the charm three brackens craves, She plucks them in their fring'd array:-- Now round the well her fate she braves, All, alas! and well-away! Save us all from Fairy thrall! Ellen sees her face the rim Twice and thrice, and that is all-- Fount and hill and maiden swim All together melting dim! "Una! Una!" thou may'st call, Sister sad! but lith or limb (Save us all from Fairy thrall! ) Never again of Una bawn, p. 16 Where now she walks in dreamy hall, Shall eye of mortal look upon! Oh! can it be the guard was gone, The better guard than shield or wall? Who knows on earth save Jurlagh Daune? (Save us all from Fairy thrall! ) Behold the banks are green and bare, No pit is here wherein to fall: Aye--at the fount you well may stare, But nought save pebbles smooth is there, And small straws twirling one and all. Hie thee home, and be thy pray'r, Save us all from Fairy thrall.