"But they bade lang and ay langer,
Wi' dout and mickle maen;
And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle],
For he camena back again."
The second brother, in like manner, set out, but failed in observing the instructions of the Warluck Merlin, and—
"They bade lang and ay langer,
Wi' mickle dout and maen;
And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle],
For he camena back again."
Child Rowland, the youngest brother of the fair burd Ellen, then resolved to go, but was strenuously opposed by the good queen [Gwenevra], who was afraid of losing all her children.
At last the good queen [Gwenevra] gave him her consent and her blessing. He girt on (in great form, and with all due solemnity of sacerdotal consecration) his father's good claymore [Excalibar], that never struck in vain, and repaired to the cave of the Warluck Merlin.
The Warluck Merlin gave him all necessary instructions for his journey and conduct, the most important of which were that he should kill every person he met with after entering the land of Fairy, and should neither eat nor drink of what was offered him in that country, whatever his hunger or thirst might be, for if he tasted or touched in Elfland, he must remain in the power of the Elves, and never see middle eard again.
So Child Rowland set out on his journey, and travelled "on and ay farther on", till he came to where (as he had been forewarned by the Warluck Merlin) he found the King of Elfland's horse-herd feeding his horses. "Canst thou tell me", said Rowland to the horse-herd, "where the King of Elfland's castle is?" "I cannot tell thee", said the horse-herd, "but go on a little farther, and thou wilt come to the cow-herd, and he, perhaps, may tell thee." So Child Rowland drew the good claymore [Excalibar] that never struck in vain, and hewed off the head of the horse-herd. Child Rowland then went on a little farther, till he came to the King of Elfland's cow-herd, who was feeding his cows. "Canst thou tell me", said Child Rowland to the cow-herd, "where the King of Elfland's castle is?" "I
