Northern mythology

10 NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS.
II.
not long beyond the memory of man since a young
It is
man in Nummedal^ wlieji passing by a forsaken sreter-hut,
saw in it a gay lluldre-wedding party. Through a window
he was witness to all that passed among the mountain-folk
; but his attention was chiefly directed to the
bride, by her beauty and elegant attire, especially by a
massive, glittering silver crown that she wore. The young
man continued gazing on her till he contracted a violent
passion for her, and soon resolved on depriving the wedding
party of their mirth, and the bridegroom of his rich
and lovely bride.
Quickly he drew forth his knife, and as
quickly flew the shining steel through the window and
over the head of the bride. The company vanished in the
twinkling of an eye, the maiden alone remaining spellbound
by the steel. The pair came soon to an understanding
; the Huldre bride accompanied him to the village
and then to the altar, after having been baptized.
But her magniflcent bridal attire was insufficient to withdraw
attention from an ugly cow^s tail, which, however,
after a time, gradually disappeared. They lived long and
happy together, and of her rich wedding ornaments, the
fame of which is yet preserved, there is still to be seen at
Mserabru the costly silver crown.
THE BISHOP'S CATTLE.
One summer, a long time ago, the bishop of Drontheim
sent his cattle to the mountains to graze. They were the
finest cattle in all Norway ; and the bishop, when he sent
them away, strictly enjoined those who were to watch
them, not, on any account, to suff*er them, for one moment,
to be out of sight, as the mountains thereabouts
swarmed with subterranean peoj)le, who, however, had no
power over any animal, as long as it was under a human
eye. The cattle were then sent up to the mountains. One,